Chapter Text
While the cute bellhop brought his luggage to his suite, Khong made his way to the Café and Bar. A drink would do him some good right now.
His heart had stopped beating for a second when that kid had run right in front of him. Thankfully, he'd already been going pretty slow and easily came to a halt before hitting anyone. Coming face to face with the bellhop had caused a sense of déjà vu, one that persisted as he examined the two men talking in front of his car. Khong hoped he had hidden his confusion well enough.
He chose the bar stool furthest to the left to catch some of the rays of sunshine still falling through the window and ordered a small beer.
And a piece of cheesecake, because why not.
From where he sat, he had the perfect vantage point. People-watching was a fun little thing to do when you're bored.
His childhood had been filled with attending sponsor galas or networking events. Having parents who work in the entertainment industry meant that he had been trained how to act in the eyes of the public before he could talk. His shy, boyish smile transformed into the charismatic, cordial persona he developed in his teens to appease his mother's wishes, and sometimes he'd throw in a faux-rebellious attitude for his father's amusement.
At the end of the day, these get-togethers were nothing more than a farce to advertise as much as one possibly could without offending anyone. They all did their little spiel about 'innovating the modern market' and 'bringing in a fresh new take on x topic', dancing their dances trying not to step on anyone's feet. Khong knew the ins and outs of polite conversation; how to get what he wanted without committing himself to any compromises.
No one really talked though, per se. To be quite frank, he wouldn't be able to tell you which of the many middle-aged men had been a benefactor of his parents, or just a weird guy talking to some 15 year old. They were all the same in the end, anyways.
He wouldn't be able to give you any name belonging to one of the many women (and occasional men behind his parents' backs) he had... talked to, either.
What these people could give him was freedom. The tight leash his parents had around his neck loosened once Khong could tell them he was going out for purposes they deemed 'worthy' of attention. Things that would aid him in the maintenance of their legacy. Their moderate emporium in music.
Given his life-style nowadays, it wasn't any easier to really talk with people, so he liked to pass the time by coming up with wild scenarios for stragers' identities. The shy waiter tending to them lived a double life of chasing down criminals on his motorcycle. A family of four eating late lunch was actually sorcerers in disguise. And-
His eyes latched on to the figure who had just passed him. Something seemed so familiar about her.
Long, black hair. Up in a well-kept ponytail, swinging back and forth while she carried a tray of finished drinks back to the bar. She turned around.
This must be the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life.
He carefully glided a hand along his hair, checking his appearance in the shiny metal that decorated the bar. He could not let this opportunity slide.
Khong formulated a plan in his head and signalled her to come over. One last look in his reflection. He winked at himself.
Showtime.
"Good afternoon, what may I do for you?"
"Listen"—he glanced at her name tag—"...Sai. There is something wrong with my slice," he sighed exaggerated and furrowed his brows, angling his head to the side, subtly showing himself of.
Sai glanced at the half-eaten slice concerned. "What is the matter with it?"
There was his cue. He plastered on his charmeur smirk.
"Yeah, I didn't order any additional sugar, and yet you're right in front of me."
"I apologise for... the-" Her face morphed from contrite to disbelieving. She pursed her lips and huffed, "Do you say that to all the girls?"
"Only the pretty ones."
That seemed to be the exact wrong choice of words. Sai scoffed at him.
"Since you don't need any sugar", she spit the word out with plastic cheerfulness, "I will take my leave."
Which she did. Leaving him sat alone and gobsmacked.
Khong let out a burst of air he had been holding in, looking at the ceiling to distract himself and calm his beating heart.
Wait. Since when did he get nervous talking to women?
Ever since you met the woman.
Every now and then, he'd have this dream where flashes of a pretty smile and beautiful eyes would haunt him in the best way possible. When it occurred, the wisps of a comforting fantasy would usually lull him right back to sleep.
And now... that smile. Those eyes.
It had to be her.
Yeah no, he couldn't let himself fumble this hard.
Scanning the room, Khong spotted her further back and waited for their eyes to meet, waving a hand to call her over again.
"Hey, I'm sorry for that just now. Could I start over?"
"With what, exactly?"
"Getting to know you."
"I'm still on the clock," Sai huffed exasperated.
He dared to ask, "Which means we can continue this after you're done?" Khong watched her face morph from surprise to amused yet unimpressed, landing on intrigue. Bingo.
"We'll see."
Suddenly, loud footsteps approached them. With an uncannily wide smile, the bellhop looked at Khong. "There you are! Mr. Khong, you may follow me, your room is ready for you."
"What room number was that again?"
"That would be room 1250."
Khong turned to Sai and winked, "Now you know."
He doesn't catch her incredulous look at his audacity, nor the glaring death stare by the bellhop as he starts marching towards the exit. Noticing that no one is following him, Khong turned around. "Are you showing me my room, or..."
That seemed to kick the bellhop out of his stupor. "Right this way." He quickly bid Sai goodbye, and with that, he practically stormed past Khong, eyes averted.
The elevator ride was... interesting.
[Floor 1]
The bellhop stared ahead.
What was his name again? Chat? Chay? Khong bore into the back of his head, chest out and chin up while standing a step behind him.
The unspoken tension was palpable and thick in the air. He felt it pressing down on him, a singular question burning at the tip of his tongue.
"Are you a couple?"
The bellhop snapped his head to the side and looked at him wide-eyed. "What?!"
"You and the waitress. Sai. Are you two a couple?" When the other didn't say anything, he continued, "I'm not trying to be some homewrecker."
[Floor 6]
He heard the bellhop grumble as he faced the other corner of the elevator again. "Well, no..."
What a relief. He sighed and relaxed into a more comfortable posture. It would have been annoying having him in the way, having to convince her to leave him. Definitely would have complicated things.
"Ah," he said.
The silence returned.
[Floor 9]
Now, the bellhop had taken to glaring at him and failing miserably at hiding it. No use paying attention to that.
[Floor 10]
Khong remembered his undone paperwork and inwardly cringed.
[Floor 11]
First thing he'll do in his room is to take a nice hot bath.
[Floor 12]
Finally, the elevator came to a halt.