Lumière

“She told me we had too many things in common,” you say in disbelief, taking a large sip of your cocktail.

“Uh-huh.”

“I mean—who says that? Sorry, we’d be too good together. I’m sure we’d have a lot of fun, but we’re just too much alike.”

Xiaoting is just sitting with her back against the booth, enjoying her beer without much to say. The silence too amusing for her as you let it all spill out.

“Maybe I’m just destined to be alone for life. Yeseo never responded to those text messages I sent after I slept with her. Never heard from her since then. Same thing with Mashiro, "you start, finishing off the rest of your drink.

Another sigh and you sink back, looking right at Xiaoting as she shakes her head a little.

"If it’s any consolation, I haven’t been laid in like three months,” Xiaoting chimes in, wiping a bit of foam from her lips.

“That—does not make me feel any better, no. Also, you’re lying. There’s no way that’s possible. Have you even looked in the mirror lately? No guy in his right mind would skip a chance with you.”

“Appreciate that, but I’m not lying. Three months. Also the last person wasn’t a guy, I’ll have you know.” Xiaoting can’t help but laugh and lean forward, crossing her arms.

“Right. Forgot you’ll sleep with just about anyone, really.”

Xiaoting takes a quick swig of her beer, and puts it down with an empty thud, letting out a satisfied little smile. “Hey—I just like having a bit of variety. Sometimes it’s nice staring into the eyes of a cute girl while she goes down on you. Sometimes it’s nice to have a big, strong man pin you down.”

That smirk grows as she shifts, raising an arm to catch the waiter’s attention from afar. She knows how flushed you get when talking about all this, especially given her shameless nature. “Anyway, if neither of those girls came back for more, that’s the real loss. They have no idea what they’re missing.”

It’s almost dizzying how Xiaoting swaps from shameless to flirtatious, and back again if she needs to be.

“Or maybe they’re in their right mind, and maybe I’m the problem. Rejected by three girls in a few weeks isn’t exactly the best track record,” you say, putting your empty glass down and switching over to the one left from the waiter, something a little less pink, and a little stronger.

“Oh, shut up. We are not doing the whole pity thing. So what if you fucked a model and she never returned a message? Who cares. Next. Find a hotter girl with bigger tits, a bigger ass, I dunno—you’ll find another one. It’s not the end of the world.”

And as much as you want to believe otherwise, Xiaoting is telling the truth, the two or three drinks in your system working against you. There’s no doubt in that brilliant, pretty head of hers, as those eyes catch your attention and gaze at you a little too long. “Next girl will make you forget about the previous one, trust me.”

“Be hard to find a girl with a bigger ass than Yeseo,” you say, breaking away from Xiaoting’s captivating stare for the moment, although unable to do it for very long. “Girl was built like a fucking goddess, Ting. Thighs like you wouldn’t believe. She could crush a watermelon.”

She can’t help but giggle a little and stare up. “You’re such an idiot. You’ll find a girl with the same if not better thighs, who doesn’t break your heart and pretend you don’t exist after hooking up once.”

That’s the perspective you really needed, Xiaoting’s view on things. Someone not looking through the lens of their own lust. She’s right.

“This is why I bring you here. To pull my dumbass back to reality. Would be lost without you,” you reply, the slightest of smiles creeping across your lips while the alcohol is definitely getting the better of you.

Xiaoting tries to remain as demure as possible, but can’t help but burst into smile at that remark. “Who else will look out for your dumbass if not me? And also buy me drinks. And chicken wings. Those are mandatory, by the way.”

“As long as I don’t have to eat the spicy ones again,” you groan, recalling the time Xiaoting made you suffer through that agony.

“Sure, you big baby. I’ll save your weak stomach, you poor thing,” she says and rolls her eyes, looking far too pretty under the dim lighting.

The thought crosses your mind then, just for a second, when the look in Xiaoting’s eyes lingers for just a few seconds longer than normal, a touch of blush to her face that doesn’t go unnoticed. Until that glass finds its way to her lips and takes a sip to ease the tension.

