The neon sign glimmered against the silence of the night, calling to nothingness in the dark alley. The night was peaceful like the chilly breeze that made all the wanderers stay tucked inside.

The bar was noiseless replicating the hushed moon - lullabying each star to sleep. At the depth of those long hours, a gentleman as calm as passing sand played with his half empty glass.

Every day, he would follow the same pattern. He would come with the rush of people as the sun set and would stay, till the night could no longer keep them awake. He would sit alone in a corner where there would be less to no interaction expected of him. He would always order the same drink rejecting people with each sip.

Oh, but that was not all.

The jubilant pair would gaze at the bartender from time to time, playing hide and seek through his eyes. The smile he would grant ever so often to his enthralled face, would flare the dormant flame inside of him and Wang Yibo found that with each passing day, the world no longer was his to command.

All the years which Wang Yibo spent amidst the sizzling sensation of different beverages; it was the first time he actually felt intoxicated by someone.

And he wished to be drunk in that fire.

"I'll take his order today." His gaze fell upon the gentleman who was now staring at his own reflection in the empty glass.

Wang Yibo walked through the now empty bar, striding majestically like the king he was. His presence was felt and that gentleman with the mole just beneath those sinful lips, looked up to meet his quires.

The two eyes gazed upon each other with the orange hue casting them under a spell. Oh, the zeal of flames - it lit him up seeing that man up so close.

"What would you like to have?" Wang Yibo asked, he leaned in, close enough to inhale that jasmine fragrance, he whispered, "Or if you want, I could offer a different kind of service at my home?"

The fervor made his voice sound husky, drunk in the beguile of that man alone. Oh, how a smile was bestowed on him, making his mind spin.

"I would like to have my bill." The gentleman said with that bewitching smile. No word was further said, just the glamour of that soul.

He only realized that a questionable amount of time had passed when his fellow bartender arrived with the said bill.

"I'll take care of this." His comrade whispered and within the seconds the gentle man was escorted away from the man frozen to his feet.

What just happened?

He was left dumbfounded, staring at the back of the man that made him befuddled in his own territory.

"You should see your face." One of the bartenders said shaking his head.

"Hahahaha! Lord Wang Yibo just got rejected." His fellow bartenders or rather his brothers begun to make fun of his stupefied face.

"Yibo, quickly clear the table, it's time to close the bar." Said the owner of the bar to save him from the wrath of his brothers.

"Ah!" Wang Yibo quickly picked up the glass on the table, the lip print was still visible on the rim. Unknowingly, he gulped to ease his suddenly dry throat.

"I didn't know you were into men." Zhang Wei said taking the glass from Wang Yibo. From how he was behaving, it would take them eternity just to go close the doors.

"I didn't know that either." Wang Yibo replied truthfully, "But he rejected me already."

"You didn't actually confess; you went straight to the sexy part." Qian Feng said teasing him with a wink.

And instantly Wang Yibo remembered what he had actually said, his face turned redder than the Vermouth placed on their shelf.

"Ahhh!" Wang Yibo covered his face with his both hands. Behind the chilly cold glass, he was softer than the cherry drinks.

"Feng! Wei! Leave Yibo alone and do your work." Wang Han scolded and the two sprinted away. They knew better than to make Han-ge mad.

Wang Han made his way to the blob on the floor, who seemed to be growing gloomy mushrooms in the lonely corner.

"Yibo." He sat down next to him and for the first time saw his poker face actually having colors.

"Han-ge...." Wang Yibo sulked, visibly embarrassed and frustrated.

"Do you like him? Or did you just want to satisfy yourself?" Wang Han asked in his gentle fatherly tone without any hint of judgement. From the years he had taken Wang Yibo in, not even once he had shown interest in anything other than making new drinks.

"Absolutely not! - I mean, that was spur of the moment, I didn't mean to say that."

"What did you mean to say then?"

