“What do you recommend?”

 

“Personally,” I drawled, flipping a small glass up onto my side of the counter and tracing the rim with my finger, while my other hand clenched a small towel. “I see people enjoy a lot of things, but in this sort of weather, a lot of people go for the refreshing drinks. How does a Caipirinha sound?” I laughed at the puzzled expression on the man’s face. “It’s a Brazilian cachaca-lime cocktail. It’s has lime, sugar, cachaca – “ When the man’s expression only grew more puzzled, I stopped and waved a nonchalant hand at him. “You’ll like it. One Caipirinha coming up.”

 

Not long later, the man sat with a rather dazed smile on his face, shoulders slightly slumped, and eyes appearing to be spinning from the bright, polychromatic lights. Or maybe just the effect of alcohol.

 

“That was amazing. How old are you? You look experienced.” He slurred, reaching forward for the glass I was cleaning. A quick snap of the towel made him retract his hand and I gave him an innocent smile. “Eighteen. Let’s get you a cab. Hey, Landon! Cab for Mister Business Suit here!”

 

Before the man was carried away, the tall, blonde waiter I’d flagged over gave me a wink. “Lots of sugar and lots of alcohol, huh?”

 

I shrugged. “He looked like he needed it.”

 

Landon’s laugh could barely be heard from over the thumping music as he walked away, the man draped drunkenly over his shoulders.

 

~

 

“You’re lay-ate.” My roommate sang, making me jump and toss my vest at her face.

 

“Geez, don’t scare me like that.” I started to my shirt as she came over to me, a teasing smile on her face. “No, don’t give me that.” I stuck my tongue out at her, knowing what she wanted to imply. “Landon and I just shared a cup of eggnog – no alcohol, thank you very much.”

 

“Boo you, Wonnie. What fun are you?” She pouted.

 

“Not much.” I laughed before tossing off my white button down and pulling a gray sweater over the black shirt underneath. As I changed into pajama bottoms, I could practically hear Ji Hyun sulking behind me.

 

“Some bartender you are.”

 

I tossed the black ribbon – that had once been adorning my stubby, black ponytail – at her. “Goodnight, Ji Hyun. Even though it’s six in the morning.”

 

“Catch more sleep today, okay? So you can come out with us today.” She tucked me in like the motherly friend she was and I happily snuggled into the blankets.

 

“Yeah. Just wake me up.”

 

I’m Jiwon, an eighteen year old exchange student from Korea in England. I’ve been here a few months and will continue to stay here for a few months. We’re currently on break from our studies, so we have free time to do just about anything. I wanted a job, so one of the student advisors trained me – and I easily got a job at some fancy club as a bartender.

 

It wasn’t a bad job – it just took up a lot of my nighttime. I slept in the mornings, went out with the other students during the afternoons, and worked at night. Everything worked out just fine.

 

Studies were fun, the people were nice, the city was exciting – everything was great. Except, I couldn’t help but feel as if something was missing. Or rather, someone.

 

I didn’t dare wear my ring on my finger – especially as a bartender, it was too easy to lose the little thing. So I wore the silver band on a necklace I kept tucked into my shirt – close to my heart. No matter how simple and/or dull the ring looked to other people, it was the significance that mattered to me.

 

And the tiny carvings on the inside of the ring.

 

When I left to become an exchange student, I left a lot of things – a lot of people behind. My parents – although I didn’t really mind that part – my brother, – maybe I minded that a little – my friends, - definitely minded that – but also the man I liked.

 

‘Loved’ would be too drastic to say. We were young, after all, so it was dangerous to say were ‘in love’. Yes, we had exchanged ‘I love you’s, rings, intimacy, and all that – but we kept things pretty slow. When I left for England, I had a hard time saying good-bye to him, because I knew that with me gone, he would be open to a lot of other options. Being the handsome, too-sweet, debonair guy he was, he was subject to a lot of feminine attention. When I said good-bye, I already knew he could choose someone else, so I told him I didn’t expect things to last and that if he wanted to, he could stop pushing off the curvy girls that clung to him – and all he needed to do was tell me.

 

It’s been months, and we’re still the same as ever. He hasn’t said anything – anything about the on-goings at school, which, as you can imagine, slightly concerns me.

 

Nevertheless, his ring still hung on the chain around my neck as a reminder for what I – maybe once, - loved.

