Winter Hearts

Strike

The approach to the club was after a winding walk through cafes and pedestrian traffic. Despite the cold, some girls were dressed to kill in miniskirts, strappy heels and skimpy tops under their coats. Min was glad she was rugged up, and spared a small thought for poor Siana in her heels. She looked over at Siana as she and Leo walked up ahead to join the line outside the door. She stood huddled next to Leo and N, whilst Hongbin hung back to stand with Ravi as she, Hyuk and Ken lined up behind them.

Nah, the girl looked amazing in those shoes, and she will thank me for it later, Min mused as she watched Siana's legs move.

Behind her, she heard a low whistle.

She heard a man's voice say out loud in english, "I bet those legs look good doing more than just walking." A burst of laughter followed, and she guessed there were at least three guys, some clapping, others slapping each other on the back.

She rolled her eyes. Some guys just had no filter, let their thoughts just vomit out into the world, not realising how bare it laid them.

Just opening themselves up to judgment from angry missies like me, she thought.

"Dude, you promised me a good time, where we headed?" Min thought the accent was familiar, like from back home, and she wondered if she recognised the voice.

"This is the place, bro."

Min sighed. She would have to listen to their inane conversation while they waited to get in. Ken and Hyuk chatted amiably to each other in Korean, and she sensed the men behind her quieting as they heard them speaking in their language. She heard some whispering and laughing, but could see that Ken and Hyuk, if they were aware of it, were unperturbed. She guessed they were used to having some sort of effect on the people they mingled with, even if only for being a group of good-looking, styled boys.

As they moved forward in the line, Min saw the bouncer up ahead looking at Leo, Siana and N. He spoke to Siana, and she leaned forward to answer him as she gestured behind her.

Min knew the drill. Party of ten, harder to seat, or to let in all at once. Min turned to see where the manager and his PA were, who had lagged behind as they chatted with the aide from the embassy who had escorted them throughout their day. She saw them walking up a distance away, and as she tried to catch their attention to get them to join their group quickly, she realised that she knew one of the men in the group behind them.

It was Mark, whom she had often flown with for work, and with whom she had been working when Siana had flown to Greece. He must have flown in on an earlier flight in the week, because he wasn't with her on her shift. It was likely he was due to fly back in one of the next couple of flights since she was staying on. she guessed it was his last attempt to have fun before getting back to the grind.

He looked a little unsteady on his feet, and she felt annoyed at his behaviour. Despite the fact, he had always been professional to work with, if a little flirty. She didn't mind that herself, as he always kept it lighthearted and inoffensive. But seeing him like this now and overhearing his conversation with his pals gave her pause for thought. She wondered what kind of drunk he was with his friends, and how he would be if he suddenly realised he knew the girl he was talking about.

His two friends sensed she was staring before he did, and nudged him as they looked at her with smirks on their faces. He looked up and his face broke into a wide grin.

"Min!! Minnie! Guys, she's the one I was telling you about. She's right here!"

Min stared at him, unfazed, as Ken and Hyuk turned to see who was talking to her. They seemed to close ranks on her immediately, seeing Mark with his friends looking her up and down.