I was well dressed, if I do say so myself, slim fit black jeans, a white button-up with sleeves rolled to my elbows, and a decent leather jacket.
With this, I didn't look so... You know, college-like. I definitely looked like someone who was experienced. Ahem.
First impressions mattered and if I could get him to assume I was a pro, if not a noob that's only done it a few times, then I'd have to exude that sort of confidence.
I was glowing in the mirror, and my hair clicked side easily added more to my charm.
With this, I finally got the confidence I was looking for.
I placed my hand on my chin, my eyes closed as I nodded in satisfaction.
There's no way my partner wouldn't fall for me like this. I was going to ace it.
I practiced a couple of casual smiles to go with my look in the mirror, but that was when I realized I was going to ruin my perfect get-up.
I smiled like I had smelled something bad. I can't have him thinking he had a bad odor on him.
Let's try again.
My lips spread wide, but my reflection looked like I was a real estate agent trying to sell him a house for way higher than its supposed budget.
A scam.
Seeing this, I felt devastated once again and I groaned.
"This isn't working out." I mumbled, a dark cloud above my head.
Should I just rule out smiling?
I wondered and then thought it might be a possibility. If I just don't smile, he won't figure anything out. Yeah, that was great.
With this newly found motivation, I sprayed a bit more cologne and headed out, humming to myself.
This was going to be the best day of my life, I had concluded.
"Okay, Kim Ha-Joon," I tapped my shoulder in encouragement and let out steam from my nostrils. "You got this. You're not a nervous virgin who's about to have sex for the first time. You're a badass who's done it more than a dozen times, so man up."
I had managed to convince myself, but trust me, my reflection in the mirror didn't look convinced one bit.
Nevertheless, I started heading out.
I walked out of my room and entered the large hall of the mansion I stayed at. It was a family house.
How I wish I could have a place to live on my own but... I sighed... It couldn't be helped.
I walked down the stairs and then caught the attention of Miss Hwang who was cleaning the floors.
"Wow, Young master, you look great." She said, her eyes sparkling and I smiled awkwardly, my hand behind my head.
"Haha, do I?"
"What's this?" Her eyes glistened as a thought crossed her mind and she smirked. "It seems you finally got yourself a date. Ah, they grow up so fast."
I didn't respond to that. I simply smiled, not admitting or denying it and leaving her to speculate who the lucky 'girl' could be.
But I couldn't let it be for too long. My silence only meant yes, after all.
"It's not like that, Miss Hwang." Okay, so maybe it was a date. Something like that since I'd be meeting someone. "I'm just hanging out with a friend." I said but it clearly looked like she didn't believe it because the glitter in her eyes wouldn't fall.
"My, you don't need to explain." She said. "We all got to that point in our lives."
Hah, she just wouldn't listen.
"Anyway, I won't come back tonight," hopefully. "So, you don't need to wait up for me or prepare dinner."
"Hehe, very well." She snickered.
This old lady... Just what was she cooking up in her head?
I quickly used the opportunity to slip out before she began to give 'advice' on what and what not to do while outside.
"Bye, Miss Hwang," I yelled as I raced to the door and she laughed, shaking her head.
Miss Hwang has been our house help for as long as I can remember. For most of my life, she took care of me.
And as for mother... My steps slowed down as I walked out of the house and into the big yard... Let's not talk about her for now.
The meeting point with 'Mike', as his alias went, was a bar.
I did initially think we would meet in front of a motel and just get straight to business but surprisingly, he said he'd like to meet in a bar so it didn't look like he just picked me up from the front.
I mean, it did seem funny, maybe from his point of view but for me, it felt embarrassing cause I didn't think that far.
Anyway, that allowed me to get a feel of his character.
He was a rather... Thoughtful character.
I stepped into the bar and the loud clatter of glasses and people laughing loudly over the light hum of music in the background was a first for me.
Yes, it was my first time going to a bar.
I gulped.
This was yet another new experience for me.
I think I've lived the model student life for too long that I haven't been able to try out most things that my peers have.
I should probably start going out more often.
I sat at the counter, looking a bit nervous and not knowing what I was doing when the bartender asked,
"You new here?" I raised my head and saw the shining blond guy shaking a sealed cup. He looked like a pro. "Haven't seen your face around here before."
"N-no, I mean, yes." I felt awkward. "It's my first time here but it doesn't mean I've never been to a place like this before." I said and that sounded bad.
It was as if I was announcing that I was coming to such a place for the first time in my life.
"Well, there aren't plenty places like this anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was your first time coming 'to a place like this'." He said and winked, confusing me. "But since you said you've been to other places like this, I don't have to treat you like a noob, right?"
What did that mean? There were bars everywhere.
Or... Was there something I missed?
I was given this address by 'Mike' so I didn't know much about it so I looked around with my eyes and that was when I realized something very peculiar.
In this bar, there wasn't a single female in sight.
Then, this bar... Was it an only guys bar or... A gay bar?
I think I realized this a little too late because before I could actually comprehend any of that, someone called out,
"Is that you, 'Bunny'?"
I instinctively turned my head as I heard the alias I had used on the app, only for my eyes to behold a very handsome... No, a hot, blazing hot man walking up to me.
The body, the face, the smirk on his lips... He was way more than I imagined and without confirming if he was the partner I was meeting up with, I answered.
"Y-yes. And you..." My throat felt dry. "You must be Mike."
His smirk widened and he stretched his hand towards me for a handshake.
"That's right."