The Late Night Coffee Drinkers

The After Party

The same old habit occurred after a night of sanity, a night of Asian fusion and a night of scotch on the rocks. Perhaps, it is much easier to communicate with each other with soft jazz music that sometimes changed to soft soul or blues, yellow lights and familiar smell of coffee.

'How was your trip to Singapore' John played with the sleeve of his decaf black. There is just something to strangely comfortable in a familiar place even when the times have changed. Not any of them complained even when they are already getting fed up with their cups of brew, though not even a slush coffee with pumps of syrup can tempt them.

'I am thinking of getting some courses either in hotel management or interior design in Singapore while working there as a bank teller' Millie is happy to hear this from Fran. She accepted her as a friend even when she's a sex worker, and wanting even more from her to aim for something she deserves.

'When the deal pushes through, which is just around the corner. I'd be returning to Toronto unless I'm needed elsewhere Sydney or Hong Kong'. John is getting in to terms with so much change that has been happening. Not caring anymore how people see him and what people think of him.

'Should there be an opportunity to work at a media company I agree with then I'd go for it. I'm already done living here' Millie is accepting the fact that money cannot buy happiness. For some time it did, lower taxes and forex rates brings in more revenue for her but after some time the benefit of living overseas is already already having a toll. Both John and Millie, already had enough after all bad politics, bad people, pension funds and welfare deduction contribution and taxation systems are omnipresent and the IRS is omniscient.

'When you both leave, you'd visit me right' Francesca was seeking for assurance and reassurance. The only thing that might be left for her in friendly yet hostile place when her friends take off. Confident that people who had accepted her, had changed her much as she changed them for good.

A sex worker entered into the cafe with a client, a neat looking Chinese in a pair of shorts and a t shirt. There was silence among the trio, sometimes listening to people at the other table or taking the mickey out of them had become their outlet when things become heavy on the emotions whether it is talking about their frustrations or feeling of isolation whether by choice or by hostility.

Francesca treated them for another round of decaf, as John and Millie had paid for their dinner at Buddha Bar. It is going to be a long night.

Another sex worker came inside this time within rough looking Australian.

'Division of labour' John played with the paper wrapper of the straw. Millie holding in laughter, not to be obvious with what they're up to. Her lips locked in tight, hey eyes clinched... a laughter waiting to burst.

It is no surprise the after party whether a quieter one at a cafe, another bar that won't close for another hours, house party or nightclubs that close in the morning is where the fun always happen - there's almost always a room for any one.

Francesca came back to the table with three cups of decaf cappuccino. They subtly looked at the other two tables, and nonetheless find both interesting.

The Australian with a local, were just a normal clientele relationship. However, the Chinese with a transsexual sex worker had more interesting things to say. She is more tuned in listening to his utterance of wanting a meaningful life. His strong Chinese accent isn't amiss, and their table beside them was all ears.

'At least there is decency, unlike the Australian and the straight woman sex worker on our right' Francesca observed. 'Sometimes I think it is better to be born a man, and transforming yourself to a woman than being born as a woman' Millie strongly support the LGBTQ community. 'Look at her, you can tell she has the best of both worlds. The listening and attentive skills of a man, and the body of a woman. The other one is just a woman' her support far extends, using her education to fight for the LGBTQ rights.

John wanted to listen further, as things became more interesting so he tighten his lips to signal his friends to keep it down.

"I want a more meaningful life. It's all about money, people go to casino and I want meaning. You know like having some love, charity and helping the poor".

The trio were holding their laughter, their eyes were teary because of their need to burst out from laughing. Millie wiping her eyes subtly. Being older, and hopefully wiser they had heard and experienced the bullshit of many kinds of people. Those people wanting meaning, but doesn't change their ways to make it meaningful. Those people who are in charity but only quarter hearted on giving. Those people who say they're vegetarians but eat a meaty pizza of their so-called friends. Those people who refute your ideas, but actually stole them for their benefit without any recognition or appreciation. Those people who claim by blood, but are actually betrayers depriving a wise brother and his heir to feed off their stupidity.

The days when life is better to just fuck and get paid rather go through all the trouble of creating for it to be bought cheaply or stolen. The painful days of being wise and educated. The laughter and joys of knowing the truth, what is real and what is otherwise.

At the other table, it is way more straightforward. His hands sliding inside her dress, sliding it higher and higher towards the hips. She is giving in too easily wondering where to spend a cash she's receiving a manicure, a pedicure, a dress from a store or a make up, for his pleasure of one night of fornication from his hard earned AU$50 to 100. His impatience looms and had gone to feel up the side of breasts she's giving in to the money.

'There's this lack of indecency I don't like' Francesca wiped the froth of her upper lip. 'Despite that women are also of society, to think about it we are all victims of society based on the shortcomings and bad decisions people make. Even men are victims of vicious women such as that indecency of a transaction, women are victims of men in terms corporate and opportunities treatment, LGBT community are victims of verbal and emotional abuse and then the religious differences. The elite are victims of conspiracy theories, the proletarians are victims of tax evasion and the bourgeois are victims of their own education believing in degrees that are costly to earn for their taxes to feed the poor and poor politicians who cannot deliver a deal or a tax break'. Now sounding more like an improved journalist whether it's the daily dose of caffeine boost or coming out of the usual comfort nobody can ever tell on the transformation of a person. 'I couldn't be more proud of you'. John looked at Millie with awe, confidently knowing that wherever she will be after their nights and days of coffee gatherings and beyond the view of 38D.