With the brightness of the day still lingering in his eyes, Yunho stepped in through the door and fluttered his eyelids. In an attempt to allow his sight to focus on the relative darkness of the seemingly crowded bar. Until he could finally see properly.

 

What he noticed first wasn’t the crowd of over fifty nicely dress, attractive, people wandering around and chatting with one another. It wasn’t the fact that there were several platinum blondes; dressed in skimpy, tight dresses; lingering within a sea of brunettes. Or a single solitary redhead chatting with a distinguished-looking young man dressed in a blue jean jacket and jeans near one of the large -out windows. It wasn’t the soft, entrancing, and jazzy classic American rock tunes emanating from the nearby 70s-style jukebox lingering in the corner. It was the overall style and décor of the small, little bar that nearly took his breath away.

 

From the outside, the Wolf Moon seemed like a place that was more fitting of the description of being a hole in the wall. But that seemed to be simply a ruse for the bar was far more interesting than its edifice would leave one to believe.

 

The dark linoleum floors, strong walls, and high ceilings were as black as midnight; filtered with tiny specks and flecks of silver within its dark color that mimicked a starry night sky. In the middle of the large room sat, a single solitary square-shaped focal point style bar with a top made of deep gray granite. Sparkling in the soft light that emanated from gentle overhead lights, it was cordoned off by hanging racks of crystal clear glasses; that seemed to splinter the light like that of a fine prism.

 

Surrounded by dark black cast-iron scrolled bar stools and adorned with matching grey upholstery upon their seats, the nearly serene-looking bar area was manned by one single bartender. Dressed in a familiar ensemble of a black leather jacket and matching jeans.

 

Around the edge of three walls, sat nearly a dozen small, private booths. Each was curtained off from prying eyes by black lace curtains threaded with shimmering silver filaments. Surrounding small round granite-topped tables, adorned with glowing tea light candles flickering from small crystal goblets. On the fourth wall sat a small raised platform, for what seemed like intimate vocal performances. It held only a single chair and mic stand and fell under the glow of a stunning neon sign. Depicting a lone wolf baying at an overly large glowing super moon.

 

“Whoa...” gasped Yunho softly.

 

Slowly, Yunho crossed the starry night sky under his feet feeling as if he was actually floating among the glorious midnight, and made his way to the bar. Grabbing an empty stool near one of the bar’s corners, he settled in his seat and took in more of the place with amazement.

 

“Changmin wasn’t kidding,” whispered Yunho. As he glanced around the room and noticed the portraits of wolves in their natural habitat, framed in black mahogany frames, adorning the walls. “This place is amazing.”

 

“What can I get ya?” came a questioning voice.

 

“Oh?” questioned Yunho as he tore his eyes away from a particularly fascinating oil painting of a pair of wolves basking in the moonlight. And looked up at the young, blond bartender with kohl-lined ice blue eyes and a nearly seductive smile.

 

“What can I get ya?” repeated the young man as he placed a square napkin on the bar in front of Yunho.

 

“Do you have? hesitantly questioned Yunho. “Macallan Scotch?”

 

“Oh?” smiled the bartender mischievously, obviously impressed with Yunho’s inquiry “We do...but.”

 

“But?” prompted Yunho curiously. Knowing how much Macallan Scotch can go for, he was sure the good-looking bartender was wondering if he could afford such an affluent brand.

 

“It’s a hundred dollars a glass...” informed the bartender with an accessing and raised eyebrow.

 

“Twenty-five-year or thirty-year?” questioned Yunho knowingly.

 

“Twenty-five,” answered the bartender, his smile instantly back on his face.

 

“I’ll take a glass, then.” nodded Yunho acceptingly.

 

“Very well, Sir,” he responded with an impressed chuckle. “Coming right up.”

 

Yunho watched as the young man reached deep into his pants pocket and retrieved a small key. Before he turned away and made his way down to the other end of the bar. The young man stopped in front of what could only be described as a strange-looking black cabinet, near the bar’s only register, and grabbed a thick crystal highball glass from the rack above his head. Bending down and inserting the key, he turned the lock and opened the door. After only a few moments of looking the man stood up with a dark, amber-colored bottle in his hand, and quickly poured some of its contents into the glass. The moment he was done, he immediately put the bottle back, closed the door, and relocked it. Pulling on the door twice, as if to make sure that it was secure, the young man smiled before straitening up and bringing the glass to Yunho.

