Fiddling with my fingers, my eyes hurriedly searched for a glass in which I was about to make a drink. Adding a slice of orange cut in the form of julienne I add a cube of sugar to it.
Later on, after crushing them with the pestle it was time to add the liquor to it. Swirling it around I cleared around the table making sure it was welcoming enough for my customers and easy to spot in this dimly lit room.
Clinking the glass I added a few more details to the recipe of my tailored drink, failing to notice the presence of my manager who was standing right beside me.
“What are you making today?” he asked, alternating his gaze towards me and the drink which I prepared some time ago.
“Classic Old Fashioned, my style,” I said sighing and turning my head to give my full attention to him.
“But what’s the use, It Monday pretty sure there won’t be many customers” tapping his fingers on the black marble.
“Hope my friend, hope” I smirked after completing my sentence.
“All right then carry on” saying this he carried on with his work ahead.
I turned around to face the liquor shelf as I pulled out The Glenvielt, whiskey bottle from the shelf, and was about to rest it on the counter when the man in his late 30’s barged in through the door.
Seeing his reflection on the glass-covered shelf I was around to greet him with a warm welcoming smile.
Passing through the way shoulders slouched he made his way towards the bartender’s space and sat on a stool right in front of me.
“Excuse me” immediately turning towards the sound I was looking at.
“A whiskey on the rocks please” he requested. Agreeing to his orders I took out some ice from the ice bucket and poured them into the glass and added the whiskey which I previously got from the shelf.
Taking the ready drink in one of my hands I placed it down right in front of him making sure to notify him.
He was drawing in his mini sketchbook before looking and nodding slightly. His gaze immediately went down back to his work.
It had been a few minutes now. I looked back up to see him still focused on his work sipping his whiskey from time to time. I turned back, a small smile sitting on my lips just by looking at him.
After a while, he bottomed up his drink and placed the glass back on the counter. The clinking of glass with the marble made a sound indicating he had finished his drink already.
“So should I get you a repeat or would you like something more interesting?” I asked him not to break eye contact with us.
“What do you have in mind?”
“On,” he asked curiosity growing in him.
“If you are a risk-taker or not” I quickly scanned the counter and looked back up at him.
He instantly put his sketchbook and pencil down and paid his full attention towards me, just what I had been wanting.
“Ok then bring me something that’s not on the menu” he demanded.
Agreeing to it I immediately got to my work repeating the same recipe I curated some time ago. During the whole time, we both kept making eye contact with each other. I could see him admiring and giving me a confused look every time I added a new ingredient to the drink.
“Hm here you go, Classic Old Fashioned but with a twist,” I said as I handed him his drink.
“I may be of a certain age, but I am not old-fashioned,” he said looking a little bit offended.
“Oh no no no, I didn't mean it like that at all. This is one of my specials I only make this for the people whom I find” licking my lips and proceeded to complete my sentence.
”Interesting”. Throughout the whole time I never once faltered the dominance my voice and aura had and instead maintained consistent eye contact with him.
Impressed by my words he smiled at the drink and then at me.
“You prefer drinking alone,” I said, raising a question.
“Huh alone, nuh-uh I make my own company” saying that he raised his sketchbook displaying one of the drawings he had drawn during the time he was sitting here.
“Wow, you made it within 10 minutes?” I was completely baffled by his artwork.
“Architectural designer, it’s just that sketching helps me relax”
“Also drinking is more fun when you are by yourself,” he said lifting his glass.
“True but people these days don’t know how to be alone,” I said pretending to get back to my work.
“So uhm are you alone only here or..?
“What do you mean,” he asked, quaking his eyebrows up.
“Are you married” listning to this he instantly started smiling and repositioned himself on his seat?
“Well I didn’t see that coming,” he said leaning his body weight over the countertop.
“Take your time, men usually lie or beat around the bush,” I said and turned my back to face him.
“Divorced,” he said instantly. I looked at him and then went back to do some work.
Meanwhile, he decided to take a sip of the drink which I presented to him. Looking through the glass he brought it up to his lips to take a sip out of it.
“Oooh, this is good” , his facial expressions matching the impressive remarks which he gave me.
“Thanks, it’s the cinnamon which works wonders”
“ All good sir, are you enjoying the drink” my manager came up to him for the usual customer review he does every time.
“Yes your bartender makes a good Old fashioned” I blushed hearing the compliment from him.
“Y/n did we already add the old fashion in our menu?” my manager asked me.
Not wanting him to disturb me I immediately popped up with a question,” didn’t you tell me you had bills to tally”.
“Oh yes, thanks for reminding me” my plan worked since he immediately took off to do his work.
“So are you always friendly on the job or is this hospitality because of the lack of customers?” he asked as soon as my manager left.
“Why is it so hard for you to believe that I find you find you attractive? I demanded an answer from him.
“Doesn’t my age bother you?” he asked just to tease me.
“Since when did attraction have anything to do with the number, besides I think you have aged well like a fine wine,” I said pulling out the bottle of wine and pouring a drink for myself.
Quizzed by my actions he asked,” Drinking on the job?”
“Yes plus I also have a good company” I looked at him and pointed my glass towards him.
“‘And does that surprise you,” I asked sippin for my wine.
“For most people, yes but I don’t blame them. Since childhood we have seen this only right, the man makes the first move, the man proposes to the girl, saves the girl, and all. There are no movies made on girls like me.” I rant it out.
“You remind me of my mother,” he says and I looked kind of displeased by his choice of words.
“Ok what, haa this is not where I expected this to go”
“No no, I didn't mean it like that” clearing his voice he started talking again.
“Alright hear me out, so the year is 1975, my mom went to my dad’s house with a proposal. My whole family was shaken, I mean it's one thing to fall in love but then too for the girl to go to the man’s house and propose, it was unheard of”
“So my family did a background check on her you know to check and all and of course when my mother passed the great character test, they got married. But then it was my mother who made the first move.” he completed his sentence proudly grinning.
“I mean what’s different now, I mean if a girl doesn’t give in easily people think she is being pricey and if she does the opposite she is considered desperate. I guess the world will always be afraid of women, who aren't afraid.”
“Well I am not,” he said, but now the both of us are maintaining flirtatious eye contact.
I glanced at my wristwatch and notified him that within ten minutes my shift would be over.
“So if I invite you back to my place, will you judge me? Mr. Park Jimin."
