The ice cube glistens goldenly under the bar counter lights when I give the glass of whiskey a shake.   Usually, I like the crisp crystal sound of the ice hitting the glass.  This time though, the sweet melody unfortunately translates into my ears as a horrible waking alarm on an early Monday morning.  My memory of her, despite her lie, is that of the ice cube surrounded by the whiskey; it is still crystal clear, never tainted by the alcohol.  However, apparently her memory of me is that of the whiskey, diluted by the water melted from the ice cube.  Or maybe, her impression of me has always been like that and only now I know.  If that is so, then that is another lie from her.  “Hates me.” I laugh.  “She said that she hates me.  Can you believe that?”

“Yeah, I can believe it.” Baekhyun responds as he puts down the bottle of Budweiser that I have brought him.  Apparently, Taeyeon knows all of his bank-related information.  “If you going to be bitter like that, I won’t just hate you, I’ll throw punches at you.”

I throw a quick glance at his pathetic tough-guy act, shake my head and laugh. “Nah, impossible.” One cockroach is enough to finish off this guy.

“Meh.” He shrugs and takes another sip of the beer.  “I got to hand it to you — I used to think that nothing could ever provoke her…Until you came along.  By the way, what did you do to her anyways?”

I smile.  So, I’m the only one who can provoke Miss Song Gayeon?  I supposed that’s something at least — a good enough starting point.  Though, I don’t know where her hatred towards me is coming from.  Women like to complicate themselves unnecessarily after all.  Or perhaps, she’s on her…Don’t even go there.  Anyways, as long as she thinks of me, then it’s not the end of the world yet.  Suddenly, the ice and whiskey in the glass don’t seem as melancholic as when the night first rolls in.  The good and the bad are meant to complement each other just like ice and whiskey.   

“Hey, wipe that smirk off your face.  It’s creepy.” He glares at me.

I shoot him the same look back.  Party-pooper.  Mood breaker.  Squinty-eyed midget.  Instead of him getting on my case, I should be the one getting on his case.  What has happened to my party-animal, trendsetter brother?  I have had high expectations initially, but his taste as a professional photographer for high-end models is ironically poor beyond disappointment.  What’s up with this disco-lit club with only music from the eighties playing?  I sink back on my seat and sigh wearily when Madonna’s Like a starts playing.  What’s worse is that this idiotic friend of mine is actually humming to the tune with his hands going up and down like a monkey.

Suddenly, he stops all movements and pats multiple times on my shoulder as his eyes widen with excitement and says, “Two O’clock, two O’clock.”

“What?” I try to turn around, but stop at a sudden shock of pain on my shoulder.  I glare at my twelfth years old friend who has resorted to pinching to get my attention.

“Keep cool! Keep cool!” He whispers.  “Two slim cats at two O’clock…Probably advancing soon.”

As much as I want to jump in joy that my old friend is slowly coming back, I have to ask, “Are you trying to ask your Queen Cleopatra back home a death wish?”

“Hey, as long as I’m not talking or touching them, then even the Queen of England has nothing on me.”  Then he finishes off the beer and takes a pen and a small notepad.  “Don’t stop me, man.  I’m gonna get myself another free drink tonight, no matter what.”

“And the dog is out of his cage.” I comment.  He has sunk so low just for a free drink at a night club.  Is Taeyeon starving him?  She starts to sound like a dictator and a tyrant.  If people didn’t know, they would think he’s dirt poor even though he is the sole heir to a multi-million business.  “I pity you.”

“Hey handsomes.”

I take a quick scan at the two vixens standing next to us with their seductive smiles and great body lines in low-cut dresses.  One is wearing mysterious black and another is in hot red.  Not the thinnest sheet of paper could slip through those cleavages.  Not bad, probably could have been a nine out of ten if they are natural.  I smirk out of old habits.

“I like the way you smile.” The seductress in red saunters her way to my side.  “What’s your name, cutie?”

Baekhyun, grinning like a fool, secretly gives me a thumb up.

Just when everything starts to look like the good, old, carefree days of college, she invades my mind without permission again.  She is a cruel woman.  Even though she hates me, she still occupies my mind like nobody’s business.  By the way, shouldn’t it be the other way ‘round?  She is the liar here.  I don’t recall telling a single lie to her.  White lies, maybe.  However, I have never told her a lie as damaging as the ones she has left me with to deal.  What do I lack that she hates?  Most girls, like the one in front of me, would be dying to be in my embrace.

“What do I lack?” I ask.

“Huh?” Her eyes gawk like she doesn’t understand Japanese.  Or maybe, I am speaking another language.  Korean? English? I don’t know.

“I’m good looking, rich, and hold a career position that most people would envy at my age.” I rumble on, not even sure of the point I’m trying to get across. “Which girl in her right mind would dare to say she hates me and loathes me?  Heck, even a guy would jump his ship for me.  How ca—Ow!” I feel a hard smack on the back of my head.

“Way to ruin the party, Romeo!” All Baekhyun does these days is whine, whine, complain, complain, and then more whines and complains. 

I look up from my drink.  It seems the girls are gone.  Is that what he is mad about?  For ruining his one day of freedom?  He is becoming weak like a well-trained puppy under Queen Taeyeon’s rules.  That still doesn’t give him the right to damage my brain.  I elbow him back.

“Alright, get out of my sight for the next few days.” He throws a piece of paper in front of me.

“What’s this?” I take a closer look.  It’s a receipt for a camping trip — my name and contact information are on it.

He sighs heavily before explaining, “Tayeon has to cancel her camping trip because her mother suddenly wants to pay us a visit.  Can’t refund the damn thing, so I change it to your name instead.  Be grateful.” He continues, “At least it would be hitting two birds with one stone.  Her mother already has a bad impression of me, so I don’t need you to show up and add more fuel to the fire.”

So, today is supposed to be his preparation for the war of tomorrow.  I salute you, my brother.

Nonetheless, I’m still disappointed that he labels me as a troublemaker.  I say sarcastically, “Wow, I’m touched that you think so highly of me.” Then I read the receipt again. “Who would go camping in the middle of winter?”

Seriously.

He shrugs, “Beats me.  But she and her friends have been looking forward so much to the trip.  So I guess it shouldn’t be that bad.”

“Wait, friends?” This perks my interest.

“Oh yea, I think Gayeon should be there too.” He suddenly realizes.

I try to hold back my anticipation at the name.

“I mean, they’re best friends and all.”

Wait, something is off here.  I narrow my eyes at him. “Should?  What do you mean should?  Why are you not keeping track of what Taeyeon’s doing if she is keeping track of your money?” Seriously, this dude needs help.

“If you’re in a long-term relationship, you would know.” He reaches over, grabs my glass of whiskey and gulps the whole thing down in one go before I can stop him. “Let’s just say Gayeon will be there and leave it at that.”

Gayeon.

If she will be there, then she better be prepared.  She can hate me all she wants, but I won’t disappear from her life that easily.  This is the price for her lies.