Itâs been a relatively quiet evening at work and Daehyun has been enjoying it. Sure he likes it when the place is packed with people and he doesnât have a second to breathe because he has too many orders to prepare, those nights are always fun and he wouldnât give them up for anything, but he also likes it when itâs just music playing and people coming over to sit at tables (or the bar) to talk and dance if it struck their fancy. It leaves him with enough time to chat with the regulars while he makes sure that everything is well stocked behind the bar.
Heâs cutting limes and laughing at a joke a customer just told him when he notices someone sitting at the very end of the bar. âExcuse me gentlemen,â he tells them with a grin, placing the small knife down on the chopping board and wiping his hands on the small towel he keeps at the waist of his apron before walking over to the end of the bar. Heâs sure that the customer must have chosen this spot, hoping not to be seen, but Daehyun has been working here for a while now and heâs made it his mission to always notice everyone thatâs coming to the bar, if only just to help him offer the best customer service he possibly can.
As he comes closer, he realises that heâs seen this face before. He rakes his brain, trying to remember where because between university, all the party he attends, his job and all the friends of his roommates visiting the house, that is a lot of face to go through. But then it hits him. Heâs seen this guy hang out with one of his roommates before. He smiles softly as he finally comes to an halt in front of the other boy, ready to ask him what he would like to drink, but he doesnât have the time to formulate anything before words are spilling from the other boyâs mouth.
His smile transforms into an amused one, he canât help it, and he lets out a soft chuckle, putting his hands on top of the bar and leaning closer. âIndeed, it seems to be quite past your bedtime,â he teases, because he knows the other isnât much younger than him, otherwise he wouldnât have been able to pass by the bouncer at the door. âBut since you are here, might as well make it so that you have a good time? What would you like to drink?â He hopes that his teasing will be enough to ease some of the tension he can see in the way the other is holding himself up.
Sejun lets himself relax slightly, some of the tension going out of his shoulders. Thereâs a weak smile given briefly at the olderâs teasing, though his gaze still stays focused somewhere else, the embarrassment still clear on his face. Heâs starting to feel stupid for having reacted the way he did. Daehyun working at this bar meant he was the last person who was about to judge him.Â
Still, he canât ease the sense of discomfort heâs feeling. Another person knows his secret now. Or, well, he hasnât explicitly stated anything, but itâs fairly obvious why heâs there. Especially after the way he reacted to seeing a familiar face. Up until now, the only person heâs told is Junjae. Even that had been horrible. Even though theyâre best friends, and Sejun knew there would be no judgement from the younger, actually telling him had been nerve-wracking, as the fear of being viewed differently had still been present.Â
Apart from that, no one else knows. Not any of his friends, nor his family. It feels wrong, almost, for a mere stranger to be in the know. Because thatâs what him and Daehyun essentially are â strangers. They donât know each other as much as they know of one another. Though, maybe Daehyun knowing is exactly what he needs. The older is someone who barely knows him, has barely had enough exposure to the younger to form an opinion of him. Hopefully. Maybe with Daehyun there is no reason to fear being viewed differently.Â
âI donât know...â he answers quietly, finally daring to spare the older a glance. Truthfully, Sejun has never had alcohol before, save for a few sips of wine offered by his parents or older siblings. He doesnât think that counts, though. âI donât really drink. Is it lame to go to a bar and order a diet coke?â He lets out a chuckle, attempting to lighten his own mood.Â
He surprises himself by continuing the conversation. âYouâre probably wondering why some kid who barely looks legal and doesnât even drink decides to go to a bar alone,â he says, lowering his head. His eyes are focused on his lap, where heâs absentmindedly picking on the skin around his nails. A bad habit he canât seem to shake. âIâm not sure, either. Curiosity got the better of me, I guess.âÂ