Mattias went to work with a light heart. After his talk with Beverly, he felt that everything was going to be fine. He promised Beverly that he'll pay after his mother went back to work. Beverly didn't care much, she only told Mattias that he could pay her any time.
When Mattias showed up, those who were waiting for him felt ecstatic. And when they saw he was in a good mood, those who knew Mattias long enough felt that their chance had come. They had observed enough to know what to do and not to do, especially those who failed and was miserable enough to be banned.
If they want Mattias to open up to them, they shouldn't make him uncomfortable, yet not comfortable enough for him to think that they were just another customer.
The most important thing was, if another bartender was already manning the normal counter for serving the customers drinks then the only place Mattias could be was the counter which only had one customer.
In the bar Exquisite, there was a special seat and it was called a special seat service. It was called a special seat service because one bartender would serve only one customer. And it was first come first serve type of seat. The most important part of the special seat was, they could even hit on the bartenders!
In fact, it was due to this that bar Exquisite was famous. It made those people who wanted to feel special, be special while drinking their hearts out. Today, it was Mattias turn to serve the lucky customer.
No one wanted to give up the seat, so when Mattias arrived at the front of the special seat. A lot of people stood up wanting to take the seat, but before they could get near, someone beat them to it.
A young man who looked pure and honest sat down on the only seat in front of Mattias. Everyone who stood up knew that someone had already sat so they came back to where they came from, defeated.
To stay seated on that special seat, someone had to spend money like water. And if the bartender judged that the customer seating in the special seat was not spending enough money, then they'll have to be kicked out of the seat. It was cruel, but for those people waiting in line, it was a chance.
Thus, the bar Exquisite kept their number one place of gay people to visit.
"How's your day sir, what drinks do you want for today?"
Mattias looked at the young man who seemed younger than he was. He was already 25 and next month he'll be 26. Mattias didn't care about what other people looked like, but Mattias couldn't help but look twice at his only customer for the day.
Not only did he look young, he seemed to be crestfallen. Mattias took the number 1 spot who was chosen by their customers who they wanted to serve them in the special seat service. It was not only because of his outstanding looks. After two years, even if Mattias was good looking they would soon lose interest on him, and yet he was the top pick because he was that good. He made his customers feel special in a way that even if they spent a lot, they wouldn't mind as long as they could talk to him even for an hour.
For the customers Mattias was the most good looking, gentleman, respectful, knew how to keeps secrets, and he was especially good at comforting people. He was like an older brother, a bestfriend, a lover, and even a father.
Now, Mattias had some regulars that spent a lot whenever he was serving at the special seat. It was also the reason why Beverly didn't care much because the money that came from Mattias customer was a lot, and at the same time she really didn't care about the money. She built a bar because it was her dream to own one and now she did.
"...I want a cosmopolitan."
"Cosmopolitan, coming right up."
Mattias smiled at his customer. He knew that everyone had their own worries. Whenever he was serving at the special seat, he would try to become a friend to them. In the past years he had served, most of the people only wanted a companion or someone who would listen to them.
All customers have a lot of money, they were all people with good backgrounds, but when they sat at the special seat, the facade they kept would fade. It was especially so for Mattias' regulars.
Even if society seemed to accept LGBTQ people, there would still be some people that were against it. Coming out to your family or friends could change their view of you. And seeing a straight young man like Mattias they felt liberated. They never have to pretend. They could babble on about anything and he would never show disgust nor awkwardness.
It was to the point that they felt that sometimes six hours wasn't enough, and yet they respected Mattias as he respected them. They didn't ask for personal information nor to meet outside.
After all, they only wanted someone to listen to without judging them.
Like Mattias' regulars, Justin needed an ear to listen to his problems. He had heard from a friend that a bar named Exquisite would have a special seat that he could drink on his own while had someone he could talk to, he only needed money to spend to be alone. And the name of the bartender he recommended was Mattias, who works from 6PM to 12AM.
Justin had given up because he didn't see the Mattias his friend was talking about. It was his first time to enter the bar. He could also see how elegant the bar was. If not with a friend's recommendation he might not have stumbled upon it. Fortunately, money was not one of his worries.
Justin got the membership card a week ago, but he only had the guts to go today. When he thought that he would go home he got a glimpse of Mattias. And when he saw that he was going towards the direction of the special seat, he didn't think anymore and abandoned his seat, hurriedly moving towards the seat. Fortunately, he followed his gut feeling, if he hesitated then he might have gone home.
A drink was pushed on him. Justin lifted the Cosmopolitan drink he had ordered and drank it.
"Cheers to myself."
As Justin remembered it, it was a beautiful and sweet drink. Memories flashed by in his eyes. The very first night he had gone to a bar and tried to know his gender. The first kiss, the lovely words he had longed to hear. Now, it was all nothing but a ghost haunting him.
Mattias looked at the sad young man but didn't talk. He waited for a minute before he could hear the young man talk.
"You know, it was the drink he ordered for me. It was my first time being treated into anything. It was always me who pays for everything. It's actually sad, all my peers only see me as a wallet."
Justin didn't hear Mattias talk, but he didn't care. He only thought that he needed to spend more, so he ordered another Cosmopolitan.
In fact, Mattias didn't know how to reply. Unlike the young man, who had money to treat anyone, it was always him that was treated to everything even if he had money before. He had grown accustomed to it. The only one he treated which wasn't a family was his ex.
When Mattias has served the drink, the young man drank it in one sitting. After he drank, he looked more hurt.
