Reminiscence of Existence

Chapter 2

It was 9.30 in the evening, Godt and Tee just enter a bar. It was refurbished 1960s townhouse, with a dark and broody atmosphere, Parisian-inspired décor with low lighting and sophisticated soundtrack of soft jazz. It was far from Tee's usual choice of bar, which he preferred one's with loud music and a band maybe a nightclub rather than a pub or a jazz bar, but today his purpose was to entertain his best friend, so, this kind of bar was perfect for him. Godt was someone quite opposite to him. Most of their interest were opposite to each other, but they just get along all right and being the best of friends you'll ever need in your life.

The seat around the counter was quite full so Tee had to find free seating for them both. He was wondering why the place quite crowded when a bartender appears from a door behind the bar counter. A few seconds later he starts juggling with the bottle creatively moving on the air and catching it ever smoothly. His movement was smooth, his hands' movements were tender yet firm and it was quite a show for almost five minutes. Tee was watching it in awe and admiration, but Godt was stunned and he was mesmerized with the deep dimple smile of that particular bartender, and at the same time were drowning in the hazel brown eyes of the young man, who felt familiar. But the movement of the guy was so tender, smoothly moving around just like a slow dance that was beautifully portrayed in front of his eyes.

He couldn't move. He couldn't hear anything around him as of the moment, when everything else around him was a blur, except for the guy behind the counter. He was wondering, but he didn't want to miss even a second of this moment, but to enjoy it to his heart content. However, even after the guy had finished doing his flair bartending, entertaining all others, Godt couldn't snap out of his world. His eyes were blinking and his mouth was open slightly, and was he drooling?

"....dt, Godt, Godt!" The ever loud voice of Tee not just snap Godt out of his reverie, but also attract the attention of other customers in the bar that was turning their head to both of them, making Tee waii to everyone he could around them. "What happened to you?" Tee ask right after everyone else had to get back to their own business, ignoring the two guys. "Hmmm? Oh, nothing. Let's take a seat." Godt was going ahead and taking a seat on the barstool in front of the counter. The space was quite empty after the flair bartending show just now and Tee was taking a seat beside him with a frown. Once settled, he was looking at the bartender ever closely and snap later on. "Oh my! He was the young boy this evening, isn't he?"

Godt was sighing at ever loud voice of Tee, making the bartender turning his head to them. Slowly, he was coming in front of them, giving a smile never reach his eyes, enough for a formality to the customers. "I hope you didn't come for me for what I did to you this evening. Your order please." Godt didn't dare to look into those eyes that were enough mesmerizing him, those will make him act like a fool, so he was just looking around at the back of the bartender, to all the display liquor, but ended up ordering for two beers for both of them. Once the bartender had served them, he has left them right away attending other customers.

"Why are you so loud?" asked Godt. "Sorry, man. I was just shocked." They were drinking silently, drifting away in their own thoughts while listening to the background music that was making Tee sleepy. But they were shocked by a loud voice once again, but this time it wasn't Tee, and the tone wasn't that so nice to hear. So, as a reflex, he took his phone out and recording the scene. "What are you doing?" Asked Godt. "Shhh..." the only reply of Tee and Godt just shaking his head. But then when Godt turning his head to the source of the yelling, he wasn't liking it at all.

"Who do you think you are?" That rude man was yelling at the bartender. The bartender keep trying to calm him down when suddenly the guy had splashed the water on the bartender surprising him. Without having enough time to react to that, a punch was flying on his left jaw making him stumble back. At the second attempt, the hand of that rude guy was caught in the air by a muscle tall guy, wearing a black suit. Right after that, he was pushing the guy hard falling on the floor. "Took him out." All he said and was fast attending the bruised face, slightly bloody at the side of the mouth bartender. "Copter, are you okay?" He was asking the bartender, concern and worried for the little guy. "I'm okay P'Tae." The guy name Copter was answering while wincing as he felt the side of his mouth sting.

"Wait here, I'll get the first aid. Suthee, cover Copter's position while I tend to his wound." The tall guy named Tae was giving order and try to leave when Copter holding his wrist, stopping him. "I'm fine, it's just a small cut. Suthee doesn't have to cover for me, we had a lot of customers tonight. Let's do that later, I'll let you do it. I promise." The tall guy was sighing, but he knew how stubborn the guy is. So he just let him be when a customer calling for him and tending to their needs. With a bruised jaw, he was smiling to the customers ever-friendly even it sting him to smile, but he didn't stop it.

This time, Tee was stunned, and Godt was angry. He didn't like what he saw, but he felt useless as he couldn't do anything. But then again, he didn't understand why he felt this angry, more than he felt to his dad this evening. This drinking session surely wasn't helping. He was drinking the beer in his hands quite aggressively, emptying the glass in one go, taking Tee out from his stunned positions. "Hey, slow down, you buffalo. If you ever drunk, I leave you here." It was an empty threat, both Tee and Godt know it. So, Godt just ignored it and calling for Copter again.

"Yes?" Copter was asking right away. "Another glass of beer please." Copter was pouring the beer in the glass when Godt speak again. "Why you live your life like that?" It makes Copter stop pouring. "Excuse me?" Godt was looking straightly at Copter while Tee keeps blinking his eyes. Seriously, what's with tonight and the weird things happening to them both? Yes, to them both. He felt weird about himself too. "You shouldn't just let the guy do everything to you without fighting back. You should at least...." Godt was trying to say 'punch him back' when Copter cut his words. "So what after that? That guy will hire a lawyer with all the money he had and sue me later on. And I will be fired from my job with nothing in hands when I couldn't even defend myself using the law that made for rich people like you. Of course, you wouldn't understand since everything was as easy as paying back for a guy like you. This is your beer, enjoy your drinks."

Copter leaves them again to keep doing his job when Godt can only watching the guy doing his job ever diligently. Since he arrived at the bar, Godt never seen the guy ever rest from his job. Even after the punch, he continues his job as nothing had happened before. He felt suffocated. He didn't know what had happened to him. There were mix feelings inside him that makes him more frustrated by time. When he turned left, Tee wasn't on his side anymore. He wanted to look around for Tee, but he knew the guy will come back later on, so he turns his gaze back to the oblivious bartender, ever seriously doing his job. He didn't drink, he didn't do anything for how many hours already, but to watch the bartender moving around, here and there attending the customer.

It was already 1 am, and only then the customers were slowly decreased by number, but Godt was still there. Tee was still nowhere to be found, and he could care less now. That guy must have found someone to get laid with. Speaking of the devil, his phone rang showing the annoying picture of Tee on his phone. Once he swipes the green call icon, Tee was talking right away. "Don't wait for me," and ending the call without even waiting for Godt's response.

End of Chapter 2