SHADOWS OF DECEIT

Chapter 6

Disaster.

A complete disaster. 

This was definitely not how Joshua had envisioned his first day at work. His head pounded relentlessly, and the boundless energy radiating from the teenagers he was working with only made it worse. He had definitely drunk too much the night before, and every throb in his skull was a brutal reminder. Moving felt like an insurmountable task.

Each time someone called out for him to take an order or serve drinks, the sound pierced through his head like a splitting blade. He'd arrived at 10:00 AM, determined not to slack off on his first day, but now, with every clatter and murmur in the bar, he regretted that decision. His body protested with every step, and the relentless chatter around him only worsened his headache.

The younger crew members, the "kids" Jimin had mentioned the night before, greeted him with cheery smiles when he arrived. They were a lively group—teens full of energy, teasing each other and goofing around, their innocence a stark contrast to the grim events of the previous night.

Despite the chaos that seemed to hover over Black Swan, they were kept apart from it, their laughter ringing out like sunlight breaking through dark clouds. Occasionally, Jin would scold them for getting too distracted, but it was clear they adored him as much as they did their work.

Joshua could have appreciated their youthful spirit, if only his head wasn't banging like a drum. His body sagged under the weight of his exhaustion, and every task felt like a monumental effort. The crowd was smaller today, no doubt because of the dramatic events that had unfolded the night before, but that offered little relief. He needed a moment, any moment, to just... breathe.

Leaning against the counter, Joshua let his eyes fall shut. He had taken a painkiller, but the damn thing seemed to be taking its sweet time to kick in. The pressure behind his eyes felt unbearable, as if his skull would split open at any moment.

Deciding that he couldn't last much longer like this, he stepped away from the counter. It was his break time anyway; the kids could handle things for the next half hour.

He made his way to one of the VIP sections, which was mercifully empty. The low-lit corner of the room was exactly what he needed.

Joshua collapsed onto one of the long couches, grateful for the soft cushions beneath him. Setting an alarm for thirty minutes, he closed his eyes, praying for some peace.

Finally, as the painkiller began to ease his throbbing headache, the tension melted from his muscles, and Joshua drifted off into the first true moment of peace he'd had since he stepped foot into Black Swan.

Joshua stirred in his sleep as the watch on his wrist vibrated, pulling him out of the heavy, much-needed slumber. He groaned softly, blinking away the haze in his eyes, still disoriented. But as his vision cleared, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Sitting right across from him on the opposite couch was someone—a stranger—staring back at him, an amused smile playing on their lips.

"Good morning," the man chirped, his voice far too bright for Joshua's sluggish state.

Joshua's cheeks flushed red, a mix of embarrassment and confusion heating his face. He quickly sat up, clearing his throat in an attempt to regain his composure. "You know, you could've found another VIP corner to sit in," he muttered, the irritation in his voice barely masking his discomfort as he prepared to leave.

The stranger, completely unfazed, leaned back casually, a smirk curling his lips. "Of course I could've," he said smoothly. "But once I'm inside, I can't just waltz around freely, now can I? Besides," he added, eyes gleaming with mischief, "you were such pretty company. I'm pretty sure I've seen every beautiful face around here, and I can't help but feel bad for somehow missing yours."