A week had passed since the last time he saw Ivan. The bruises on his face had somewhat disappeared. He had to use his makeup heavy in some areas so that the light bruising were no longer showing. He was happy to learn that nothing was fractured or broken. That was one thing he was scared the most of. Henko was pouring a drink, when he noticed one of his regulars come in. The man looked as handsome as usual with his blue business suit. His hair was shorter than normal. It seemed he gotten a haircut. His bangs were no longer in his eyes. It stopped above his eye brows. The length in the back stopped above his nape. The man walked over to Henko and asked for a scotch. Henko greeted him and poured the man a drink. He took the small glass and downed the drink in one swift swallow. Slamming it down on the table, he requested for another one. Henko had never seen the man act this way. It was kind of odd.
"Did something happen?" Henko asked the man. He looked at Henko with his brown eyes.
"People," was all the man said. Henko didn't say anything else. He just poured the man another drink.
"I see that you had a haircut. It looks really good on you." The man downed the second drink before making a grunting noise as his response. Henko was really unsure what to say to the man.
"Why do people mess with other's lives?" The man questioned. Henko looked at him for a moment before responding.
"Well, it depends on what kind of people you're talking about. If it someone that loves and cares for you, they only want to do what they think is right."
"Even if they push their values on you?" Henko thought for a moment.
"What type of values? Wait? Did someone say something about you being gay or something along those lines?" Henko questioned the man. He poured the man another scotch, which this time he sipped before gently setting the glass down.
"My parents…" The man started. "…They tried to set me up with a woman. They had me polish up for her and everything."
"Oh, yeah. I know that feeling." Henko nodded his head.
"My parents know that I'm only interested in men, but they decided to introduce me to a woman. They want me to have kids. I don't want any." The man took another sip of his drink. Henko new well that type of situation. His parents were against the fact that he was gay and an Okama as well. However, he was able to make something out of himself and his parents had not fully gotten used to it, but they no longer try to force their ideas onto him anymore.
"Yeah. My parents were the exact same way." The man looked up at Henko.
"How were you able to get your parents off of your back?" Henko finished making a drink for another customer when he responded to the man.
"I came to the house dressed like this." He pointed at himself. "My father was yelling at me in Japanese about being an Okama and being disgusting. He actually tried to take off my makeup. It was quite dramatic actually. My mom had to pull my dad off of me and allow him to cool down. Then he asked 'How will you be able to pick up a girl if you look like one'."
"What was your response?" Henko tilted his head and smiled as he said,
"I'm trying to pick up guys."
"Are you serious?" The man said chuckling.
"Yeah. My dad backhanded me when I said that. He wasn't happy at all. He yelled at me and told me to get the fuck out, and I did. I never looked back." Henko brought his index finger to his chin. "I haven't heard anything from my parents for years." Henko turned to smile at the man with his eyes closed and finished speaking. "But they started to call me to check up on me." Henko opened his eyes and put his right hand on his hip that was sticking out a bit. "Even though my father is the one that really doesn't agree with my type of life style, he still makes sure I'm healthy and nothing bad has happened. That are what parents are for. So maybe your parents will come around, it just may take a while." The man took his drink and tossed it. He gently placed the drink on the counter.
"I don't think so. I'm already thirty-six years old and they are still nagging me about this." Henko wouldn't ever guess the man was in his late thirty's. He pointed at his drink. Henko filled it drink again. He smiled as he grabbed the drink. He held it in his hand. Henko was surprised the man was smiling. He never had seen him smile before. "I decided the best thing to do was come here and get something to drink."
"Sometimes that's okay." Henko responded.
"It's even better when I'm looking at your beauty as well." Henko blushed at the comment. The man chuckled as he saw Henko's reaction. "And your blushing face looks really cute as well." Henko couldn't help but move his head and say,
"I think you're getting drunk. Your eyes are not seeing things well." The man chuckled some more.
"I highly doubt it's the drink that makes you beautiful." The man took a sip of his drink and set it down. He intertwined his fingers and rested his chin on entwined hand. "I have always thought that you were beautiful. I can only imagine what you would look like out of the dress and makeup." Henko looked down at the floor as he spoke.
"I wouldn't say that I look better out of this outfit."
"I bet that you look like a nice dish that you can't help but eat it once it's in front of you." The man smirked. Henko turned to the man.
"Is that what you think?" Henko questioned the man. The man kept his grin and spoke.
"I know, if I was able to, I'd eat you in an instead." Henko turned bright red again.
"Now you're just teasing me." The man sat up and laughed. Once he was done, he looked at Henko.
"I'm actually being serious." The man spoke out. Henko turned his head.
"I…" Henko didn't know what to say. Since the whole incident with Ivan, Henko had been trying to forget that man. Would getting together with this man, would it help him forget Ivan? Henko had stayed quiet and heard the sound of the bar stool slide across the floor. Henko turned to look at the man as he stood up.
"I guess this time I'm being rejected. But that's fine. Like I said, drinking in front of you made my day."
"No I…" Henko started. The man stopped.
"What time do you normally get off?" The man asked. Henko responded softly.
"Around two fifteen-ish." The man nodded. He tossed what was left of his drink.
"Then I will see you then." Henko's mouth was opened wanting to say something, but he just watched as the man walked away while waving his hand behind him. Henko looked down at the glass in front of him that was empty. Was that man planning on coming back? It would actually be nice to be able to forget about Ivan.