11

Today is a longer day than usual, and it's taking me a lot of work to keep up with the rhythm of the pub. I don't understand what's the big deal today, but here I am, serving drinks non-stop ever since I got here. And I'm all by myself, because Mike was unable to come today. When I first told him not to worry about his absence, it was 6 pm and there were only three people. But now... Now I want to split my head open.

—Hey, beautiful. Rum and coke —a middle aged man limits to say, almost dropping his empty glass on the counter.

I take it away from his hands, before he drops it again and breaks it, and I put it inside the dishwasher. When I turn around with a new glass, and face the tall bald man in front of me, I see him licking his thin lips, looking at me upside down -at least, what the bar allows him to see.

—Any plans for tonight? —the suggestive tone on his question almost makes me laugh.

—Not with you —I reply, keeping my eyes on the rum bottle.

Actually, that plan only involves me and my bed. No one else. But this dude doesn't need to know.

—Oh, c'mon —he insists—. Don't play hard to get. You've been looking at me all night.

And that's in fact true. He's been loud and annoying ever since he and his group of friends got here. I've been looking at him, but so did the rest of the customers that wanted to enjoy the night.

I'm about to use the most hurtful comment that could slip anyone's mind, but a male voice starts speaking just when I take the first breath before I start speaking.

—May I have a beer?

First thing I notice is the crown tattooed on one of his fingers, and my eyes travel across his tattooed arms until they reach his eyes.

For the first time in my life, I'm happy to see Jungkook.

I'm not sure if it's the look he gives to the other man, his attitude or the way he looks at me -as if I were something his. But the middle aged man ends up taking his drink and walking back to his seat, with the rest of his friends. 

—You didn't have to do it —I serve him his beer.

—Do what? —he frowns— I only asked for a beer.

—Your puffed chest says otherwise —I point to it.

He tilts his head while smiling, going back to his natural position and allowing himself to relax on the stool. The gray t-shirt falls over his body, hiding his muscles under it again.

—He isn't the first one —I assure him—, and he won't be the last. There are, at least, four assholes like him every night —I look at my invisible clock—. Actually, this is the time they start showing up —I support myself on the counter—. You told me you wouldn't come.

—The customer canceled at the last minute —he sips on his jar—. Have you done what I told you?

I squint my eyes, looking around me. And yes, I've been watching everybody more than I should, ever since I got his text this morning as a reminder. Although, there hasn't been anything interesting going on. And even if something interesting did happen, I couldn't pay attention to it because of how busy I've been ever since I arrived. I saw a few men trying to shoot their shots with different women, but I was unable to keep up with what they were doing, since the second I laid my eyes on someone, a customer was demanding my attention. 

We barely saw each other ever since we started this deal -well, barely? We haven't seen each other at all. The only thing I've been doing is watching people, especially girls. It kind of seems like I'm doing research work to write my thesis. And I feel like, at any point, someone will hand me a complaint form for acting like a stalker.

My eyes go back to Jungkook, he's waiting for my answer. I simply nod, and get closer to where he's sitting, both of my elbows resting on the counter while my upper body weight falls on them. 

—Will you make me watch people as if I were Kevin Carter(1)? —I raise an eyebrow— I thought you were going to help me.

—You didn't see anything that could be of help? —he mirrors me, raising one of his eyebrows— Examples of what you should do and what you shouldn't do. Some dudes' expression when they want to run away from a girl?

And yeah. I've seen some examples to all of that, since the very first day I started watching everyone as he asked. I've seen guys throwing themselves at girls -sometimes literally-, desperate to keep the girls' interest whatever it took; and I saw guys looking around them, searching for a fast way out when they weren't into the girl they threw themselves over. 

Jungkook turns on his stool, so he can look behind him, and just a few seconds later, he turns back to me to get my attention. He slyly points to one of the couples, on one of the corners of the pub. My eyes are set on them while he speaks. And I can't help but recognize the uncomfortable smile the guy is giving her. Yikes, it's similar to the one Seokwoo gave me the other day. 

