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Tapping his fingers against the black bar top, Hia eyed the cobalt blue drink that Real placed in front of Muenfah. The recipient of the drink took a sip without ever averting his eyes from the phone in his hand.
“Hey,” Hia calls out to the bartender.
Looking up, Real — the bartender in question — answers with a hum of acknowledgment.
“Make a drink for me.”
Real, who was already expecting Hia to ask him, cocks his head to the side and replies, “Jeez, you haven’t even done anything yet you want a free drink?”
Hia pouts his lips and musters up the best puppy eyes that he could physically do. He also holds up his index finger, trying to convey the message that he wanted “just one drink.”
“Whatever,” Real sighs, already working on pouring a drink. “Here you go. That’s all you get.”
Holding up the glass, Hia examines it in disbelief. “This is it? I can finish this in, like, two sips.”
The bartender just shrugs and turns his attention to the other guy who has been there the whole time, off in his own little world.
“People in love can’t help but smile, can’t they?” Real smirks.
The smiling man immediately drops his smile — as if it was never there in the first place — and sends a glare to Real.
“You’re always on your phone and smiling,” Hia adds on, “Love has really changed you, my friend. I feel like I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.” He makes a show by feeling his arms for the tiny bumps.
One last scowl each gets sent to the both of them before Muenfah returns his gaze to his phone. A smile immediately returns to his face.
“Wow. I really wish I had a partner now,” Hia sighs. If he looked up at Real at that moment, his heart might have stopped a bit from the way Real was looking at him.
Muenfah begins to get up and says, “I’m not free anymore guys.”
“Hey, seriously?” Real comments, face in disbelief. “You didn’t even finish your drink!”
The person the exclamation was directed towards didn’t bother to look up from his phone whatsoever and walked in the direction of the club’s exit. Hia stares at Muenfah’s back as his hand reaches for the abandoned drink and takes a sip.
Real turns his head and notices, asking, “You think you’re so smooth, huh?”
The tips of Hia’s lips turn up, transforming into a big grin.
“You’re going to have to pay for that.”
Hia’s smile drops. “Why are you so stingy?” He pouts. He knows that he never actually ends up paying for his meals and drinks, but feels like keeping up the act.
“I’m telling you, the bartender here is, like, really hot.”
Both of their heads turn in the direction of the new voices and see that a group of women have entered the club. Hia couldn’t help but notice the weird feeling settling in his gut.
Real turns to face Hia before saying, “I have to go tend to those customers now. Behave yourself.”
“I’m not a kid, y’know,” Hia retorts, not making eye contact. Real flicks his forehead before heading off to take the girls’ orders.
It had only been a few minutes but Hia was beginning to feel bored already, swirling the blue liquid around in the glass.
“Hey there.”
When Hia turns his head to find the source of the voice, he sees a guy who seems roughly the same age as him. This guy was attractive — Hia could not lie.
“Mind if I keep you company?” the stranger asks, smiling.
“Su... sure,” Hia stutters. He blames it on the alcohol buzzing in his system.
“My name is Art, what about you?”
Hia could feel his cheeks warm up a bit before responding, “My name is Hia.”
“Say, K’Hia, why don’t we get to know each other over some drinks?” Art raises his hand a bit and calls out to the other side of the bar, “Excuse me!”
Real looks up and over towards the two of them while rocking a cocktail shaker. His eyes narrowed and his lips drew into a frown slightly. He quickly put on a customer-service smile before replying, “I’ll be with you guys shortly.”
Art turns to face Hia before asking, “What would you like to drink?”
“I don’t mind,” Hia smiles.
A few seconds later, Real walks up in front of them. “What could I do for you guys?” Hia could not put his finger on why Real looked so ticked off.
“Could I do two vodka sodas, please?” Art orders.
Real cocks his head to the side and looks over at Hia. He questions, “Don’t you have an important class to attend early tomorrow morning?” He watches as Hia’s eyes widen and jaw drop.
“I totally forgot!” Hia exclaims, mentally slapping himself in the face.
