Hauteur

“God, you’re so bad at this.”

“Yeah, no shit, Chaewon.”

“Like, really bad, you know? Like you should not be allowed to play this game bad.“

You’re already down three games, struggling not to scratch again as you aim for a different colored ball this time—somewhere, anywhere, but in the goddamn pocket. Safe to say, things are not going well tonight.

“Shut up, Chae—you’re distracting me.”

"No fucking way I am,” Chaewon fires back, not missing her mark as a striped ball clacks into the side pocket, almost mocking your failed attempt. “What’s your excuse for losing the last three games, then?”

“I just need to get warmed up, that’s all—"

“Will that come before or after the sun comes up?” she asks, planting her stick against the floor and sliding closer. “It’s okay to admit you’re bad at this.”

You grit your teeth, fueled by frustration, and slam your pool cue so hard the table rattles as the white ball shoots forward. Almost in slow-motion, it ricochets right off the side—failing spectacularly, right back into the eight-ball that spirals into the corner pocket.

Chaewon can’t stop laughing.

“Oh look, you finally sunk one in.” You’re left standing there, hands gripping your cue stick so tight your knuckles have turned white. “And that’s game four.”

You’re about to snap the pool cue in half right here, then and there. You’re fuming; Chaewon is eating all of this up, covering her mouth before taking a sip out of a beer bottle that’s almost empty.

“Rematch. We’re going again,” you hiss out.

“So I can humiliate you again? What’s the point? You can’t beat me. And you owe me how much, exactly? Pretty sure your entire week’s pay is gonna get fucking wiped after this.”

"Then one more game. Double or nothing."

"Oh sweetie, you’re cute. I can’t take more of your money. At this rate, you’re not gonna have enough to pay rent.”

"Chaewon—” you nearly growl, gritting your teeth again. “Double. Or nothing.”

Her eyes widen with curiosity, an amused smile tugging on those lips of hers while you wait for an answer. This soft little sigh escapes as Chaewon takes another sip out of her beer bottle, looking you over from the other side of the table.

“That’s boring. Let’s make this more interesting,” she proposes with a devious grin on her lips, drinking some more before setting the bottle on the edge of the pool table. Chaewon doesn’t let her confidence falter, eyes never looking away from yours—leaving you wondering what devilish thoughts have taken her. “Raise the stakes, shall we?”

You stare at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Loser does whatever the winner says. Within reason, obviously. If I win, and I will—“ There’s a mischievous spark in those eyes. Whatever it is, Chaewon wants you to bite. “If I win, I get you. For a week. When and wherever I want.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

“I thought that would’ve been pretty obvious. One week where you can’t deny me,” she starts, that annoying smug smile still plastered on her face while she carefully gathers up all the multi-colored balls into the wooden triangular frame. A quick run down the length of the green felt, and she continues, grabbing the white ball out of a little pocket and moving over to her side of the table. "Whatever I desire."

There’s something about the way she enunciates every word that makes you shiver. You shouldn’t take this bet, no way—there’s a hundred reasons why that’s a bad idea. Because you already know the outcome.

Chaewon turns back to meet your eyes again. "Seven days, you’re at my whims. So you can be my footstool, errand boy, or whatever else I wanna do—you don’t have a say. Maybe I wanna jump on your cock whenever the mood strikes? Or make you go down on me in the middle of lunch at that cute little cafe downtown? Anything I want—you do.”

That’s the most preposterous thing you’ve ever heard—you’d have to beat Chaewon just to stand a chance, which you know is nothing short of impossible. But you can’t back down, and you can’t shake the urge to wipe the smirk right off that little brat’s face, to find some sort of satisfaction in watching her sweat.

Yet Chaewon can sense the hesitation and does her best to persuade you further.

She takes her position at the far end of the table with her pool stick behind her, getting ready to break again. “If you manage a miracle and win, then consider your debt cleared. And for a week, your rules, whatever your little heart desires. Fair, isn’t it?“

You shouldn’t—you know better not to agree to her proposition. Not to give the enemy an opening. And yet, your pride refuses to let you do anything less. "So, I get anything? For an entire week?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?“ she responds, rolling the cue ball ever so gently as she decides where to position her stick.

"You’re pretty confident, Chae. This could go badly for you. Maybe next time I see you, it’ll be in the tiniest bikini I can find. Or just lingerie. Something real easy to tear off.”

Chaewon laughs, keeping her eyes locked on yours. “Considering the performance I’ve seen tonight from you? I’d say a loss is practically impossible.”

Yeah, there’s no way you’re backing down from this. “Impossible? Fine, you’re on. Hurry up and break so I can win."

Oh, she’s going to regret this.

Shifting her posture, Chaewon bends over the pool table rather seductively as she lines up her shot. When she takes a glance over, your eyes stay glued to those tight fucking shorts—they hug every single curve of hers, giving such a good view of her ass.

"Unlike you, I know what I’m doing. I’m not the same girl you knew two years ago that used to help you boost cars and drive away from cops. Now, are you gonna keep staring at my ass, or can I take this shot?”

You don’t respond. She breaks hard, the crack of her stick echoing through the whole pool hall, scattering the colorful balls all over the table—two go in, one striped and one solid.

“Which one are you calling, sweetheart?”

“Doesn’t matter, pick one,” you respond, determined not to give up any reaction whatsoever to Chaewon. “I’m winning either way.”

Chaewon just cackles, reaching over to take a sip of her second beer bottle before taking position to line up her next shot. “I’ll stick with my stripes then. Can’t wait to have you call me master and kiss my feet for the next seven days, loser.”

“In your dreams, Chae.”

“I better start thinking about all the names I’m gonna call you then,” she taunts, circling around the table to find the best spot to take her next shot. “You’re gonna be such an obedient little pet for me.”

You stay silent, because you’re not giving her a modicum of satisfaction. And with ease, she’s banking shots left and right, showing no mercy and striking her next target right on. No less than three balls in a row, gaining momentum before she takes a moment to bask in the glory.

“Don’t worry, baby, we’ll have so much fun. I think you’ll look so good on your knees, licking my boots. Giving me foot rubs for an entire fucking week. Wow, I can’t wait—”

Chaewon sounds so convinced she has this in the bag, and just the thought of her acting like you’re already her little pet gets you even more infuriated—that bratty tone, how she’s predicted that you’ve already lost, as if you’re a simple means to her every desire.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” you fire back, because you’re not going to let her get in your head. That’s what Chaewon is so good at, but you shove those thoughts aside, watching her land another shot into a side pocket, taking another sip of her beer afterwards. That’s five shots down, only three to go—and it’s all been her.

“Please, I’ve already beaten your pathetic ass four times. I’m not even trying anymore.” Chaewon moves to the next striped ball, and with no difficulty lands it in, wasting no time after that to line up her penultimate ball—an easy angle, an effortless shot. She’s merely two balls from putting you in hell for a full seven days.

You watch with bated breath as her arm raises, stick held in position before colliding hard against the cue ball—despite her near perfect technique, it rolls erratically, missing its mark as the orange striped ball veers off course, hitting the bumpers and missing its intended target.

Her brows furrow.

You try to hold back a laugh. “Nice shot.”