flashing yellow (constant green) | sooshu

chapter two

“How did you manage to get this place? You look like a minor.” Soojin said several weeks later after waiting for more than half of hour for her date to come.

(Previous attempts were worse, she thought. The woman Soojin came across first — Song Yuqi — seemed pretty. They met at the pub in the evening and were talking for almost twenty minutes, until she got a business call. Yuqi was an ambulance worker, Soojin figured out as the woman only smiled apologetically when leaving.

“Make me that butterbeer thing you did last time,” she groaned as looking Yuqi walking away.
(“Please?” Soojin added when noticed Shuhua's admonishing look)

“That's not-” The bartender began. “Oh, okay.”

“Maybe I do need a hobnob with you right now.” Soojin admitted. “Tell me some stupid fun fact.”
(“Please,” she added with her voice softening)

“Hm, it's not stupid, but did you know that your fingernails won't grow after your death.”

“Thanks,” Soojin said taking a freshly made cocktail from the bar. “I'm just about to check, if it's true.”

“Hey, it was aimed to cheer you up!”

The second date lasted longer. However, not long enough to get to know each other. Hwitaek was already drunk when they met. Not blasted, but close to a not-walking condition. Soojin tried to keep the ball rolling, but after Hui — “you can call me informally, cutie” — almost fell on his way to the restroom, she decided she had enough. Although, Hwitaek didn't. He whined about his ex girlfriend, until Shuhua (rather politely) cut him off.

“I'll call the owner! You don't have rights to oust me!” Hui shouted to Shuhua outside. Soojin sat at the bar watching the scene.

“I'm the owner. Get out of here unless I make you do it.”

“Did he really break up with his girlfriend and meet you the same day.” Shuhua muttered taking her place behind the bar. “Why do men always need to be so weird when it comes to relationship?”

“Cause they're dumb,” Soojin declared bringing a glass to her lips.

“Yeah.” Shuhua said smiling, “Cheers to that!”

“Are you really the owner?” Soojin asked when she was about to leave the bar.

Shuhua nodded.

“Woah, it's cool!”)

She matched a good looking guy, whose hobby was beading this time. Not that Soojin was interested in that kind of time spending, but it seemed to be better than basketball or whatever.

(She had a guess that he was gay, even gayer than herself but anyways)

“Hey, I'm not! My appearance might be pure, but in fact-”

“Yeah, in fact you kicked that hulk parody out of here in few minutes.” Soojin sipped from her glass.

“You sound as if it wasn't impressive.” Shuhua said pouting theatrically while making a drink for some client.

“So how was your date?” The bartender asked curiously when returned to their talk after making a drunk girl pay for the cocktails she have been ordering for two hours straight.

“Ugh... nohow. We were to meet here actually.” Soojin was embarrassed now. She was not even a little bit tipsy, because asked for a non alcoholic drink.

“I still don't understand, why am I single. I have a degree, my jokes are tolerable and there's an overkill of people on this fucking planet.” She stared at the bartender while keeping being more emotional, than Shuhua could ever capture her. The half-smile appeared on her face as she said:

“And you're hot.”

“Yeah, I am. Then what's wrong?”

Soojin glanced at her in disbelief and offence. Shuhua chuckled. That was ridiculous, she thought.

“I don't know, maybe you're searching for it the wrong way?”

“Hello, alien, nice to meet you.” Soojin said placing her empty glass on the bar. “Where do I find a partner exept the internet?”

“I mean,” Shuhua put her work off for several minutes to talk to Soojin seriously. She has become kind of close to her during past month. “I got shocked when you met this ambulance girl second time.”

“She was pretty and intelligent.”

“Yeah, and left you after a few minutes second time.” Shuhua stated with strict expression. “That's the problem, Jin. You give people too many chances after they fuck up.”

“How else can you get to know each other? It's like- I do want to find a perfect match.”

“So you believe in soulmates?”

“I don't,” Soojin blurted out. “Well, maybe I do, but not in a traditional way.”

“Of course, you're bisexual, what traditional way?” Shuhua joked. Though it was left unnoticed.

“I really want to love someone and this someone to fall in love with me, like... in return.”

“The One?”

“No Taylor Swift mentions here or you'll have not only drunk, but also crying me!”

“But that's true? You're stunning brilliant woman but do wait for some ma- person to be your destiny?”

“Don't laugh at my wishes!”

“I don't, I don't.” Shuhua reassured.

The night was calm and illuminated by orange glowing of streetlights.

“Good night.” Soojin said leaving the bar.

“Good night!” Shuhua shouted back trying to make her hear the response despite the surrounding hustle.