Wang Yibo stared at the empty seat, the trail of Jasmine cologne was yet to fritter. The face of that gentleman played before his eyes and obliviously an innocent smile played on his lips.

Who could he fool really?

"He makes me feel tipsy." Came a breathless sound. His eyes twinkled along the colors spread across the room, he added, " Like I was meant to be drown, only in him."

The wind of love can't be seen with cogent eyes, it is meant to be felt by the impish heart.

Wang Han hummed a smile, he pointed at the bar rail and said,

"Love is like this whiskey Yibo, it will bring you both pleasure and pain. But the question will arise - will you take the shot?" A shot to be drunk in cascade of endless love.

What a beautiful feeling that must be.

His eyes casted down and his lips protruded, he whimpered, "I shouldn't have said that, he probably won't come tomorrow."

Wang Han smiled to that groaning child and ruffled his hair messy.

"I think you might need this then." he revealed something that looked like a card.

"Hmm?" Wang Yibo took it to examine it and the moment his eyes landed on the content; all the remaining mushrooms woke up as well.

"Xiao Zhan?"

"That's his name and number. I don't think he rejected you." Wang Han encouraged him and Wang Yibo found himself higher than any carbonated drink could make him.

"Xiao Zhan!" He yelled, brimming with joy.

. . .

The evening was pleasant as the aroma of Sangria. The misty red blended perfectly with the blue. Despite the sweet calm air, he felt his inside burning.

It wasn't the taste of beverage he just had, no it wasn't. It felt something like the isolation found in the round snow globes placed on the empty shells of a vintage store.

His eyes searched for that familiar pair, behind the bar and among the crowd but all he was met was with faces of strangers he cared not to see.

"Does he hate me?" His whisper felt like the mourning plead. It had been 3 days already, he had awaited a text or perhaps even a call. But his longing heart was met with silence every night.

Was the wait not yet over? How much longer did he need to pretend?

Xiao Zhan felt his heart quivering similar to the shaking of the mixing glass from which they poured the delights.

"He's working on his signature drink at home." His unasked question was answered by the bartender; who always served his drinks.

"Ah?" Xiao Zhan looked up to see Zheng Wei and he eyes asked the remaining questions.

"He's alright." Zheng Wei assured, he chuckled and added, "Apparently, he wants to impress someone with something fresh and new."

That silenced the waves of his heart. He murmured a quick 'Thank You' and proceeded with the bill, now placed on his table.

"Are you serious?"

"Pardon?"

"Wang Yibo - are you serious about him?"

What a question that was? Xiao Zhan smiled a bitter smile. If they were aware of how much his heart ached for the man, would they even probe that? He settled the surge of his emotions; he would only unravel in front of his beloved and for that, he still needed to wait. In a composed manner, he countered,

"I will not lose him again."

He walked out in a complete serene leaving the mouths gaping behind. Wang Han smiled as he wiped shook another drink.

. . .

"Hello?" his voice was deep as the fine sound of Bassoon. Like the beckoned voice, swaying through the bell.

"You took your sweet time, Mr. Bartender." His voice was a contrast, like the ring of Heckelphone and precisely that disparity allowed them to merge so perfectly.

"You've been anticipating me?" The bartender asked, mused.

"I've been not only anticipating but expecting so much from you, Mr. Bartender."

"Yibo. My name is Wang Yibo."

"Your name is enrich like yourself. Do tell me, Wang Yibo, how many people have you put under that bijou demeanor of yours?" The gentleman teased.

"The one I wished to charm has casted his own incantation on me - I dare not break free of this spell." The bartender replied in equally playful manner.

"Well, then I will be expecting a special customer privilege tonight."

"I will give you the best service you could ask for."

With effulgent smiles the two cut the call awaited the night.

. . .

The lights in the street buzzed replicating the billions of stars above the dark sky. The pair of shadows would mingle on the concrete ground as they walked past all the signs. The key danced in the keyhole till 'click' stopped it's movement and with the tick of each button, a bright room welcomed the two.