“But anyway, are we going to get shitfaced and try to find someone to take home and fuck? I know I didn’t get dolled up to just listen to you mope all night long.”

A sound idea. But not exactly appealing as you’re not looking to get rejected a fourth time—

“Honestly, Ting. I’m fine with getting shitfaced, but without the hookup part,” you say, easing back against the booth cushion and relaxing, enjoying the buzz running through your body.

Eyebrows raised, she’s studying your features, puzzled about what she’s hearing. “That’s a first. But I get it—we’ll just drink, order more chicken wings, whatever you want. No stress, no rush, no hookups. Just us two having a good time.”

You could use that right now, more than anything.

“Yeah. Thanks, Ting. You’re the best.”

“Damn right I am. Aren’t you lucky to have met me?” Xiaoting can’t help but reply, grabbing another wing. Here’s to us,“ she toasts, holding up her beer bottle to your glass to clink against it before downing what remains.

A little after 1 am is when the two of you stumble out of a taxi and right back into the familiar apartment, both a little unsteady with the weight of the alcohol flowing through.

"Did you really tip him twenty bucks? That’s like, two orders of chicken wings,” Xiaoting mutters, nearly toppling over trying to take her heels off, giggling immediately after.

“You were so loud and drunk in his cab, he earned those extra bills,” you say, helping to steady Xiaoting against your body for balance so she can toss her stilettos free.

“I’m not even that drunk,” Xiaoting tries to counter, but quickly laughs it off when her words come out a little too slurred and she almost falls again. “Okay, fine, I’m a little drunk. But whatever. You are too. Took you like three times to open the front door.”

You ignore the ridiculous statement, already on your way to the couch to collapse with a heavy flop. As soon as your head hits the cushions, Xiaoting plops herself right on you, still all giggly as that fit body collapses on top of yours, her weight a most welcome addition.

“There’s a chair like, ten feet to your left,” you mumble, defeated already by the comfort of her body sinking so perfectly against yours. “Who invited you to hog all my space on the couch?”

“It’s comfy,” she offers as a response, burying her face in your chest and nuzzling close. “Also, you’re warm—you make a nice pillow. It would be rude to make me get up and go lay in bed alone.”

You’re inclined to agree, or maybe the alcohol has something to do with it. But either way, it’s a nice end to the night—in some ways, the perfect ending. “Fine, but if you start snoring, you’re kicked off.”

“I don’t snore, thank you very much,” Xiaoting replies, a playful pout following. “How dare you insinuate such a thing.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say, Ting.”

Then it’s dead quiet as the two of you stay sprawled across the couch, enjoying the silence, the closeness, the warmth of each other right now. An almost sobering moment.

“You know,” Xiaoting starts, breaking that fleeting serenity. “It’s not so bad just like this. Not on some conquest to get dicked down. Just taking the week off and getting drunk together. Kind of nice.”

“God, you really are drunk,” you answer back, hand trailing down her shoulder and resting there.

“Hey—shut up. I meant that. You really needed that tonight. I don’t want you wallowing around thinking about girls that you’re too good for anyway.”

“Too good for? You’re overestimating my value, Ting.”

“Oh fuck off, you are. All these hot girls, the model, that one runner girl, the fucking yoga teacher, oh my god—with the huge tits. They’re the dumbasses for passing you up.”

“If they’re too good for me, who’s left in that case?” you ask, rather rhetorically. But there’s this pause, this silent contemplation for a few seconds. The way she gazes at you seems a little different, until it settles right back into her usual demeanor.

“Well—” Xiaoting says, still pressed up nice and close. “Me, obviously.”

You’re half expecting it to come with some sarcastic response, to deflate that genuine response and play it off. But nothing comes, just the look of curiosity, as if she expects your answer. There’s nothing that slips out of your lips. Not right away. Because what exactly are you supposed to say in return to that?