Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
IT WAS JUST five o'clock on a humid thursday afternoon when kim namjoon staggered into the bar, tripping over his own feet on his way in. his sleeves were bunched up at the elbows and his shirt was only partially tucked in, painted with discolored stains.
namjoon's eyes were glazed over, hands searching for something to balance himself with.
the intoxicated man had finally eased himself into a booth, head lulling backwards, when he realized the booth was already occupied. he muttered something under his breath before getting up and beginning an awkward strut towards the counter.
a sleek red rotating stool fell victim to namjoon's weight as he hoisted himself onto it, tappings his knuckles on the granite obnoxiously.
soon he came face to face with a messy haired, widely smiling woman on the other side of the counter that had apparently been in his blind spot. she was propped up on her elbows, chin resting in her hands.
"hi there! you're too drunk for me to serve you," she grinned, fingertips tapping the apples of her cheeks.
namjoon sputtered, his clammy hands slapping the counter. "and how you would know that drunk i am?"
the woman just casually picked up a water cup and filled it, placing it directly in front of him. "the fact that your sentence physically pained me to hear," she smiled, lips sparkling with strawberry lip balm.
she turned her back to wipe down the dirty wine glasses behind her, along with the countless shot glasses that littered her station.
"oh, you think you're funny, sweetheart?" namjoon chided. "just hit me with your strongest shot."
the woman looked over her shoulder at him with a strangely striking stare. namjoon felt his stomach flip, her gleaming gaze reminding him of coming face to face with a venomous snake. she blinked softly with her long lashes, somehow going from dangerous to sparkling innocence.
namjoon found himself taking a cautious swig of the water in front of him. with a chaste smile she continued working, humming quietly as she scrubbed the dishes.
a tall man with greying stubble along his jaw and a toothpick hanging from his lip walked around the length of the counter, a rag slung over his shoulder and an apron tied around his waist.
"hey, you! what are you doing?" the man asked, leaning against the counter beside namjoon.
the woman set down the glass and towel in her hands before turning to face the man fully.
that's when namjoon noticed that the pockets of her apron were filled with dirty paintbrushes and tiny yellow stars were painted along the white stitching.
"oh, hey mr. fhang," she wiped her damp hands on her apron. "i was just leaving, actually. see ya!"
the woman hopped over the counter and sprinted out the front door without a second glance.
"that girl," the man sighed, rubbing his temple. "what are we going to do with her?"
