As the norm, I take the farthest end of the dining table where dad used to sit. The two women are seated next to each other while mum is seated opposite them. They all smile at me as I take my seat and I fake a smile back. I don't want to appear rude to our visitors.

Mummy calls me and taps the seat next to her.

“Sit here son. Don't sit too far from us.”

“We don't bite.”

Adds one of the women.

All this while, I haven't looked closely at their faces but as I obey mama dearest and walk to her side to take the seat, I have a glimpse of the visitors.

Wow! One seems to be the mother, the other one her daughter. And boy! Ain't the daughter beautiful? Well, not as beautiful as my Tabby.

We serve ourselves in turns and we eat and drink silently. Mummy knows I don't love orange juice so I have a whole packet of mango juice all to myself.

****

“Philip.” Mum calls after we're done with good and I nod. “Meet Stella my friend and Chloe her only daughter.”

“Pleasure.” I acknowledge them then continue sipping my mango juice.

“Isn't she beautiful?”

Mum comments as I feign ignorance, probing me with her elbow.

“She is.” I say as I pick my phone and scroll through it. I'm convinced that mum has an hidden agenda!

“Lucy, can we have something stronger...let's say wine, Brandy or something?”

Mum's friend asks.

I look up and smile at Chloe who's eyes have been fixed at me all along.

“Phil and I will have a Brandy...in his room.” she rolls her eyes seductively. “Shall we, Philip?”

*No we can't!*

Loudly I say, “Eh...errrr... Why not?” And mum who has been all along waiting for my answer anxiously sags in relief.

“In that case, we can all help ourselves out in the fridge. We have enough booze for all of us!”

I know I shouldn't have agreed to go to my bedroom with Chloe but I just said that so as to please mummy. I didn't want to embarrass her guests so I just agreed. However, that doesn't mean I'll do anything with her! Hell no. We'll just drink and chat... Nothing more!

I walk to the kitchen and pick a bottle of Brandy for her and I help myself out with two ice cold cans of a RTD. Tomorrow is a working day and I don't want to report to work while drunk.

She's already on her feet ready to accompany me to my room.

I lead the way and push the door, letting both of us in.

I show her to the couch in my room to rest but she declines, slumping on bed and making herself comfortable.

I choose to ignore her and take the couch since I don't want to argue with her or appear rude. I set the brandy, some water and some soda in front of her and get myself busy with my can of RTD.

Some silence ensues as I scroll through my phone, chatting with Tabby. However, I choose not to update her about our guests and the beautiful damsel who's drowning a glass after another of Brandy in my bedroom...on my bed!

Time is moving and she doesn't seem to mind. It's like she's not planning to leave tonight.

I'm already done with one can and I've just opened the second one. As I said before, I don't want to get myself drunk therefore I sipped the first can for over an hour.

“When are you planning to leave?” I finally gather the guts to ask her. She has been giving me endless stories about her life and I've just learnt that she graduated just a month ago and she's busy job hunting.

I know she has had three boyfriends back in college and the third one just broke up with her three months ago since he couldn't satisfy her in bed. Wow! What kind of sex drive does she have?

In short, she's talking like a radio and to be sincere, she's so talkative for my liking.

“Leave? Why? Don't you want me to spend the night with you? This bed is very big and cosy for only one person.” She licks her lips seductively but that doesn't make me like her any bit.

“It's already late and I'm sure your mum is wiating for you!”

I say as I hold her hand, helping her stand up.

Mistake number 1.

She doesn't oblige. Instead, she slumps back on the bed with a thud. She's so drunk to even hold herself up. Oh my God! What did I put myself into?

The drunk girl whose shoes are already on the floor is busy pulling up her dress and a few minutes later, she's lying beneath the sheets stark naked. If this is what she wants, I'll leave the fucking bed for her and use the guest bedroom!

She's already snoring and I'm running out of options. I mean, it's almost midnight and neither her mum nor mine are worried about her whereabouts.

As I contemplate on what to do, I hear someone knocking at my bedroom door and I say in relief thinking it's either my mum or hers, coming to take her home. The door is open so I tell whoever is knocking to come in...