"Man, it was really frustrating for me. If I had known that he'd play me for a fool, I would never have given my all. I was a fool. When he embraced me, I thought that everything would be alright. I was flying at that time. I thought I was at the top of the world. Top of the world my ass, he just wanted to fucking top me!"
"..."
"Okay, bro. Just serve me drinks after every drink. Here's my card. My friend recommended me here. You're Mattias right?"
"...Yes."
"Good. I thought you were mute."
Justin laughed merrily for the first time. It might be because he was naive or simply he thought that Mattias could be trusted, but he really gave his card to Mattias.
Every time that Mattias served the drink, Justin would drink it in one sitting.
Unlike other bartenders Mattias didn't take advantage of his customers or even regulars. After working for two years, he had developed an ability to know if his patron of the day was drunk or not. If they were starting to get drunk, he would slow down in serving drinks, and yet he was still the highest earning bartender. It was simply because he never had a break once he manned the special seat service.
When Mattias saw that the man was starting to get drunk he slowed down serving him and listened to him all the time. He would talk from time to time to assure that he was listening.
"I loved him... I still do. Why did he leave me? Was I disposable? Am I not worthy? For the first time in my life, I feel so worthless."
"...You are not worthless. He is just not worthy of you to see what he missed."
"Thanks, man. I am also starting to think that I was like that. I guess my money is not wasted even if I go here everyday."
"Please don't."
"Why? You don't want to listen to me too?"
"...It's not that, sir."
"Justin. Call me Justin, that's my name."
"Justin, that's not what I meant."
"Then what?"
"I am not always serving. The others might not be as good as me."
"Pft... yes, yes, yes. You don't want to lose a new customer that is easy to milk."
"..."
When Mattias didn't answer, Justin didn't think too much about it. He was too wasted. He wasn't thinking straight. He was grumbling.
"I guess, at least I still have worth and that is money."
"It's not that. Justin, you are drunk."
"Yes, I am drunk! Hahahaha, I'm drunk in love and I don't want to sober up. I looked pathetic but I don't want to be pitied. How funny... even I, myself, couldn't help but laugh at my pathetic self."
Before Justin could continue degrading himself, Mattias held Justin's hand. Both of them were surprised at first, but Mattias recovered quickly, he squeezed the hand he was holding and gently looked at the other's eyes.
"You are worthy. The jerk that dumped you doesn't deserve even a glimpse of you. Sooner or later, he'll regret it. And at that time, you'll find someone you might like."
"Like you?"
Justin blurted out. When he realized what he said, another shade of red completely covered his face. It was both from embarrassment and unknown feelings. But the other person seemed unfathomable, Justin grew nervous.
'Why did I blurt it out? Am I crazy?'
Before he could blame himself further, Mattias pinched his face. Before leaning back, standing up like he didn't do anything. Mattias made another drink. After he finished mixing it, he served it to Justin.
"What's this?"
"Cosmopolitan, with a little twist of mine."
"Oh."
Justin drank it up. He must have been too drunk. He thought it was more sweet yet also not. He couldn't put what was different so he asked.
"What's different?"
"Can't tell the difference not that good with drinks."
"The color and the taste. No matter how much change has been brought, it was still the same deep inside. The drink is just like you. No matter what people might say to you, even if you have changed by a little, it was still you. Also not everyone liked this drink, but some adored it. Sometimes change may bring up sweetness or even a little bitterness, it was up to you to adjust what you like better."
"...I don't understand. I think I'm stupid."
Mattias laughed gently. He ruffled Justin's hair. He was cute, he admitted it. But it didn't mean that he liked him. Mattias only wondered if their youngest would be like Justin if he grew up better, still pure and innocent.
"You're doing good."
"Okay..."
After that no one talked anymore. Justin drank, while Mattias served him drinks, each of their own thoughts.
After an hour, Justin felt too intoxicated. He dialed a number and told the person to fetch him.
Mattias knew that Justin couldn't handle it so he counted how many drinks he had before processing the payment. When all was done, he patted Justin and gave him the card. Mattias made sure that Justin placed his card in wallet before waiting for who Justin called.
Not more than ten minutes had passed when a security guard came up to him, telling him the situation at the front door.
"Okay, I understand. Please tell her that I'll escort Justin myself."
The security guard nodded before he left. Mattias looked at Justin and he was staring at his unfinished drinks while fiddling with his fingers. He looked like a child who was waiting for his guardian to pick him up.
Mattias went out and whispered that his friend had arrived and he would escort him to the car. Justin tried to nod but his head hurts so he could only mumble a soft alright before he was helped by Mattias.
Along the way, Justin's half of weight was escorted by Mattias. He didn't feel the heavy burden of carrying half the weight of the other man. He just felt that he looked funny because he was half escorting half dragging Justin.
The young man didn't want to be carried and insisted on walking. So, Mattias had no choice but to put his arm around Justin's waist and helped Justin put his right arm around his neck so he could support the man while walking.
It lasted for a few minutes before they arrived at the front door. When he arrived, he saw a woman looking annoyed but she still looked beautiful and mesmerizing to the point that even the guard avoided her.
"Are you Justin's friend?"
When Mattias asked the woman who looked impatient due to the frown and from her tapping her shoes on the ground. When she heard Justin's name she turned towards the voice and what she saw surprised her.
The frown on her face was visibly turned into bewilderment. Even her mouth was forming an 'O' look. She couldn't help but blurt out the name that Mattias had forgotten a long time ago.
"Luc?"