(After 4 hours)
"Aaah!!!" Jadon screamed as she threw her empty bottle.
Catherine jumped as the sound of shattering glass rang out.
I glanced at her briefly and closed my eyes again.
"Wh… what's that for?" Catherine slurred, wobbling slightly.
"These beers are fake—that's what," Jadon snapped angrily.
Fiona glanced at her with half-lidded eyes.
"Why do you say so?" she asked, holding her head.
"I've already had about 30 bottles, and I'm not even drunk," Jadon said through gritted teeth.
"If you want to brag about your drinking ability, there are more sensible ways than this, you know," Eliza said coldly.
"I'm not showing off—but even if I was, at least I have the ability to brag. What about you?" Jadon said with a smirk.
"What about me?" Eliza replied, her words slightly slurred.
"Weren't you the one who suggested the drinking contest? Saying you'd improved enough to beat all of us?"
Jadon leaned forward slightly, her smirk widening.
"But you couldn't even handle 15 bottles before getting drunk."
Eliza's face flushed.
"You bastard… if you didn't talk, nobody would think you're mute," she snapped angrily.
"Oh? Feeling embarrassed?" Jadon said with a sly grin.
"Next time, test your ability before bragging stupidly."
Eliza tried to stand but stumbled back into her seat.
"What are you shouting about? If someone didn't know what happened, they'd think you were the winner," Catherine said with a pout.
"Yeah—Lexy's the winner," Fiona said, laughing lightly.
"She had about 40 bottles and isn't drunk at all. That's about 10 more than you…"
She leaned back.
"And if she didn't hate overdrinking, she would've had even more."
"Exactly. I'm happy Lexy's better than you at holding her liquor. If not, none of us would have any peace with your shameless bragging," Catherine said, giving a drunken smile.
I opened my eyes and checked the time on my phone.
Fiona glanced at me.
"Do you want to start heading home?" she asked.
I looked at her and nodded.
"Oh come on, don't be a buzzkill," Eliza groaned.
The others exchanged looks, then glanced at me.
"She's totally drunk, right?" Catherine whispered.
"Yup. The alcohol's already affecting her brain," Jadon said with a smirk.
I ignored them and stood up.
Jadon stood as well, looking at me.
"Lexy, how are you planning to get home? It's already late, and there won't be any cabs around by now," she said, checking her phone.
"Don't worry. I already booked a cab ahead of time—it should be here by the time we get downstairs," Fiona said as she stood, staggering slightly.
I glanced at her briefly and turned toward the door.
Fiona looked at Catherine, who was sprawled across the couch.
"Someone should help Catherine. She looks like she'll fall the moment she stands," Fiona said with a small smile.
"No I won't," Catherine said stubbornly as she stood—
Only to stagger and almost face-plant on the floor.
Jadon caught her just in time.
Eliza stood up and staggered forward.
"Do you need help?" Fiona asked, reaching out a hand.
"Don't bother," Eliza said, swatting it away as she steadied herself.
"If you say so," Fiona replied coldly, following after me.
I opened the door and walked out.
"Let's go, Catherine," Jadon said, supporting her toward the door.
"I'm fine… I can walk by myself," Catherine slurred, leaning heavily on Jadon anyway.
Eliza glanced at them and wobbled toward the door.