 

Byunghun Lee.

 

~

 

“Wonnie looks so cool!” A teasing round of applause filled my room and I rolled my eyes playfully.

 

“Please.” I answered. “Someone help me pin the vest?”

 

“My pleasure.” A husky voice whispered and I barely had the chance to turn around before the fabric across my torso suddenly cinched tight at my waist.

 

“Y-yah! Niel! I. Can’t. Breathe.” I panted. The voice chuckled and released enough fabric to allow me room to breathe, but hardly enough to move. “Meanie.” I pouted.

 

Niel just laughed and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Will you bring us back some drinks tonight?” He purred.

 

“.” I replied curtly, albeit smiling when I pushed him off to tie back what of my short dark hair I could.

 

“Secret?”

 

“.”

 

“…Fine.”

 

“I’m off, now. See you tomorrow!” I laughed, giving each of my friends a quick peck on the cheek – or in Niel’s case, a flick on the forehead – before leaving, apron draped over one shoulder and phone held firmly in my hand. Off to another night of drunken people and mixed drinks.

 

~

 

Luckily for me, there seemed to be some sort of party tonight – or at least a large group of friends that decided to bombard the club. Most of the crowd – or well, all of the crowd – consisted of people in their late teens or early adulthood. Most of the drinks ordered were simple beers, small shots, or the occasional mulled wine. Nothing fancy.

 

I was able to clean off and polish all of my glasses – or well, almost all of them, when a voice called me from behind the bar.

 

“Yah, bartender guy.”

 

Just because I wore the standard bartender uniform and had short hair, I somehow seemed to be easily mistaken for a guy.

 

“What?” I asked, putting back the glass I was cleaning and picking up another one without turning around.

 

“I…” The voice started the sound a little embarrassed. “I want to try something. What do you have?”

 

“Are you a newbie at this?” I laughed and turned around. Because of all the dancers, most of the lights were dimmed and I couldn’t make out his features. What did it matter, though? He was a customer, I was a bartender. We’d probably never see each other again.

 

“Y-yes…”

 

I laughed again and tossed my towel onto the counter. “What’s the strongest drink you’ve had?”

 

“A…sip of beer?”

 

I did my best to hold in my laughs. So he was one of those innocent guys – like Byunghun – who wasn’t into the drinks and clubbing thing, but dragged into it by his friends. “Allergic to anything?” He barely shook his head once before I nodded and pulled a tall glass up onto the counter. “One light Pina Colada for the newbie.”

 

Crushed ice, coconut cream, and pineapple pureed, I hastily mixed in sugar – tossing in a few drops of rum as a gift to the stranger. Pina Colada was one of my favorites – even without the rum. Maybe he’d like it too. “Here, you go. Enjoy.”

 

I picked up my towel and wiped the counter, putting away the things I’d used. About to walk away, I was pretty surprised when the stranger’s voice drifted at me over the music. “What’ll you do if I don’t enjoy it?”

 

I turned around. Well, that was new. “What do you want me to do?”

 

“Sit here and keep me company. Make sure I like the drink – and if I don’t, dance with me.”

 

“You want to dance with a guy?” A gay, drinking newbie.

 

“I noticed you were a girl when you mixed the sugar in.”

 

Okay, or not gay.

 

“Drink away. I accept.”

 

Two sips and a clean counter later, he leaned over the table towards me. It was still dark from my side, but I could see the glint of pale hair and blue streaks. “I don’t like it.” He told me before twirling the straw around in his glass and lifting it to his lips again.

 

“If you don’t like it, why are you still drinking it?”

 

The shadows that shifted on his face told me he was smiling. “Obligation for the fine lady that spent time making this for me. Now – keep up your side of the deal.” The glass was empty now. What a cheater. “Dance with me.”

 

But, a sweet-talking cheater. And after I’d been missing Byunghun so much…

 

“Hey, Landon! Watch the counter for me.”

 

~

 

Six songs later, we were back where we were – the only things different now was the sweat on our brows and our lack of breath. “You’re a good dancer.” The stranger commented, tilting his head and saluting me.

 

I waved a hand nonchalantly. “You’re so much better. I don’t know how to dance – I just followed you.” I admitted with a small tint on my cheeks. “Are you thirsty?”

 

“Do you have anything without alcohol?”

