"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." The girl cursed to herself as her rosy finger tips scrunched up the red piece of paper.
'Eviction Notice' was plastered in black ink across the page. Chaeyeong slid down the cool wood of her apartment door, exhaling like a dragon as the crisp air caused her breath to be noticeable. She shoved her cold hands and paper inside of her jacket pocket, feeling something in her other hand, she pulled it back out.
50,000₩ lay crumbled in the palm of her hand. 'Come on Chaeyeong, its just one drink. You deserve it after tonight.' Quickly rising to her feet, shoving the crumpled notes back into her jacket pocket she set out in to the cold.
Her feet dragged over what was left of the late winter snow, shivering a tiny bit as the chilly air swept over her face and made her nose and checks rosy. Street lights being the only light source made it hard for her to see clearly, resulting in a few trips here and there.
The only people out at this time of night were drunks roaming the street to find a way home or the occasion night owl. Getting closer to her desired location the more people came into view. '2:30am' she thought 'Plenty of time for quick drink and then I'm sure I'll be able to go back home and still be fine'
"Come on, Mr. Seo. You know the rules, go home and get some rest." A tall man with a head full of black curls hurls a smaller man into the back of a taxi. "Namsan-Dong for the gentleman here."
"You're too good to me Jongdae." The older man patted the man on the shoulder through the open window of the taxi.
"Get home safely, Mr. Seo." With one finally wave goodbye, the taxi finally departed.
Chaeyeong caught herself looking at Jongdae a little too long, taking in his every feature. The Soft curly locks, to his chocolate doe eyes, to his chiseled check and jaw bone. His prominent lip corners pulled into a smirk when noticing Chaeyeong standing outside the club he worked at.
"Coming in? The drinks are half price tonight. Or are you just going to stand out in the cold?" He gestured to the big building with giant mirrored glass.
She glances at the sign that was light up by the bright green neon's behind it, 'Exo Planet' she read, she'd heard of the place before. One of the most popular spots in town, for men in the forties with money, a place to go and blow your money at. From the fancy bar and nightclub to the luxurious casino, not to mention private rooms that are completely confidential; anything can happen and it would remain a tight locked secret.
"Love to." Chaeyeong smiled back at Jongdae as he opened the door for her.
Upon entering the club her senses were clouded with the scent of liquor, sweat and cigar smoke. Due to the street being on a slight decline, you walk into an open bar that has a view of the dancing and intoxicated body below. Neon light of blues, purple and pinks sway and strobe as people lose their senses below.
"Would you like a tour?" Jongdae asked, coming up next to Chaeyeong, "You look a bit overwhelmed."
"No not at all, I think I can find everything myself perfectly fine. Thank you" with a quick bow, she left Jongdae to his own devices as she moved towards the Cosmic latte colour bar that had a average height muscular man wiping down a glass.
"Blueberry Vodka Sour, please." The bartender with the darkest brunette hair that looked almost black, looked at Chaeyeong.
"I.D please?" Chaeyeong sighed with and eye roll before fishing out her I.D, that was wedged in her phone case. Checking over her I.D, the bartender glanced again at Chaeyeong before handing it back to her. "I'm Yixing."
Chaeyeong raised her eyebrow at the introduction as Yixing made her drink. "Chaeyeong." She spoke back in a unamused voice.
"I know," He smile at her, placing the drink down in front of her. "That will-" Before Yixing could finish his sentence, Chaeyeong slapped her crumpled notes on the counter.
"Set up my tab, once this money runs out, cut me off and kick me out." Her voice turned serious, she was determined to not go overboard, she was going to try and fix her filthy habit.
"Roger that." Taking the cash and turning around to put it in the till, Chaeyeong took this opportunity to finally look around properly.
The cosmic latte colour of the bar lived up to its name, sparkles of blues, purple, pink and even gold glitter swam around the table top, encased in an endless galaxy. Looking around she noticed the entrance to the Casino, unlike the front door, this one was clear glass. Unlike other casinos with bright lights and classic furniture that's lined with red velvet; this one was black and with glowing chip pieces.
'Black light casino, nice touch' Chaeyeong thought to herself as the numb burn of the sour vodka hit the back of her throat.
As the night went on, her tab was starting to come to an end; she was plastered. Half price drinks didn't help her at all. She noticed a few tall, handsome men in suits come in and out of the private rooms every now and then. Her curiosity was starting to claw at the back of her throat. She would give anything to be a fly on the wall in one of those rooms, she can't help but be nosy.
"Hey pretty lady," and older man with a ajar striped business tie and wide brimmed glasses approached Chaeyeong, noticing her drunken state.
"Fuck off." She spat with a slight smirk on her lips.
The mans face contorted in disgusted at such vulgar language coming from the girls mouth. If it's one thing she can't stand, is people thinking that can do whatever they want to a someone, especially if they're drunk at the bar.
"Why you little-"
"You heard her, fuck off." A deep husky voice spoke from beside Chaeyeong.
"I'm sure your wife would like to know what you've been up to tonight, Mr. Kim." Another deep smooth buttery voice spoke, this time from behind Chaeyeong.
"I- I'm- I'm so- so sorry, Chanyeol, Sehun." He bowed at the two men before looking at Chaeyeong. "My apologies, Miss."
