It was Saturday and I arrived home from work around 8 AM and went to sleep immediately. I woke up around 2 PM and did nothing since it was my day off. It was around 5 pm when I received a message from an old college friend of mine (he was an old love interest as well if it matters 😉), and he invited me to attend the “Arat Na Cebu” free concert organized by some of the running politicians here in Cebu City). I had planned on attending it but my mind changed since I don’t have anyone to go with, plus I thought that it was a scam. I really didn’t want to go outside because I already had plans, but I don’t want to disappoint an old friend of mine since he said that he already has tickets. I got up and prepared for the night out.
It was around 8 PM when we met. I’m also uncertain if we’re able to get inside the arena where the concert was being held because lots of free tickets were distributed, and the place is not that big, it became full as soon people arrived. I didn’t know that he was meeting someone else aside from me, and it kinda turned out that I was the third wheel on their “mini-date”. My friend, Rey, and I had already eaten before we met, but the guy he was meeting hasn’t eaten dinner yet so we went and look for open restaurants. Since there are lots of people who were unable to witness the concert due to the place being full, a lot of the open restaurants are full as well. We decided to eat in a barbecue stall in the streets. After that, I accompanied Rey and his date to IT Park because his date wants to go home already. The bus that’s going to where Rey’s date is living, docks in the bus terminal in IT Park. We waited for around an hour for the bus to arrive and when it did, Rey’s date got on the bus and we waited a bit for the bus to leave.
When the bus left, Rey and I went and sat down on a bench. I asked him what would our next plan be, and he told me that he was waiting for an update from some of his friends. We talked a bit about what happened to us when we were in college had a good laugh about it. He received a text message from his friend who is already inside the club and asked us to go there. From IT Park, we rode an E-Jeep going to Mango Ave. and went to Uptown Cebu Club. We arrived there and it was as if there is no pandemic going on. The line is very long and it extends to the parking lot, almost circling the block. I really thought that we’ll never get inside. Good thing is that while we were waiting in line, Rey’s friend came to us and let the bouncer know that we were with him so we were able to get inside.
The whole place was packed. Loud music blasts through large speakers and a lot of people are dancing on the dancefloor. It’s the typical nightclub setting you see in the movies or know if you are a regular party-goer. Personally, the whole place was new to me since it was my first time going there and I mostly don’t know what to do since it is my second time going to a nightclub. Rey’s friends bought the drinks and we went to their table so we can sit while drinking. While we were drinking, I was having doubts if I was doing things right, and was anxious since I am with people who I really don’t know. However, after three shots, all my doubts and inhibitions disappeared, and I was having fun.
We went to the dance floor and there, unexpectedly, I saw my friend from Bogo. More like she saw me and approached me. Her name’s Kyren, and we were roommates for a month when she stayed with us here in the City until she went back to the province because she was in a WFH set-up. Hugs and laughs were exchanged as we haven’t seen each other for a long time, and we danced with all the other people on the dancefloor.
After spending some time on the dancefloor, they’ve decided to go out and transfer to a more “chill” place. One, yes it is his name, invited us to go to his aunt’s place near Uptown Cebu Club. The place’s name is CUBANA Pizza + Party.
It is a bar where people can drink while listening to a live band. There we continued our “Inuman-sesh” (drinking session) and jammed to the band playing some OPM Rock Songs, and other rock music as well. We were served pizza, and I can say that their pizza is one of the best pizzas I have tasted. I was about to take a picture of it but my phone ran out of battery. Good thing I was able to take a picture of their banner.
After finishing two buckets of beer, we decided to go back to Uptown Cebu and dance on the dancefloor again. I noticed that there are no lines anymore since it was almost 3 am. After a few minutes of dancing, I sensed that the people with me are danced out already so they decided to call it a night. We went out of the club and went home.
Last week had been tough on my mind and body, so a lot of tension was built. When I was on the dancefloor having fun, and not caring about what people thought, all the tension was released, and my mind was clear. Drinking and meeting new people felt good as well. It felt like I was on cloud nine and nothing mattered anymore, in a much happier tone. The next morning, I felt hungover, but I was not tired at all. I was able to go visit a co-worker’s house and help her with her son’s Math assignment.
I am very thankful to Rey for pulling me out of my bed, and spending my weekend alone, and doing nothing. I might go back to clubbing again.