 

“I was going to offer lemonade.”

 

“Perfect.”

 

“So, Miss Bartender, I never caught your age.”

 

I chuckled and pushed his glass of lemonade towards him, leaning down to sip at mine. The cool liquid felt good, sliding through my parched throat – and the coldness of the drink cooled me down considerably. “What an odd thing to wonder. But I’m eighteen.” I pulled a plate of chips towards us and gestured him to it.

 

He took one, munching it curiously before leaning against the counter, towards me. “A young bartender.”

 

“I wanted a job.” I laughed. Somehow, I felt comfortable with this customer – much more comfortable than with any of the other people that had ever asked for drinks. Even though I hadn’t seen this person’s face when we were dancing… I felt comfortable. “I’m an exchange student. I wanted to make a little money while I was away – and things are different here than from home. It’s easier.”

 

“Exchange, huh? How long have you been gone?”

 

“A few months.”

 

“Leave anyone special behind?” His tone was lilted, teasing.

 

I smiled and took down another chip before going back to ponder answers while I sipped my lemonade. “Nosy.” I teased back, giggling when he raised his hands innocently. “Yes, actually.”

 

“Who’s this special guy?”

 

“Oh… he’s really special to me.” The stranger looked curious and I looked down, my cheeks pink as I swirled my straw around. “He’s so sweet and cute… He’s always around, as has been for a long time. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He listens to me and plays with me…He’s fantastic.” Then I looked up at the stranger, whose shoulders suddenly seemed a little arched – like he was anticipating something.

 

“Name?”

 

I smiled. “Akira.”

 

Disappointed shoulders, now.

 

“My toy dog.” I finished, bursting out into laughter. He choked on his lemonade and I tossed him a napkin. Pretty soon, he was laughing along with me.

 

“Your toy dog. Wow…” He laughed, shaking his head.

 

“Expecting something else?”

 

“An actual guy, thanks.”

 

I shrugged and polished off my glass, quickly moving to clean it. “It’s a little complicated. I don’t know if we’re still… we.”

 

“Why’s that?”

 

Why was I even answering these questions?”

 

“He’s pretty much perfect.” I shrugged again. “And me being gone for so long – he could easily go for those pretty girls that lust after him. We’re not even the same age – I mean… he has so many other choices.”

 

A small ‘aw’ from the stranger made me raise an eyebrow skeptically and he reached an arm forward, ruffling my hair. “He’d be an idiot if he didn’t choose you over them.”

 

“Ha.”

 

“Really.” His hand slid down to my neck and traced my collarbones, sending shivers up and down my spine. I started to feel a little guilty, especially when his soft fingers eventually found their way to the chain of my necklace and lifted it out of my shirt, staring at the ring with what seemed like interest. With the shadows hiding most of his face, I couldn’t really tell. “Any guy that wouldn’t choose you would be an idiot. Lusting girls or not.”

 

Think of Byunghun, I chided myself. This guy is just a sweet-talking stranger.

 

Then he tugged on my necklace, making me lean forward from the pressure and care to not let the chain snap. In leaning forward, we were now barely a centimeter apart – and the man quickly closed the distance, pressing his lips against mine.

 

Pineapple. He tasted like pineapple and something else.

 

I raised a hand to slap him, before I realized what that something else  was.

 

Byunghun.

 

I flicked him instead.

 

“Jiwon!” He whined, pulling away from me – but barely. I could now see his full, beautiful face under the messy blonde and blue hair.

 

“What in the world are you doing here?”

 

“I thought you’d be happy to see me.” He pouted.

 

Sweet-talking cheater.

 

“Stop pouting. I am happy.” He continued to pout. “Oh…” I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his pout. “And very surprised. You’re in…England. Why are you in England?”

 

“We’re on school break and the other guys wanted to come to England. I called your room the other morning, but some other girl answered and…we decided to surprise you. Surprise?” He laughed nervously.

 

I couldn’t help but sigh.

 

“Byunghun…”

 

“I’m here. With you. You, the only girl I’ve had eyes for since the day I first laid sight upon you. I’d be an idiot to go for any girl but you – you, Hwa Jiwon – the girl I love.” He whispered before pulling me close and holding his lush lips against mine again.

 

‘He was pretty much perfect’? He was totally, completely, freaking perfect.

 

 

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