"Come inside." The bartender invited. He was quick enough to offer his guest comforting slippers while the gentleman took off his scarf.

"It's just like you - your house." Xiao Zhan said, allowing his eyes to trace every artifact in the place.

"How should I take it? As a compliment?" Wang Yibo asked. He led his guest to the couch near the bedroom.

"I've said it with the best of my heart, it's upto you how you decipher that." Xiao Zhan accepted the courtesy and sat on the big leather couch. The nostalgia washed over him, seeing the similarity of those objects hanged high and low.

"Then I will take that as a compliment-- thank you! Would you care for a snack?" Wang Yibo asked, rummaging through his fridge, apparently he didn't have much to offer in terms of food.

"You promised to serve me, I will take whatever the bartender suggests." Xiao Zhan answered in a frisky manner. He later asked, "How did you become a bartender? Do you like to drink so much?"

Wang Yibo took out some instant noodles and turned on the kettle. He replied,

"Actually, I don't like to drink at all." He had asked himself that question many times, why did he become a bartender? Was it gratitude towards Wang Han; who took him in?

He saw those curious eyes fixed on him, perhaps it was the bright light, but he saw the hint of worries surfacing those orbs.

"I don't remember actually - I'm amnestic." Wang Yibo revealed. And now without a doubt, he saw those veils of worry being casted again. He smiled to himself and added,

"For some reason, I have always been drawn to it. As if a dream I promised to live." Like the light across the bay, like the rainbow in the rain, like the missing lyrics of a hymn.

The two oracles engaged in an unspoken ardour, unwilling to let this fleeting moment end. The profound beating of his heart confirmed that it was the same sensation, the same or even stronger magnetism he felt from the man.

His words remain unspoken when the whistle of the kettle stirred him awake.

"Ah! It's ready." He brought the unappetizing meal to the table and served his guest with collation of cup noodles and sauce.

"What about you? Do you love to drink?" Wang Yibo asked this time. He was curious to unfold every piece of the maze, deep in the mist.

"Hmm. I used to be a passionate drinker." Xiao Zhan glanced at the distance, the rows of legos and skateboards, it all felt surreal to him now. The days of his innocent love were robbed from him, and yet even in the ocean of misery, somehow the hearts always know how to keep each other afloat.

"But you always order bar's special, Han-ge's signature drink?" Wang Yibo asked in-between the slurps.

"Well, somebody else hadn't invented his signature drink, it didn't leave me with much choice." Xiao Zhan inserted.

"You -! How did you?" Wang Yibo was baffled once again. He had been practicing in secret, figuring out new set of formulas everyday but it had always felt incomplete, missing an important essence.

"Just like you've been watching me, I have also been watching you." Since the very beginning.

He wanted to surprise him, but he was flabbergasted instead. He chuckled as he got up and strolled behind the mini bar. Xiao Zhan followed him and sat on the stool right in front of the bartender.

He locked his eyes with the man at front, he ravished those corks open and poured the adequate amount of Gin, his lips swirled like the Cointreau whirling in the silver glass. The tip of his fingers mildly played with cubes of ice; which he added.

His every step was like song of the sea, every high tide was motioned by the moon, the bright crescent that resided in front of him. With the last drops of lemon, the beverage streamed so seductively through the glass.

He slid the fine glass across the table, a delicacy just for that man.

Xiao Zhan put his hand just above his; his fingers slipped through those cold ones, locking them. With the other hand he picked up the drink.

"May I know what this coup be called?" His eyes fluttered in anticipation and surely the bartender didn't disappoint him.

"White Rose." He said and sat next to the gentleman with his own glass of that sublime.

"I have found a new inspiration." He revealed and received a tender smile.

"Bottom's up!" The glass clinked, the two drank in the zeal of liquor and each other for the remaining night.
A cheers to the new beginning and blooming love.

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Sorry for errors and thank you for reading.