“In that case, we’ll just do one glass of wine and one mocktail,” Art inserts, adding himself back into the conversation. He turns to face the guy sitting next to him, “I wouldn’t want you to get hungover and miss your important class.”
This guy was really getting on Real’s nerves. He knew that he couldn’t do anything blatant about it as Muenfah would not be happy with him. A fake smile finds its way on Real’s face as he responds, “Coming right up.”
As Hia and Art waited, the latter began attempting to get closer with the former.
“Since we’re about the same age, why don’t we talk informally with each other?” Art requests, a smile seemingly permanent on his face.
“Sure. It’s nice to meet you K’Ar…” Hia clears his throat, “Art.”
Taking notice of the shiny jewelry that rested on Hia’s sternum, Art comments, “That is a really pretty necklace you have got there. It really reflects its owner.” He looks up to make eye contact with Hia — a look filled with interest and want.
“Your drinks are ready,” a voice interjects, interrupting the moment. When Hia looks up, he sees the tight jaw Real is exhibiting as he places the drinks on the counter.
“Thank you very much khun…” Art looks to read the bartender’s name, “K’Real.” He slides the mocktail over to Hia.
“Thank you, Art,” Hia says with a small smile. They engage in more small talk for a little while.
Art’s eyes keep drifting to the piece of jewelry that Hia has on, and the latter takes notice. “About my necklace, I got it as a gift from a good friend last year.” Someone coughs, leading Hia to side-eye them — “them” being Real.
“Could I take a closer look?”
“Er… sure.”
Hia feels his heart start moving a beat faster as Art leans in, eyes locked in on the necklace. Art’s fingers hover over the piece of jewelry. His eyes then flicker up to make eye contact with its owner as if to ask if he could touch it.
Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly fills the air.
Hia jumps a bit and looks over to find Real with a clenched jaw and piercing gaze. He didn’t even realize that Real had been still watching them.
“I apologize but the club is closing now,” Real informs them. Hia glances around the place and realizes that it is very much empty besides the three of them.
Art glances at his watch to check the time before turning to Hia and asking, “Do you want to go to another place? The night is still young.” He sends a flirtatious wink while saying that last sentence.
“I really do apologize K’Arc — was it? K’Hia needs to help me do bookkeeping,” Real interrupts, sending a fake smile that screams “leave the club and Hia already.” They stare at each other with animosity in their eyes.
“It seems fate won’t let us get to know each other more tonight, Hia,” Art pauses, sending a look to Real before turning back to Hia and smiling, “Could I have your Line?”
Real rolls his eyes as Hia takes out his phone so that Art could scan his QR code.
Art goes to stand up and gather his stuff. “It was really great meeting you Hia. I’ll invite you out soon,” he winks. He waves and goes to walk towards the club’s exit.
When the door closes, before Hia has the chance to yell at Real, the latter immediately says, “Block that guy.”
Hia ignores the comment and begins rambling. “Why are you blocking me from getting to know a contender for my future boyfriend?” He looks at his phone, “It’s not even midnight yet! What kind of club closes before midnight!?” He then stands up and grabs onto Real’s shoulders, beginning to shake him semi-aggressively. Real, however, seems completely unbothered by the act.
“You could definitely find a better person to date than that Chart guy.”
“You don’t even know his name!”
“That’s because it’s not worth knowing. He’s a stranger,” Real rolls his eyes. “You deserve only the best, Hia.” There is an endearing look in his eyes. Hia does not notice this. Instead, he just closes his eyes and groans while sinking into the barstool. There is a light dusting of pink on his cheeks — though, it isn’t all too noticeable due to the club’s colorful lights.
“Whatever, I guess.” A thinking look crosses over Hia’s face. “Wait. Do I actually have to help with bookkeeping?”
“You have to pay for the wine and mocktail somehow, don’t you?” Real inquires as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Realization dawns on Hia’s face when he fails to conjure up a memory of Art paying for the drinks.
The club was so quiet that the water from the river outside could be heard.
“That fucking bastard.”
Real only laughs at the exclamation, dragging Hia over to the office to do some work.