—She is you.

Pfff I wish. That tight velvet dress would only look that good in my body in my dreams.

—She's nervous —he talks, trying to drag my focus back to where it should be—, and she's talking way too much. She's desperate to keep the conversation going, and he's thinking about running away at the minimum chance he gets.

While the brunette insists on getting closer, the blond male looks at her, takes a sip of his drink and looks around him fast. And he repeats the same cycle a few more times until he's finally able to walk away.

—We're simple —my eyes go back to him—. We don't want to know everything about you the moment we meet —he sips on his drink—. And the male nature is... primitive. We like to believe we're in control of the whole thing, even if it's not true. A girl that speaks too much and leads the conversation? She's out 99% of the time. She reeks of desperation.

—What about the other 1%? 

—She's an eleven out of ten, the dude is way too drunk, the dude is even more desperate than her —he starts raising his fingers while counting.

—That's offensive.

—You started your words vomit with my cousin. You didn't seem desperate, but you seemed nervous and insecure. And you proved it even more when you ran away right after. Result? You ended up upstairs alone.

He takes another sip before he continues.

—We are assholes. And we want what we think it's difficult to get —he shrugs—. If you play hard to get, keep stuff to yourself, tease a bit, and act unpredictable... any man will be after you. Whether it's on Tinder, a friend of a friend, or even that guy that's almost going to pass out over there —he points with his head to a long haired guy almost falling from the edge of the counter.

—Ohh so you're into girls like that? —that's the only conclusion I get from all of that.

—Yup —he looks at me, tilting his head—. That's why I like you. 

I roll my eyes after he says that, and I step back from the counter just to get back to work, in the same position I was before he came here. 

✸ ✸ ✸

Even if he doesn't have to, he helps me to pick up some empty glasses left on some tables, while I close the glass door and turn off the big sign with the name of the pub. I still think about those two drunk men that left five minutes ago, and I wonder how they'll manage to go back home. I guess it'll remain a mystery.

—You can go —I tell him, as I walk to where he's standing—. Thank you for the lesson.

—I'll take you home —behind the counter, he's still placing the glasses inside the dishwasher.

—It's alright.

—I said I'll take you home —he insists, without looking at me.

We remain silent. The music and the TV have been turned off long ago, so only the ting sound coming from whatever Jungkook is doing is filling the place right now. Which is in big contrast with the fuss that was going on just half an hour ago, and that's the only reason why my head hurts so much right now. 

I set the alarm as soon as I think everything is done, and close the door with my key before I turn to Jungkook, who's waiting on my left. 

Not so far, I see his motorbike placed the same way it was placed the first night we met. Hopping on it this time feels different. Basically, because Jungkook is not a stranger anymore, and because I got on it thinking of teasing him.

He waits, and expects me to wrap my arms around him. But while his eyes are set on me, I move my hands to the back and hold myself on the metallic handles on both sides of my seat. 

He smirks at my attitude, taking back his sight to the front before he swings his leg and closes the motorbike stand. 

—It's up to you —he simply says.

And before I can process it, the engine roars and we're back on the road. 

I'm surprised by how long I'm staying in this position without moving an inch. It only lasted two minutes though. Jungkook turns abruptly, taking me by surprise. My heart skips a hard beat, and I scream in consequence at the same time my arms wrap tight around his torso. His laugh sends vibrations through my body when he feels me holding close onto him.

My grip loosens the closer we get to my building. He stops the engine, and I feel it's finally time to move away -but I don't really want to. His black eyes connect with mine over his shoulder, and I'm sure he's just waiting for me to hop off the motorbike so he can go back home. But nope.

As soon as I step next to it, he drops the question: 

—Can I go up to your place?

*1: Kevin Carter (13 September 1960 – 27 July 1994) was a South African and member of the Bang-Bang club. 

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