 

“Here you go, Sir,” smiled the bartender as he placed the glass on the square napkin. “Enjoy.”

 

“Thank you.” nodded Yunho before lifting the glass and taking a gentle sip.

 

At one thousand dollars a bottle, for twenty-five-year-old Macallan Scotch, any connoisseur of the beverage knew that not only was every single ounce practically sacred but it was never just consumed disrespectfully. It was created to be sipped and savored, appreciated for its intricate flavor and unbelievably velvety texture. Yunho lavished in the taste, letting out a soft hum of satisfaction as the intoxicating and heavenly distillation landed on his tongue. He instantly made a mental note to shower his best friend with gratitude the next time he saw him.

 

“Amazing...” whispered Yunho as he let the delicious liquid glide down his throat.

 

An hour of quiet contemplation and enjoyment passed by as Yunho slowly enjoyed his scotch. Not caring for the long-forgotten mixer happening all around him until there was a sudden commotion that seemed to grab everyone’s attention. Near the jukebox stood two women. One blond dressed in a skin-tight black cocktail dress and a brunette in an equally tight low-cut red dress were screaming and arguing back and forth at one another. In between the two stood a young man, in his mid-twenties, dressed in a black blazer over what looked like a white t-shirt and dress pants. He looked as if he was trying to keep the peace.

 

From what obscenities the two girls were screaming at each other, it was easy to tell that they were fighting over the same guy. Yunho just shook his head. Before the verbal fight transformed into something more physical, a tall man dressed in a black t-shirt; bearing the bar’s wolf-baying-at-the-moon logo; separated the two and escorted them both out to the street. As the door closed behind them, the bar fell back into comfortable and quiet murmurs of conversation.

 

After a few moments, Yunho motioned toward the good-looking bartender once more and signaled for his second glass. The young man instantly scurried to Yunho with a smile.

 

“Another Macallan, Sir?” he questioned with a smile.

 

“Yes, please,” replied Yunho.

 

“Yes, sir!” nodded the young man before making his way back to the other side of the bar and retrieving a second glass.

 

“Enjoy.” chirped the bartender as he placed the glass in front of Yunho.

 

“Thank you,” replied Yunho appreciatively.

 

As he drew the glass to his lips, the sound of more screams and shouting from outside the bar echoed around him. He couldn't help but just sigh in disappointment.

 

“Seems like their still fighting,” mumbled Yunho to himself with a shake of the head.

 

“Typical...” he added just as another melodic voice uttered the same word from his right.

 

Surprised by the sound of another voice, Yunho turned to look beside him and notices a man with raven black hair sitting on the stool next to him. His dark chocolate brown eyes are filled with mirth as he takes a sip from a frosty glass of beer and chuckles to himself. With a sweeping glance, Yunho notices that the man is dressed in a black blazer over a button-up white dress shirt, black slacks, and matching wingtips. He looks like a professional, yet somehow also mysterious.

 

“Events like these are always a meat market.” the man mumbled as he pulled the glass from his lips and gave a cordial smile in Yunho’s direction.

 

“True enough,” responded Yunho with a smile as he tipped his glass in the man’s direction before taking another sip.

 

“You must be a true connoisseur...” ventured the man gently, with a curious look, a few quiet moments later.

 

“Connoisseur?” questioned Yunho. “How so?”

 

“Not many come to a place like this and order a glass of twenty-five-year-old scotch.” noted the man. “You must have eclectic and eccentric tastes.”

 

“Nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things in life now and again.” scoffed Yunho slightly. “When you have a little extra money to blow.”

 

“I never said there wasn’t.” he smiled.

 

“Name’s Joon, by the way.” offered the man as he reached out his hand.

 

“Mine’s, Yun,” replied Yunho as he reached out and shook the man’s soft hand.

 

“So...” ventured Yunho. “What brings you to the Wolf Moon.”

