CHAPTER 15.2: Importance

How far would you go for someone you like? Or even love?

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“Welcome to Club Secrecy.”

“W–W–What are w–w doing here?”

“I said we are playing by my rules, we are going to fight it out in here.”

Gui could feel the slow jazz music in the club to set its ambience off slow and steady as oppose to the loud, heard pounding club music it usually plays after sunset. Since it still daylight, there was barely no guests in the club but from her line of vision, there was a couple of booths that were occupied with people.

“Xiao Man, Apple and Xiao Mei Mei, what are you ladies doin’? Skipping school in broad daylight?”

The bartender clicked his tongue in a playful manner before looking over to Gui who was hiding behind the girls. Apple rolled her eyes  as she move out of the way and push Gui forward.

“Okay, the one who can pull the most shots wins.” Xiao Man lean over the counter and with a sly grin, she conversed with the bartender. “Give me your best one.”

“Well, aren’t you a bad girl?” She reach over to touch his tiny stubble. “Don’t tell me you like good girls?” She undid her necktie bow and undid some buttons on her shirt, enough to see the lining of her zebra-printed bra. “Comin’ right up.”

Xiao Man, Apple and Mei Mei sat down in one of the booths and waited for their shots. In the midst of the greatly anticipated shot glasses, Gui slowly step into the booth and watch Xiao Man and her group of friends flirt with a couple of guys located right across from them.

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When the bartender came by, he place each glass on the table. “Thank you.” Xiao Man pecked him on the cheek, “don’t push yourselves too hard now.”

“Uh huh...” Mei Mei shouted out as she took the drinks.

Xiao Man nod as she turn her attention to see Genie and George appear with the cute bartender, “they said they were your friends.” Xiao Man wave him off while she look over to George. “Call Li Quan over here.”

“I left my cellphone back at school.”

“Fine.” She look over to Genie, “Use hers.”

Genie scoffed at her attitude before looking over to George. “No, . There is no way I am calling him here.”

“George...” Xiao Man pouted as George shrugged, looking over to Gui.

“Fine, let’s get started.” Xiao Man took of the ring and dropped it into an empty shot glass.

When the drinks were distributed evenly, Apple commenced the game.

“Round one.”

They both drank.

“Quite bold for a nerd.” Xiao Man whispered as Genie sat down beside Gui.

“Round 2.”

They both chugged the shot and Xiao Man cried out, loving how the alcohol go down . “Xiao Man, go easy.” George call out but Xiao Man ignored him and watch Apple refill their empty shot glass.

“Round 3.”

When they drank, Genie was about to get up but Gui pull her back down. “Don’t let them know.”

“GUI!”

“Please... Genie...”

“Fine.”

Genie walk over to George with her cell phone. “Call that bastard and tell him to come and stop this.”

“Li Quan? But I thought you didn’t want him here... Last time I checked, you seem to hate him.”

“I do.”

Genie pushed her cellphone over to him and went back to Gui to find them consuming their fifth round.

“ENOUGH GUI!”

“No... I can still go.... on...” Gui slurred her words effortlessly while Genie’s shook her head and sneak a peek over to Apple and Mei Mei who might be thinking the same as she was.

“Tell her to stop!”

“We can’t, the only person who can stop her is Li Quan.”

“That bastard?” Genie glared at Xiao Man who was turning red, just like Gui.

“I CAN STILL DRINK!” Gui took her sixth shot. Seeing her so riled up, Xiao Man followed and consumed it as well.

“You are not bad as... a... dork.”

Xiao Man slurred as they look at each other, wondering how many shots they were going to take to declare a winner.

“OKAY, TWO SHOTS AT A TIME!” Xiao Man shouted out as Apple and Mei Mei prepared four shots. “Drink up ladies!” Apple cried out, full of smiles as she watch the two drink themselves into oblivion.

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George leaned against the wall and called Li Quan.

“Yo, come to Club Secrecy, your girlfriend is crazy over here.”

“Which girlfriend?”

“Xiao Man.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Just come, stop her before she shouts to the whole world about you two.”

“Fine, I’ll come, give me half an hour.”

When George ended the call, he was greeted with another call who went by the name of: ‘Boyfriend <3’

He knew that it wasn’t his phone so there was no need for him to answer the call. So he dropped the call, in hopes that the doesn’t call again but against his wish, Genie’s boyfriend called over and over again.

‘What the hell?’

Against his better judgement, he picked up the call.

“GENIE, WHAT HAPPENED? I TRIED TO CALL YOU A DOZEN TIMES BUT YOU WOULDN’T PICK UP! WHY?”

“Who is this?” Calvin froze when he heard a man’s voice. “Who are you? Where’s Genie?”

“She is busy.”’

“And who are you to be answering her phone?”

“It seemed urgent so I answered. If you have a message, just text her or tell me now, I’ll give her your message.”

“I ASKED YOU WHO YOU ARE!?”

“George. Anyways, I need to get back.”

“WAIT, TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH GENIE? WHERE’S GUI?”

“Gui? You know Gui? Wait... are you perhaps friends with this Aaron character?”

“What if I am?”

“THEN TELL HIM THAT HE IS AN !”

“MIND YOUR LANGUAGE! WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?”

“BECAUSE OF HIM, MY FRIEND IS NOW SUFFERING BECASUE OF THAT STUPID RING. TELL YOUR FRIEND TO TREAT GUI NICE OR ELSE I WILL COME AND PUNCH HIM TO HIS SENSES.”

George was so angry that he didn’t bother hearing what this guy had to say. He quickly ended the call and walk back into the club, noticing how tipsy Gui and Xiao Man was. As he made his way over to them, he scratch the back of his head and took a look at the bartender who was also showing concern for the two.

‘When is this going to stop?’

“This is enough, Li Quan is coming so quit.” Xiao Man look up to see George and in an instant, she smiled brightly. “REALLLY?!?”

“Yeah, he will be here soon so end this game.”

“BUT I HAVEENN’TT WON YEETT!”

“Li Quan said that if you stop, he will stay with you once he gets here.”

“REALLLLYY?!?!? ARRRE YOUU LYINNNG TO MEE?! DON’TT LIEE GEORRGEE~!”

“I’m not.”

“OKAY! LET’S STOP THHHIS!”

Xiao Man smiled happily as she squeezed her cheeks. “LI QUAANNN ISS COMMMING FOR MEE~” She called out one last time before pushing the empty shot glass with the ring in it over to Gui. “I HAAVVVEE NEVVVER MEETT SOMEONE WHOO IS THIS STUBBORNN! YOUU GOTT LUCKYY!~”

Seeing how dizzy Gui was, Genie took the ring out of the glass and place it in her pocket. George came over and carried Gui on his back while the bartender came over to look over Xiao Man.

“Apple, Mei Mei, take care of her and wait for Li Quan, he’ll be here shortly.”

“Got it.”

They said as George and Genie walked out of the club. “Where should we ta