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叮鈴——酒吧的門被輕輕推開 即便現在已經凌晨兩點多 店裡仍亮著昏黃而柔軟的燈光
這家酒吧很特別
它不像其他酒吧開在熱鬧的主街上 反而藏身於不起眼的巷弄
採完全預約制 一晚只接待五到八組客人
地圖上查不到它 社群上也幾乎沒有資訊 像是一個不被系統定義的地方
即便如此 客人卻從來不少
大家似乎都很喜歡這間「無法被定義」的酒吧
“Hey, it’s already closed.” 酒吧老闆——Keeho抬眼看向剛走進來的人 語氣裡帶著幾分無奈與熟悉
至於他為什麼要開這樣一間酒吧？
據本人所說——因為他不喜歡千篇一律 他喜歡特別 享受這樣自由又隱密的風格
只做自己想做的事 所以菜單每天都不一樣 營業時間也很隨性 跟本人的個性一樣
“I know.”
來的人是店裡的常客 同時也是Keeho的BFF（Best Forever Friend）——Jiung
Jiung是一家咖啡廳的老闆 同樣採預約制 但與Keeho不同的是 他並沒有刻意隱藏店的位置 因此在附近也算小有名氣
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Almost.”
Keeho一邊回答 一邊熟練地替Jiung調著他最喜歡的Mojito 薄荷葉被輕壓後散出清新的香氣 冰塊碰撞杯壁發出清脆聲響
而Jiung就坐在吧台前安靜地望著Keeho調酒的模樣 他喜歡看Keeho調酒時專注的樣子 看起來閃閃發亮 讓人移不開目光
“Here you are.”
“Thanks.”
酒滑過喉嚨 一陣涼爽把燥熱帶走了 他知道這是Keeho為他特別調製的 將酒的比例調至最低
等Keeho收拾完後，他又替自己調了一杯低濃度的長島冰茶 接著坐到Jiung身旁 深夜的酒吧很安靜 兩人隨意地聊著天
“你今天怎麼會來？明明你又不喜歡喝酒”
“就……路過”
Keeho微微挑眉 朝Jiung投去疑惑的目光
“Liar” “No 我才沒有”
Jiung無意識的摩挲著酒杯
他怎麼可能直接說
“因為想看看你 所以就來了” 他做不到
在Keeho半信半疑的眼光下 他越來越緊張 視線不敢跟Keeho對上
“Ok fine whatever”
好在Keeho沒有繼續問下去 他也鬆了口氣 低頭將莫吉托一飲而盡
“自己把酒杯洗乾淨喔” “知道了”
其實Keeho不說 Jiung也會去做
這已經是他們之間的默契了
“喂 Keeho 明天有開店嗎？” “Hm?” “要不要去我店裡”
Keeho愣了一下 畢竟平時主動提邀約的人都是自己
“Sure …but why”
Jiung偏過頭，故作不在意地開口
“If you don’t want to then forgive it” “Hey I want it!”
Keeho激動的說 Jiung 被他逗笑出聲
“When?” “I open at 10 o’clock” “It’s too early!” “Whatever you want”
說完Jiung就自顧自的走到了門口
“See you”
留下一句再見就離開了 只留下有點睏倦的Keeho
“什麼嘛…”
隨後Keeho也笑出聲 對著已經走遠的Jiung說
“See you…tomorrow”
Jingle—
the door to the bar quietly opened.
Even though it was already past 2 a.m., warm yellow lights still filled the space.
This bar was kind of special.
Instead of being on a busy street like most bars, it was tucked away in some random alley.
Reservation only.
Five to eight groups a night, max.
You couldn’t find it on maps, and there was barely anything about it online.
It almost felt like a place that wasn’t meant to exist.
Even so, the place was always busy.
People just seemed to like this little “hard-to-define” bar.
“Hey, we’re closed already.”
The owner, Keeho, looked up at the person who walked in, sounding more familiar than annoyed.
Why did he open a place like this?
According to him, he just hated ordinary things.
He liked things that felt different—free, private, a little hidden away.
He did whatever he wanted.
That’s why the menu changed every day, and the opening hours were completely random.
Pretty much just like him.
“I know.”
The person who came in was one of the bar’s regulars, and also Keeho’s BFF—Jiung.
Jiung owned a café that also worked by reservation only.
But unlike Keeho, he never tried to hide the place, so it had become pretty well known around the area.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Almost.”
While answering, Keeho started making Jiung’s favorite Mojito like he’d done a hundred times before.
The smell of mint spread through the air as the ice clinked softly against the glass.
Jiung sat quietly at the counter, watching him.
Honestly, he liked watching Keeho make drinks.
It was kind of hard not to.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
The cold drink slid down his throat, instantly cooling him off.
Keeho had adjusted the alcohol again.
Lower than usual. Just for him.
After cleaning up, Keeho made himself a light Long Island Iced Tea and sat down beside Jiung.
The bar was quiet at this hour, so the two just talked about random things.
“So why’d you come today? You don’t even like drinking.”
“Just… happened to pass by.”
Keeho raised an eyebrow.
“Liar.”
“No, I’m not.”
Jiung absentmindedly rubbed the side of his glass.
There was no way he could actually say:
> “I wanted to see you, so I came.”
Yeah. No way.
Keeho kept staring at him like he didn’t buy it, and Jiung started getting nervous for no reason.
He avoided eye contact and played with the melting ice instead.
“Okay, fine. Whatever.”
Luckily, Keeho didn’t keep pushing.
Jiung quietly relaxed and finished the rest of his Mojito in one go.
“Wash your glass before you leave.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Honestly, Jiung would’ve done it even if Keeho hadn’t said anything.
It had already become one of those unspoken things between them.
“Hey, Keeho. You working tomorrow?”
“Hm?”
“Come by my café.”
Keeho paused for a second.
Usually, he was the one asking first.
“Sure… but why?”
Jiung looked away casually.
“If you don’t want to, forget it.”
“Hey, I do want to!”
The answer came out way too fast.
Jiung laughed immediately.
“When?”
“I open at ten.”
“That’s way too early.”
“Then come whenever.”
Jiung grabbed his stuff and headed toward the door.
“See you.”
And just like that, he left.
Keeho stayed there for a moment, tired but smiling to himself.
“What was that…”
Then he looked toward the door Jiung had disappeared through and muttered quietly—
“See you tomorrow.”