"Hey, why...?" asked Edward Rich. He squeezed Siu Sean's left shoulder. Slowly. And at such close range, he thought Siu Sean would refuse again. But not. Siu Sean hugged him in fear as if she had just been chased by a criminal.
"I hate everyone," said Siu Sean. She didn't cry. Only her eyes were filled with pain. "I thought taking a scholarship here would give me great opportunities in my future work. But why so bad luck? Two months I was fine. Now almost everyone is pulling me to be insane."
Edward Rich blinked instead. "Hey... I can't quite understand what you mean."
"You know about The Scuttes?" asked Siu Sean.
The Scuttes is a Bar in the Bronx area, number 1536, New York. It is located not far from the Siu Sean campus. It's open 24 hours, busy every day and just lost Queen of the Bar to marry a fabric entrepreneur from Brooklyn.
The Queen of the Bar's name is Mei Mei. Cute dimpled girl from China like Siu Sean. Henan to be exact. She is best known in The Scuttes for her melodious voice, graceful ballet-style dance, fair skin, petite body and an unforgettable smile.
Siu Sean is right. Even though The Scuttes wasn't his regular Gay Bar, Edward Rich couldn't have missed this kind of information.
"Yeah... Then?" asked Edward Rich. "So what about The Scuttes?"
"Honestly I need a lot of money in a short time," said Siu Sean slowly. "And Celine—my college friend—said I had a chance to be the next Queen of the Bar. What do you think?"
"What?" surprised Edward.
It's too sudden.
Honestly, Edward Rich is really happy if Siu Sean is not old-fashioned anymore. That means he who became a friend of one campus can approach the girl as a lover. After all, Siu Sean is indeed beautiful and she is starting to memorize her character inside and out. But hearing the news that Siu Sean was offered to be the Queen of the Bar was another matter.
"I don't need to repeat what I just said, do I?" said Siu Sean. She let go of Edward Rich's embrace and laughed. "Celine said she had a friend who was ready to pay me a lot if I went in there. His name is Zhu Fei Long. I don't know who he is, but he said he was a coal businessman. Have you heard of him?"
Zhu Fei Long. A young coal entrepreneur who has had great success in the last three years in New York City.
Edward Rich is a student majoring in business. How could it be if he didn't know?
"Wait... Are you serious?"
Edward Rich shook Siu Sean's shoulder.
"Do I look like I'm lying?"
They both stare. A pair of clear green and brown eyes flashed each other's fire.
Not.
Edward Rich knew Siu Sean had no time for lies.
"Shit!" cursed Edward Rich couldn't take it anymore.
"Why Ed?" asked Siu Sean. "So you know about him for real?"
Instead of answering Siu Sean, Edward Rich was more interested in interrogating his friend further. "Then how about you? Accept Celine's offer?"
"I—" Siu Sean's throat constricted. "If I refuse it, how will my course be?"
"I..."
Edward Rich looked like he wanted to say something. He looked at Siu Sean's face, his long hair back in a low ponytail, remembered the girl's habit of humming behind the cafe barista's table, and her friendly smile that many customers liked. She's a virgin girl. And Edward Rich wasn't in a position to help—or buy his services right now.
"...I do not know what to say."
Siu Sean's eyes just got hot at this point.
"Sorry I didn't mean to be mad at your kiss earlier," he said. "I'm not as old-fashioned as you say either, but these past few days my mind has been full of what you just heard, Ed."
Edward let go of Siu Sean's shoulders. He shook his head. "Okay-okay... I see now," he said. "But as your best friend, I have only one suggestion: if you decide to go in there, your heart must go in at once. I mean, prepare yourself. Mentally and physically. Or else you might pass out just by looking at a lesbian couple. or gay sex on bar couches before going on stage."
Siu Sean stammered. "I-I know..."
"Do you also know what the risks of being the Queen of the Bar are like?"
"What?"
Good grief...
Who originally wanted to tarnish too, Edward Rich felt guilty for all the innocence of this one friend.
"There you will dress like a prostitute, sing in a high voice, dance erotically between naughty dragqueens climbing poles, being swept away by money, and screaming by hundreds of customers around the stage to provide good service that can be seen by the naked eye," explained Edward Rich. "Can you imagine? And at least you should be resistant to alcohol or drugs. Because they love to give that kind of challenge to a higher orderer—"
Siu Sean's eyes stared blankly at Edward. "Can I do all that?" she said worried
"If your friend Celine said Zhu Fei Long would pay special, then he is your first client. The man you will serve on stage, in front of everyone, they can take you to his bed," explained Edward Rich again.
Edward knew Siu Sean was scared, but it didn't matter if he told the truth because Siu Sean might face it one day.
"So..."
"Now it's up to Zhu Fei Long himself. Is he good or not. If he's good, maybe he'll just kiss you in public. Otherwise, he may strip and show off your body to the rest of the audience."
"Edward..."
Siu Sean wasn't strong anymore. Her fingers trembled. The thought of being toyed with that badly for the first time and money, all seemed unreal.
"Listen, Sean..." said Edward Rich. "You need money. I'm not in a good position to help either. Haha... You know I only eat instant noodles every morning now? But you can call me if you need anything. I mean, as long as you can. Maybe as your supervisor? So if you're dancing on the bare stage, I'll be waiting at the counter."
"Y-You don't mind?"
"Sure, I'm your best friend after all," said Edward Rich. "Celine might be right. That's a huge opportunity for you. And honestly, I know who Zhu Fei Long is. He's a powerful man with professionalism at work. So he must pay you fairly. But as for his other traits, I haven't and don't know anything. Got it? "
"Yes."
"Let me know any time you get there."
Siu Sean nodded slightly. "Yes, Ed."
Edward Rich couldn't bear to see the faint water in his eyes. "Now just cry if you want to," he said. "I'm your friend right?"
Siu Sean laughed. "Haha..." although her voice was not happy. "Yes, of course, Ed. Thank you so much for reminding me today..."
.
.