Absinthe

☾︎✯☽︎

"Damnit! Where are my keys?" I cussed, rummaging through my jacket pockets until my phone started ringing. It was my father. "Pa, I'm kinda in a rush. So Imma need you to make it quick."

"Where do you gotta be at this hour?"

"Work obviously."

"I thought you lost your job."

"That was then. This is now. I managed to find a job."

"Oh... well that's good to hear."

"Is that all?"

"Christ! Can't a father call and check up on his son?" he said in Mandarin. "I swear I'm starting to think the only reason you chose to move to South Korea was to run away from home instead of "wanting independence". Can't even make time to even call too."

"Last time I checked, you seemed very eager to have me move out of the house so I can "explore and do some soul searching instead of staying home 24/7" after I got discharged from the military," I responded back in Mandarin.

"I know what I said but call every now and again, so I know you're still alive and won't worry as much as I did when you were in the military. My blood pressure is already high as it is, and I refuse to die before you get married and have my first grandchild."

I rolled my eyes.

"Speaking of marriage and grandchildren, have you met anyone lately? A potential girlfriend perhaps." He switched back to English.

I suppressed the urge to sigh. "No, Pa. No girlfriends."

"Boyfriends then?"

"No! I don't swing that way and even if I did, my disinterest in dating and relationships won't change."

"Bolin, you're already in your thirties."

"Just because you got married at thirty and had a child a year after doesn't mean I should do the same. I won't die or lose a kidney over it."

"But you're not getting any younger. And you shouldn't be talking that nonsense. Your body count is higher than the average fuck boy and I'm honestly surprised you haven't caught any STDs nor have any unplanned pregnancies."

""Don't be silly and wrap the willy". That's what you've always taught me ever since I hit puberty."

"But doesn't it get lonely? Surely enough, despite having casual one-nightstands, don't you crave and desire to have a connection with someone?"

I halted my actions and didn't give a response to his questions. I didn't have anything to say to argue or contest his claims, but I didn't have anything to say to refute them either.

He sighed. "I won't impose nor push the subject if it annoys you, son. If you're not ready, then that's fine."

"It's not that I'm not ready. I genuinely don't have the time for it." I emphasised rather forcefully than I intended.

"I know, but there's no harm in giving it a chance and settling down. Besides, it would be nice having a lovely daughter-in-law and a grandchild."

"I gotta go, Pa. I'm running late." I hung up before he could say anything.

I eventually found my keys and left my apartment.

☾︎✯☽︎

"So, like, are your eyes naturally hazel grey or are those eye contacts?" the patron asked.

"My eyes are naturally hazel grey. Never really been a fan of contacts." I answered. "Or putting stuff in my eyes for that matter."

"You really have nice eyes and nice tattoos." She commented, staring at my tattoo sleeve.

"Thank you."

"So where are you from? You don't look like you're from here."

"Born and raised in Australia. Do you want a refill?"

She laughed at my brashness. "You don't like talking about yourself, do you?"

"I don't really like sharing too much about myself with strangers, especially on the first meeting," I told her.

"We don't have to be strangers and there's nothing wrong with sharing some stuff about yourself. And who knows," she leaned in her smiled flirtatiously at me. "maybe things might get interesting, and it can be a start for something."

I leaned closer to her, startling her slightly. Her cheeks turned pink as she licked her lips in anticipation.

"Look, I'm sure you've met a lot of bartenders whom you've talked to, flirted with and whatever," I said. "But I'm not one of them and I have no business getting too involved with my patrons. I'm here to give you a service. Not exchange numbers so we can hook up later."

Her flustered expression was now replaced with a glare.

"I do apologise for the blunt response, but boundaries needed to be drawn so you don't get too comfortable," I smirked.

"Asshole." She growled under her breath as she grabbed her drink and left the bar.

"Jesus Christ! What did you say to her?" Chris appeared at my side right after the patron left.

I was introduced to him and his barback, Felix by Chaeyoung as soon as I found out I was on the same night shift roaster as them. Our shifts at each of the clubs under The Coup Detat were organised according to a weekly rotational roaster. That meant I would be changing bars and clubs every week and that week I was starting my shift at Pink Venom, the same club I saw Lisa for the first time.

"Nothing. I just told her that I'm here to give her a service and not get into her pants. And she took exception to that." I answered.

"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, mate. For all we know, she was just being friendly."

I removed the cloth from my shoulder and wiped the counter, avoiding his confused gaze. "I honestly can't tell the difference between friendly talk and flirting since I've had way too many women try to get me to have sex with or date them from the moment I picked up this gig. Besides, if she was being friendly, she could have just said so."

"Well, I think we just lost one of our patrons after that stunt you pulled."

"Her inability to take rejection is not my problem. She'll get over it."

Chris raised his hands, "Whatever you say."