Chapter 21
"Blue Cocktail, and Recognized Heartbeats"
That was when it hit him. A plan, Sleek, slimy, and so Willson.
He turned to Richard, schooling his face into something that looked like concern.
"You won't be able to remember her like this you know,"
Willson said, voice smooth as makgeolli.
"You should go and talk to her. Only then will you remember who she is, where you met her, and all. Don't you think so?"
Richard was nodding along slow, distracted nods until something clicked. He stopped mid-nod.
His eyes narrowed. He gave Willson the look. The I-was-born-at-night-but-not-last-night look.
"What are you up to?" Richard asked, voice low.
Willson shook his head, the picture of innocence. Too innocent.
"What are you talking about? I don't know what you're saying."
"Really," Richard emphasized, one eyebrow arching.
"Yes, really," Willson kept denying it because he knew if Richard found out, the whole thing would flop. No rizz, no plan.
"What could I be up to? I was only saying it for your benefit. But if you don't want to, then no problem,"
Willson said, shrugging like he couldn't care less. The ultimate reverse psychology. Aigoo, this man.
Richard still eyed him, suspicious, but he let it drop. He exhaled.
"Fine. I'll try to have a conversation with her then. I'm going."
When Willson heard him, he jump in excitement in his head while giving himself a high five. He tried controlling his emotions and said to Richard that was leaving,
"Wait. Give Susan a drink from me. If she asks, say it's from a gentleman upstairs. Make sure to be very specific."
Richard heard him, shook his head, and left the VIP room without another word. Bro is so cooked.
........
Mia couldn't sit still. Her skin prickled. That feeling, the one where you know someone's eyes are on you, crawled up her spine. She kept glancing around the club, searching faces in the dim, pulsing lights.
When Susan noticed her fidgeting, she leaned in. "What's wrong? You good?"
"I'm having this feeling like I'm being watched, and it's making me super uncomfortable,"
Mia complained, her fingers tightening around her Jacquemus Le Chiquito.
When Susan heard her, she burst out laughing. Loud. Unapologetic.
Mia jerked back, shocked.
"Why are you laughing?"
Susan wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm laughing because you're very cute and innocent. Gwiyeowo."
"What?" Mia asked, confusion written all over her face.
"You're very silly, you know? You're saying you feel like someone is watching you, but my dear, it's not just someone. Many people are watching – not just you, but me too. So just chill, will you?" Susan said, patting Mia's hand like she was calming a spooked kitten.
Mia thought about it and sighed. Maybe I am acting kind of silly.
Richard arrived at the bar just as Susan ordered.
"Blue Cup-tail for her, and a Red Cup-tail for me," she told the bartender, pointing at Mia.
Mia happened to look up at that exact moment and froze. Her breath hitched.
Him.
It was him, the guy from the bookstore. The one with the tired eyes and the voice that made her forget what book she was holding.
Her heart did this weird thump-skip thing. Omo.
Ever since Richard had come down to the bar, his eyes had been drawn to Mia like a magnet. So when he saw her shocked expression, the recognition in her eyes, he became sure. They knew each other.
He took there finished drink from the bartender and served it to them.
The Blue Cup-tail, sapphire liquid with a sugared rim and a curl of lemon for Mia.
The Red Cup-tail, deep crimson, garnished with a single raspberry for Susan.
He slid them across the polished bar and said to Susan,
"A gentleman upstairs is paying for your drink," he said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Susan and Mia both blinked, surprised.
Susan asked, "Who is he?"
Richard tipped his chin toward the VIP room upstairs, its glass wall tinted dark.
Mia winked at Susan, fast. Susan just blushed and rolled her eyes. Classic.
Curiosity lit Susan's face. She was about to stand up when Mia's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
Susan looked at her.
"What's wrong? You good?"
Mia dragged her close, lips nearly touching Susan's ear as she whispered, "The waiter that just gave us this drink is the guy I told you about a few weeks back."
Susan stared at her, confused.
"Who?"
Mia gave her a light smack on the arm. "The guy at the bookstore," she hissed, raising her eyebrows. Hellooo?
Susan thought about it. Then her eyes went wide. Her hand flew up to point at him, but Mia caught it mid-air.
Susan whispered, "Are you sure it's him?"
"100% sure it's him. How could I forget a handsome hunk like that?" Mia whispered back, her cheeks already heating.
"Wow. What a fate," Susan smiled teasingly. Mia just rolled her eyes, but her pulse was not getting the memo to calm down.
Susan turned to Richard, her voice dropping into flirt mode.
"Hey there, handsome waiter." She winked. Full power.
Mia facepalmed. She smacked her forehead and shook her head in pure secondhand embarrassment. This girl is going to be the death of me.
Richard was confused, wondering why she called him a waiter. But still he straightened, all professional.
"How may I be of service to you, ma'am?"
Susan just smiled, slow and catlike.
"Not me… but her." She winked at Mia when she said it.
"Susan!"
Mia shouted, trying to stop her, but stopping Susan was like stopping a train with a Post-it note. Impossible.
Susan continued, unfazed.
"I heard you two have met before?" she said, pointing between them, her smile turning mischievous.
Richard's gaze shifted to Mia. He studied her – the way her lashes lowered, the way her fingers fidgeted with her purse strap, the way her breath had gone shallow. After a beat, he said,
"She does look familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen her before, though."
Before Susan could jump in again, Mia beat her to it.
"How could you forget me?"
Mia asked, and she didn't mean to sound pissed, but it came out sharp. Hurt, hiding under attitude.
Richard just smiled and scratched the back of his head. And God, the way he did it, sheepish, a little boyish, his sleeves pushed up to reveal his forearms, it was unfair. It was so unfair.
Mia felt her brain short-circuit. She was staring. She knew she was staring.
A hand waved in front of her face. Susan's voice: "Earth to Mia."
Mia blinked hard and came back to her senses. When she realized what she'd done dazed, gaping like an NPC – heat flooded her face. She felt so embarrassed, especially with Susan and Richard both looking at her like that.
I wish the floor would just swallow me. Right now. Please.
Susan, bless her chaotic heart, broke the awkward air.
"I'll be going up to see who bought me this drink. So you two can enjoy your conversation."
She smiled, then sashayed off before Mia could grab her.
Traitor.
When Mia turned back to look at him, she saw him smiling. That smile. It irritated her. And flustered her. At the same time. Make it make sense.
"What's with your smile? Has anyone not told you that you look like a clown when you smile?"
Mia said, rolling her eyes to hide the fact that her heart was doing parkour.
Then Richard said, soft, like he was sharing a secret, "No but they said i have a beautiful smile" He winked at her while smiling mischievously.
"What a narcissist" Mia rolled her eyes while smiling a little bit.
He looked at her with a face of realization and smiled,
" After hearing your voice, I now remember how we know each other." He smiled again, and this time, Mia felt it in her stomach.
She was angry. Shy. Flustered. All at once.
If anyone paid close attention to her face, they'd notice how red it was. Red like Susan's Ruby Woo lipstick. Red like the Red Cup-tail on the bar.
The air between them shifted. Heavy. Warm. The bass from the club faded, and all she could hear was her own heartbeat and his quiet breathing.
Romance wasn't walking in – it had kicked the door down.