It was Ryan's first time at a bar, well, more accurately, a club. He had passed this place several times on his way to collect specimens in the city's wildlife park. It used to be a furniture store, in the outskirts of town, and in just a few months, it had become unrecognizable.
He got out of the taxi and looked up at the neon-lit entrance. The long line from the door stretched till it rounded the corner. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and texted:
"I'm here."
Within minutes, Alex strutted out of the club, now dressed in leather pants and a pepper-red crop top covered with dangling silver chains. When they had left the campus earlier, he wasn't wearing any of that. He had been dressed like a proper teaching assistant. Now, he looked like a completely different person.
Compared to him and the rest of the people waiting in line, Ryan's simple white button shirt and black pants looked completely out of place
"Let's go," Alex said, linking arms with him.
When they reached the bouncer, Alex pulled out a sleek neon-red card from his pocket and showed it to him. "He's my plus one."
The bouncer looked Ryan up and down slowly but said nothing in the end. He stepped aside to let them pass.
Ryan was hit by loud pulsing music the moment they walked inside, causing him to take a step back. But Alex tugged him forward till they got to a private booth in a corner that had a full view of the club.
"What do you think?" Alex asked, practically yelling over the music as they sat.
"Loud," Ryan said flatly.
Alex laughed. "Of course it's loud. It's a club. What would you like to drink?"
"Orange juice."
Alex paused, rolling his eyes. "You came to the club to drink orange juice?"
Ryan shrugged. "Is it not allowed?"
"Never mind," Alex said with a sigh, flagging down a waiter. "At least you're here. Baby steps."
He ordered Ryan's juice and something far more alcoholic for himself, then turned to Ryan. "So… Why did you ask to come? You've always previously rejected my invitation, and I didn't ask you out this time."
Ryan glanced down at the table. "We broke up."
"You and Cole broke up?" Alex's scream was almost louder than the music.
Ryan nodded.
"How is that possible? Did you bully him? Maybe he's feeling insecure in the relationship and is just throwing a tantrum. He once said he'll never leave you, even if the sky is falling. He's not the best looking, but at least he's loyal and sincere."
"He cheated," Ryan said, his voice steady. "And said I was an embarrassment."
Alex was shocked into silence.
Ryan's gaze drifted around the club, and something, well, someone caught his eye. A man sitting at the bar lifted his glass and took a long sip. His Adam's apple bobbed as the golden orange drink disappeared, and then he slid the glass across the counter to the bartender in one clean motion.
The glass didn't fall off or go too far. It came to a stop right where the man had intended.
The man had beautiful hands. Like an artist's.
"I'm going to beat up that scumbag." Alex fumed. " How dare he say that to you? He's blind and doesn't deserve you. I never liked him anyway."
Ryan leaned back in the booth. "We're already broken up, so it's over. Let's not talk about him again. It's time to move on."
And that night, he had ended up sleeping with a complete stranger from the bar.
A man whose face he couldn't recognize.
And he didn't regret it.
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"Ryan. Ryan," Alex called as he tapped Ryan's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Sorry."
"Here's your glasses," Alex said, handing them to Ryan.
Ryan picked them up and slid them into his pockets. After he had gotten home, he went in search of his extra pair and put them on. The movement shifted the collar of his shirt and revealed his neck.
"Is that—?" Alex leaned forward, eyes wide. "Oh, my goodness. Last night— last night you were with someone."
Ryan nodded, his face burning.
"How's that even possible?" Alex smiled widely and leaned in. "What was it like?
Ryan didn't reply. His entire face had turned red.
He could still hear the man's voice from the night before.
"Relax. You're going to enjoy this."
"Do you like this?"
He swallowed.
His skin tingled as he remembered where the man had touched, teasing and molding. The sharp ting that came with soft bites.
He shivered.
"It seems like you enjoyed yourself." Alex clapped excitedly, jolting him back to the present. "My best friend is no longer a virgin. He has tasted the forbidden fruit."
Ryan let out a sigh and started closing the door, but Alex caught it with his foot. "Wait. I have a question."
"What now?"
"That person, who is he? How does he look? Where'd you meet? The club? Would you be meeting again?"
"That's more than one question."
"Come on, I want to know. Please..." Alex looked up to him, blinking his eyes fast like a bumble bee.
"I don't know. Didn't see clearly. The club." Ryan shook his head at Alex's expectant face. "And it was just a one-night stand."
"Did you at least exchange contacts? His number? His socials? Email? A card?"
"No. We didn't even exchange names."
Alex stared at him. "How come I didn't realize you had the potential to be a player? The student has surpassed the master. Teach me your ways."
"You're overreacting." Ryan rolled his eyes.
"I'm so proud of you." There seemed to be tears in Alex's eyes as he reached out to hold Ryan's hand in his. "At least you're not broadening over that scumbag." Alex nodded approvingly. "By the way, can you believe he called me last night asking for you? And if I had told you anything."
"Block him."
In truth, Ryan didn't have many social skills and didn't interact with people much outside of school. All his focus was on learning, teaching, and researching. His getting into a relationship had been a surprise to Alex. But then again, Cole had been quite adamant in his pursuit and somehow swindled the MC into agreeing. Ryan, though initially at a loss, had put his all into the relationship, trying hard to be a good boyfriend.
In the end, Cole didn't know how to treasure Ryan.
"I've already blocked him," Alex said casually. "But if I see him, I swear, I'm hitting him."
"Physical assault is illegal," Ryan said dryly. "I won't bail you out."
"Tsk. You won't bear to leave me in jail. What would you do without me?" Alex pouted. "I'm the love of your life."
Ryan rolled his eyes.
"Oh! Before I forget, I wanted to remind you about the professor's party. We'll leave by 3 PM. Be ready."
"Got it."
"Don't get lost in work." Alex pressed.
"Yes, sir."
"Alright, later then," Alex said as he left, going down the hall. His apartment was on the floor above Ryan's. They had rented it together when they got their postgraduate offer. From being roommates to neighbors, Alex had become one of the major constants in Ryan's life.
Ryan closed the door behind him and exhaled. He returned to the kitchen and finished his sandwich before heading into his study. There was a stack of assignments in his email, his students' recent submissions. They were not urgent, but grading them provided a welcome distraction, and he soon lost himself in his work.
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When he looked up from his laptop, the clock on the wall read 2:40 PM.
He looked down at his clothes. They weren't exactly party wear. He hurried to his bedroom and opened his wardrobe, looking for something appropriate.
He settled on a collared blue shirt and black pants.
As he buttoned the final button, there was a knock on his door.
He grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys, and then stepped out to meet Alex.