"Even while being here I get bored, Ruben. The only good thing about this place is that at least the drinks make boredom less annoying, haha… How's the night? Any good story to tell yet?" I asked him, smiling since he's quite a nice talker if he's willing.
"Why should I tell you if you think this place is so boring, though? I'm not being paid to make the customers sleep with my stories, Connor."
"Come on... I take it back, this place isn't boring. It's all thanks to your great stories, Ruben."
Hearing him call me by my middle name feels a bit nostalgic today as I try to convince him to entertain me. It's probably because I won't be called that for a while. Using my middle name was the only way for me to feel more comfortable in my male role after all...
Contrary to his tease, he immediately started to prepare a champagne cocktail for me, aware that I like the sweet taste of a lot of sugar to start my night, "not a good but a great story you say? Hm... I don't think I have one, not yet at least. You came in too early as I said."
"I see… that's a pity." I watched how he served it promptly since he had already warmed up tonight. He gave me the drink quietly waiting for me to say the usual thanks, but this time, I felt like saying something different for a change. "Hold onto the bottle, I should be drinking another glass soon."
"Hm? That's rare. You won't wait to get one for free?" Ruben asked, surprised since he already knew I came here to save up some money. Although... he still didn't know I shouldn't even be allowed here to begin with.
"Not if it takes too long. Today I just want to drink whenever I want."
"... Did something happen? You seem a bit out of sorts. It's unlike you."
"I'm fine… I guess I'm just tired of boredom, haha. You know how it is."
"Well sure, yeah, that happens... Chin up, buddy. I might end up inviting you one if you keep up that low energy."
"Really? Then I'll definitely keep this up. Buy me a drink, Ruben."
"Heh. Don't be dumb. Take it slow and if no one comes when you're done with that one I'll give up part of my pay tonight to get you another one." Gesturing with his head as he said it, Ruben smiled amused by my shameless joke and continued to do his thing behind the bar.
"You promise?"
"Yup!"
"Alright... I'll take it slow." Watching the frisky drink, I took a moment to admire the colour before drinking it and as I enjoyed its flavour going all over my mouth to taste it wholly, I heard a voice come from behind, lean on the bar right beside me.
"How come you're here so early?"
"! Cough! Ugh... I almost choked just now." Keeping a little distance I moved back to properly see the guy. "Xavier... I could ask the same thing from you."
"Does that mean you won't tell me why?"
"Since you also won't tell me, it's only fair that I don't, right?"
"Hah… Will you change your mind today?"
"Will the sun not rise tomorrow?"
"Haaa… Still a hard and harsh no, huh. You'll regret it once I give up trying, Connor." Acting as if he was affected, he ruined his good performance with a smirk, sitting right next to me, resting his jaw on his hand as I felt his other one make the usual attempt of climbing up my back as I drank another sip of my drink. "So… even if it's early, you're already drinking—"
"Don't touch me."
"I'm not~ I'm not~" Taking his hand back from trying to pick an end of my short hair Xavier smoothly sat properly to then order a drink for himself. "... Ruben."
"Coming." Already preparing Xavier's, Ruben answered accustomed to the routine.
As usual, Xavier was wearing nice clothes, certainly from expensive brands. He always had this neat style of a rich man but somehow once he opens his mouth… he doesn't really behave like one.
"So, how has your day been? Any good news in your boring life, Connor? Besides the fact that someone already got you a drink?" This guy's way of speaking is not as frigid and cynical as I would expect from a wealthy man to have after all.
"... Not really." I decided to answer, playing a bit with my drink, smirking at it since I bought it. "Everything's just as usual I guess. But if I had to say… actually, today I received an e—"
"Xavier, what's taking so long? You said you were getting us drinks," the guy he was probably with interrupted me, catching a glimpse of Ruben, preparing Xavier's glass, "Oh, so you already ordered? Is this mine?"
"Ah, yes… Forget it. I'm drinking here, ok."
"Sigh. Okay, so what did you order—"
"Well. I'm with a friend, you see… this one's for me." Xavier with a cold disinterested voice cut the guy off while he tried to sit closer to him. Moving away before spelling it out more clearly for the guy to finally leave. "Don't sit here. You should just go somewhere else."
"Hah. This is a joke, right?"
"No. I'm staying here, go have fun on your own or with someone else."
This was another of those scenes Xavier likes to put on. I couldn't help but keep my eyes on my drink the whole time since I knew the offended man was glaring at me as if it was my fault while Xavier gave him a seemingly innocent smile to make him go away.
It was every time that this happened that I remembered what an a*shole Xavier could be when dealing with other people.
"Is it because of this... guy?"
"Think whatever you like. I'm staying here, don't ruin my night. Be a nice boy, alright?" Using a tone of voice that somehow solved these issues, I saw the guy blush a little, which was the sign that Xavier had won this match again with ease.
"Hmph, whatever. I guess I wasted my time."
"Mhm~ bye."