Chaeyeong noticed the same bodyguard from earlier, Jongdae, appear behind the short man, grabbing his elbow and escort him out of the club.
"I didn't need saving, you know?" Chaeyeong took another sip of her drink before looking at the very tall man, she labelled as Chanyeol, due to the man bowing at him once he said his name. His silver hair was slicked back, exposing his big beautiful puppy eyes that sparkled when you looked into them. His ears stood out as his prominent feature, along with his wide bunny smile.
"We know what Mr. Kim is like, we normally step in when he harasses women." Sehun, also with slick back ebony locks, spoke. His tongue poked out of his mouth and rested on his lip. He had the face of a model, soft supple skin, tidy eyebrows, rich honeycomb eyes. He rested his hand against his chin, just above his black cashmere turtleneck.
"I am neither damsel nor in distress." The petite girl threw the last of the alcohol in her glass down her throat.
"Didn't say you were. Some times you just need some else to do the protecting once in a while." Chanyeol mumbled the last part, unknowing to him, Chaeyeong heard his every word. "So what brings you to Exo Planet on this Saturday morning?" His tone quickly changed to a happy and cheerful one, the stars in his eyes returned.
"Lose your sense on the dance floor? Win big at the casino, just lose it all to your greed? Or perhaps drinking your thoughts away? Addiction?" Sehun poked her with questions, trying to pick up on any body language or context clues as to why she was here, say... curiosity killed the cat?
Chaeyeong's shoulders tensed at the last two question, her teeth immediately bit at the skin of her lips, a nervous tick of her own. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Well as two people who work very closely with the owner of this establishment, it's our job to make sure all guest are looked after." Chanyeol signature happy smile lay sprawled across his face
Yixing placed another glass in front of her. "It's your last one tonight." He gave her a slight smile. "Will you two stop bugging her? Don't you have Junmyeon to annoy?"
"He has a private meeting tonight, and he refused to let us come, he thinks we'd mess it up." Chanyeol turn his smile into a pout, Sehun followed his actions with a nod.
"The last time he let you go to one of those meetings you ended up playing rock, paper, scissors and when you lost you ended up biting Sehun."
Chaeyeong stifled a laugh into her drink as she took a sip. Not expecting that sentence to even be said at all. Her brain was starting become fuzzier, now that she has giggled once, they wont die down now.
"What happened to your hand?" Sehun asked, noticing her red knuckles that were crusted over with a little dried blood.
"Oh, funny story actually, I punched an old guy who grabbed my ass at the strip club I work at while serving him his drink. Well... used to work at, my boss fired me on the spot. Said punching a customer for the third time was the final straw."
"We got a little bad ass on our hands here." Chanyeol laughed a little, the now drunk and giggly smiled and laughed along with him.
"Well, time for me to go. Lovely meeting you all." Chaeyeong placed her glass back down on the counter.
"Come on stay a bit longer, we only just started getting along. Have a couple more, my treat for making you stay." Chanyeol gave her his big puppy dogs eyes.
Chaeyeong one again bit her lower lip, as if she was contemplating whether or not to go; however, the addict inside already decided she would be staying longer.
•
"Wait, wait, wait," Chaeyeong laugh along with the two trouble makers and unintentionally funny Yixing at 4 o'clock in the morning. Chanyeol and Sehun were giggling along with the girl as they all were very intoxicated. "You didn't actually name that cat? You just called it cat?" They burst into laughter again. Yixing laughing less obnoxiously as he grabbed their glasses from the counter.
The lights came on in the club, Chaeyeong realised it was only the four at the bar and Jongdae in the empty space. She was so engrossed in having fun she didn't even noticed Jongdae escorting people out before they close.
"Well, now is definitely time for me to leave. Hopefully I'll see you guys back here one day." Her heart felt a little heavy, knowing it might be awhile before she comes into enough money again.
"Let us get you a cab to take home." Chanyeol offered as Sehun rested his head on the bar.
"No no, it's okay. I'm a badass remember, I'll be safe." Before Chanyeol could protest anymore, he became dizzy and needed a minute to regain his composure. Chaey eong took her opportunity to sneak out of the front exit.
Entering the cold street sent a rush to her warm cheeks. Her feet shuffled along the snow as giggles and gassy burps left her mouth. Her foot tripped over a clump of ice on the ground, her hand quickly reaching for the wall. She has only taken a few steps away from the glass doors, her head pounded cause her to lean against the end on the wall which was still the club. She slid down to the wall, everything around her spinning.
"Chaeyeong? Hey! Chaeyeong!" Yixing kneeled down in front of the girl that was slowly starting to lose consciousness. "Tell me your address and I'll take you home," He start as he picks her and adjusted her weight on him to support her.
"I don't have a home." She mumbled in his ear. Yixing caught the sight of a bright red paper fall from her jacket pocket.
He quickly leaned down, still holding the disoriented girl, he inspected the paper and now understood why she was drinking so heavily at the bar.
"You're going to hate me for this, but sometimes you have to let other people do the protecting every now and then" He repeated similar words to what Chanyeol mumbled to her earlier. "I'm taking you back to my place, I just hope you don't stab me when you wake up,"
Yixing carried the girl back into the club, taking the elevator down into the underground parking for the staff. He gently placed her into his car and drove to his apartment, which lucky for him wasn't that far away at all.