Chapter 15 – You Rule Me

Editor: Sammy

Proofreader: Happy Bubbles

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“Dark Night?” The bartender grinned. “Isn’t it too light?”

“It’s for him, not me. I’m driving today.”

Hunter immediately shook his head. “I don’t drink alcohol, you should know that…”

It would remind him of his father’s last moments before he succumbed to alcohol.

“Hunter, you’re different from your father,” Winston spoke.

“What?”

“You won’t be destroyed by failure nor lose yourself. The one forever controlling you will be your own mind, never the alcohol.” 

Hunter glanced at the ice-blue liquid that was placed in front of him. The drink was the same colour as Winston’s eyes, bringing forth a type of attraction that was hard to refuse.

“This so-called self-control isn’t just about avoiding these kinds of things, but rather that even if you’re trapped in it, you’ll still be you. Besides, I’ll always be looking after you.”

Hunter was a little shocked. He knew very well that as a top racer, Winston would certainly possess a strong sense of self-control; managing his body to ensure he’d be in the best state and condition to control the car. Therefore, compared to trying out alcohol, Winston should be more inclined to advise against consuming it instead.

He gazed at the glass in front of him. In fact, he hadn’t told anyone that from the bottom of his heart, he was afraid of alcohol. Yet he was still like any other young person who looked forward to drinking alcohol and pretending to be an adult.

This thing had snatched away his father— his only family. However, what Winston said was right, that which stole everything away wasn’t the alcohol, but rather his father’s heart that had refused to face his own failure. 

Hunter lifted the cup and lightly took a sip.

Instead of a suffocating taste, a cool sensation permeated every cell along his taste buds and relaxed his body much more.

“I don’t think this tastes dark at all, it’s rather quite mellow!” Hunter found himself quickly falling in love with the taste.

“It’s like a Dark Night, immersing you in its peace and amenity; rendering you incapable of waking up until you’re swallowed whole by the dense night.”

Winston’s voice was shallow yet gentle, just like feathers patiently sweeping past Hunter’s heart one by one.

Hunter noticed that he liked listening to Winston speak— liked it very much. 

“Can I get another one?” Hunter faced the bartender.

Yet the bartender turned towards Winston while smiling. 

“Give him a glass of Lip on Finger,” Winston opened his mouth. 

The bartender’s hands and arms shook once again, and not long after, a light, pink drink was pushed in front of Hunter. 

“Hey, it’s pink? Are you sure it’s not for a lady?” Hunter laughed as he faced Winston.

“Give it a try.” Winston glanced sideways.

Fine, since you highly recommend it, I’ll give it a taste.

This better not be a cocktail you use to pick the ladies up with.

Hunter widened his eyes as he took a sip, afterwards, he covered his mouth.“ Oh—”

“How is it?” Winston turned his body and propped up his chin, watching him with half-lidded eyes. 

Hunter froze as this was his first time witnessing a side of Winston that exuded such a relaxed expression. The languidness in between his brows resembled fingers gently pressing on his nerves one by one, however, the moment Hunter tried to grasp them, they would silently disappear.  

“My lips are a bit numb and it feels like my tongue is all curled up…” 

“That’s why it’s called ‘Lip on Finger’,” Winston replied. 

Hunter turned his face to carefully observe the pink liquid. Afterwards, he raised his head and exposed a look of admiration towards the bartender.

After this cup, Hunter curiously gazed at Winston, seemingly wondering what drink he’d offer him next.

“Crazy Desire,” Winston lightly said.

The bartender revealed a slightly surprised expression. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Hunter was a little curious and asked the bartender, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, just that,” the bartender used his thumb and index finger to indicate a gap, “Crazy Desire is a little stronger than the previous two drinks.”

“Only by a bit?” The drink’s name made it sound as if it was very strong.

Usually, a bartender’s version of ‘little’ implied a different kind of level.

“It’s really just by a little bit.”

Hunter watched as what seemed like magic was used to concoct a drink that was bloody red at the bottom, but had golden liquid floating on top. It was then pushed right in front of him.

“I won’t choke on this right?”

The bartender smiled as he shook his head and replied, “You’ll fall in love with the taste.”

Hunter licked his lips as he looked forward to it.

“Hey, it’s best to drink it in one shot,” the bartender warned.

“In one shot?” Hunter cautiously glanced in Winston’s direction.

The latter nodded.

“I’ll look after you.”

You’ll look after me.

You won’t let me sink into a world that I don’t belong in.

Hunter lowered his head and grinned.

“We actually haven’t seen a lot of each other, you can even count the number of times we’ve met with your fingers.”

“So what?”

“But it’s really weird… you give me an unexplainable sense of security.”

Even my father, who introduced me to karting, never made me feel so secure. 

“Then promise me that in any matter that seems dangerous but has to be done, you’ll take me with you.”

“Haha,” Hunter laughed as he raised his glass and quaffed everything down.