 

“Oh?” stammered Joon. “I guess you could say...I’m a regular here.”

 

“What about you?” questioned Joon. “I don’t think...I’ve never seen you here before. What brings you to this little corner of the world?”

 

“The meat market...” huffed Yunho.

 

“Ah...” chuckled Joon. “You have my sympathies, then.”

 

They fell into silence as Joon motioned to the bartender with another small chuckle. When the young man arrived before them, his face was full of elated smiles.

 

“What can I get you, Joon?” questioned the bartender.

 

“I’ll take another beer, Su,” he replied.

 

“Coming right up.” chirped Su happily.

 

“So... You are on a first-name basis with the bartender?” questioned Yunho curiously as he watches the bartender practically skip away.

 

“He and I have known each other for a long time...” offered Joon. “We went to school together.”

 

Yunho glanced at the bartender and then back at Joon and couldn’t help but wonder how old the two of them actually were. Either they were quite young, just out of high school or college, or they definitely didn’t look their age.

 

“Oh...” smiled Yunho softly, seconds before Su returned and handed Joon his beer.

 

“Hey... Joonie?” questioned Su with a curious look. “I just wanted to check. Are you working tomorrow?”

 

“Yeah...” he nodded.

 

“Ok...cool.” smiled the man before he turned and walked away to help an elderly gentleman motioning to him from the other side of the bar.

 

As Joon took a sip of his freshly poured beer, Yunho noticed the wayward glances the man shot in his direction and the nearly playful smile on his face but doesn’t comment. After a while, the man’s playful smiles and gentle chuckles to himself slowly begin to tease Yunho’s curiosity. Until he can no longer withhold his urge to investigate the man’s behavior.

 

“Something funny?” questioned Yunho curiously.

 

“Yeah...” chuckled Joon softly. “You...”

 

Yunho couldn’t help but scowl. What did he mean by that?

 

“I’m sorry...” apologized Joon. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

 

“It’s just...” he elaborated. “You seem a little like a fish out of water here.”

 

“How come?” questioned Yunho.

 

“I don’t know,” Joon replied as he looked Yunho up and down. “You just seem a bit out of place is all. You’re not like the regular clientele...you’re kind of different.”

 

“Is different necessarily a bad thing?” teased Yunho with a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

 

“Never...” Joon smiled almost lovingly. “It's...refreshing.”

 

Before Yunho could respond to the man’s obviously flirtatious response, his cell phone suddenly went off in his pocket. With an apologetic nod in Joon’s direction, he answered the call. Joon watched as the smiling face, that had been occupying his time for the past half hour, slowly changed into something more akin to worry.

 

“I understand...” muttered Yunho, almost angrily, as he picked up his glass of scotch and finished off the last few ounces in one quick gulp. “I’m on my way.”

 

Hanging up abruptly, Yunho quickly pocketed his cell phone. Retrieving his credit card from his wallet, he motioned for the bartender.

 

“Can I help you?” questioned Su.

 

“I need to go...” responded Yunho as he handed over his credit card.

 

“Settle the bill...” he added as he glanced over at Joon. “And his tab is on me as well.”

 

“You don’t have to...” answered Joon only to have his protest waved off by Yunho.

 

“It’s on me...” he smiled. “For keeping me company.”

 

When the bartender returned with Yunho’s card and receipt, he quickly signed the paper and then looked up at Joon apologetically.

 

“Sorry...” he apologized. “There’s a problem at work. I have to head back.”

 

“I understand.” smiled Joon. “Maybe I’ll see you around here again sometime.”

 

“Definitely.” nodded Yunho before waving goodbye and quickly darting out of the bar.

 

As Joon took another sip of his beer, he couldn’t help but smile when he catches the playful look on the bartender’s face.

 

“What?” questioned Joon with a mischievous smirk.

 

“You just can’t help yourself sometimes...” quipped Su as he glanced down at the receipt and noticed that Yunho had left him a fifty-dollar tip. “Can you... Jae?”

 

“Nope!” he answered with a laugh. “I’m a lost cause.”

 

“And always have been.”

 

“True enough.” Su chuckled with a knowing nod.