Within a few seconds, a seemingly explosive sensation surged in his lips. It wandered unbridledly around his body before rushing into the depths of his brain. After a wave of dizziness, every one of his cells relaxed. 

“Oh—” Hunter sighed in surprise.

“How is it?” The bartender asked with a grin.

“It feels amazing!” Hunter’s favourability towards the bar was bursting. “Is there anything else that’s interesting?”

“Take it easy, kid.” The bartender laughed.

“Hey, I don’t like others calling me a kid.”

“You’re definitely younger than me and besides, being called a kid means that you’re still young. Wait until you reach my age, then you’ll see how beautiful the world can be when someone calls you a kid again.” 

“So, is there anything else that’s interesting?” Hunter was in high spirits now. 

The bartender looked at Winston. “What drink do you want me to give him next?”

“You Rule Me.”

For some reason, Winston’s voice seemed to be flowing in Hunter’s head. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t pour it out.

“You Rule Me?” The bartender’s face showed an ‘is it really ok?’ expression.

“En.”

“Okay.”

Hunter once again admired the bartender’s artistic skills in mixing. With him being such an attentive audience, a grin began hanging on the bartender’s face.

This was the last drink; vivid colours settled slowly, transforming into a dark, transparent red.

“Do I have to one shot this as well?”

“No, drink it slowly.” The bartender winked and smiled.

His smile caused Hunter’s ears to inexplicably redden.

Winston raised his chin as he faced the bartender, the other leaned down.

“Did Gina come to work today?”

“She’s here, she should be backstage. I’ll call her for you?”

“En.” Winston nodded.

Hunter took a sip and the liquid evaporated in his mouth, revealing layers upon layers of rich flavours, only to then settle down and drag away his entire ability to think.

At this moment, a short-haired lady wearing a vest and western pants approached Winston.

She arched her body near Winston’s side as her ears leaned towards his lips. 

This made Hunter’s eyebrows wrinkle up.

Winston was cold to most of the people around him, other than the necessary staff, Hunter had never seen anyone so close to him.

Winston turned his face, causing Gina to practically block him. Hunter couldn’t help but begin to speculate what expression Winston had in this moment.

Unsure of what he said, Gina nodded and glanced in Hunter’s direction and smiled.

It was unknown when the bar’s slow blues changed, as if influenced by the woman’s faint breaths.

Gina approached Hunter, swaying her hips to the slow-moving music.

The already vague waiter’s uniform that Gina wore seemed to emit a kind of enticement that transcended gender.

The rest of the customers smirked ambiguously and left their seats while casting looks over here.

Gina’s fingers hooked onto her bowtie and while rubbing against Hunter’s seat, she circled around the chair, but contrarily, she didn’t touch Hunter. As she untied her bowtie, there were several times where she seemed ready to sit on Hunter, however, she turned the other way.

Hunter could only resist the urge to catch her in his embrace.

There were other eyes on him, waiting for the moment when Hunter could no longer restrain himself anymore against Gina.

Her long legs rubbed against his armrest which made the bottom of his heart itchy and caused his blood to rush downwards.

Just as Gina circled by, Hunter saw Winston on the opposite side.

He was still supporting his chin with a single hand, however, his gaze was now clear and icy.

It was cold enough to instantly clear his mind; any impulsive actions were tossed to the back of his head.

As the music continued tormenting people’s hearts, Gina’s action became bolder as it started to progress from slow to hurried beats.

Yet Hunter realised he was more attracted to Winston’s eyes. 

It was as if he was defeated by the alcohol and in Hunter’s eyes, the depths of Winston’s appearance seemed to carry a trace of enticement. It was becoming increasingly apparent, even Hunter couldn’t suppress the thought that the one releasing sex appeal while circling around him alongside the music wasn’t Gina, but rather Winston.

In a trance, Hunter imagined Winston pulling open his pure white-collar, but just as Hunter was about to see his clavicle, he let go. His knees slid past the armrest and his nose rubbed against Hunter’s face, but when he was about to reach out to catch him, Winston indifferently left . His beautiful fingers hooked onto the edge of his jeans and started to slowly pull them down. From the gap between his shirt and jeans, Hunter could see his mermaid lines which made his blood boil.

But Hunter knew very well that just by gazing at the eyes of Winston who was seated in the same place, he couldn’t tell which one was a figment of his imagination or was the real one. 

As Winston slowly lifted his fingers and gently touched the rim of the empty glass, it seemed as if he was lifting every little blood vessel in Hunter’s heart instead. The corner of Winston’s mouth hooked up and Hunter could see his beautiful adam’s apple as his chin raised up slightly.

Such a smile seemed to be dragging Hunter into the abyss of hell.

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The author has something to say:

When frying eggs:

Hunter: Say, were you pissed when you saw me hitting on girls in front of the bar? 

Winston: Hmph.

Hunter: Then you’re not pissed!

Winston: See, I’ve upgraded my technique in teasing you, so that you won’t be able to copy it.

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Notes:

nura: I’ve taken off my pants and this is what you show me??