Chapter 94
“What?”
Chris’s eyes widened at the unexpected situation.
But that was just the beginning. The carbonation bubbled up and exploded like a volcano.
In an instant, the overflowing foam spilled all the way to the floor.
“Whoa.”
Sena, who had just arrived, gaped at the scene. Chris was flustered.
He hadn’t done this on purpose. Still, aware that he had made a mess around him, Chris avoided eye contact.
“This… well…”
“It’s because you still lack experience. I’ve blown the lid off before too.”
Sena quickly rushed over, took the shaker from Chris, and helped clean up the situation.
“I’ll teach you how to make cocktails next time. If you plan to continue the part-time job.”
“As if I’d do a part-time job…”
“If not, then never mind.”
With her back turned to Chris, Sena poured the contents of the shaker into a glass and took a sip. Then she smiled and asked the customers.
“Would you like to try the rookie bartender’s gin fizz?”
“Is there even anything left? It all overflowed.”
“Just a little bit, enough for one sip.”
Sena gently shook the shaker, insisting it was true. When they heard the liquid sloshing inside, customers raised their hands, wanting to try it.
“Me! I want to try it.”
“Me too! I’m curious.”
“Okay. I’ll prepare it right away.”
The customers enjoyed drinking the failed gin fizz, which was less than half a shot of soju.
Relieved by Sena’s skillful handling of the situation, Chris suddenly scanned the bar counter.
‘Huh?’
The blonde guy who had been sitting there moments ago was gone. The one who had pestered him endlessly and practically forced him to make a cocktail.
‘What’s that guy up to?’
If he had gone outside, the wind chimes would have made a sound. No, even if he had just stood up, Chris would have noticed his presence with his sensitive instincts.
The blonde had vanished as though he’d been a mirage. As Chris cleared the pistachio shells, he spotted a note tucked under the bowl.
[By the way, I’m not an adult, so what should you do if you receive an alcohol order? Part-timer, do your job properly.]
It was unmistakably left by the blonde.
Picking fights until the end. What a persistent guy.
Chris clicked his tongue and turned toward Sena. He was about to ask if she knew who the note’s owner was.
“!”
The note in his hand crumbled into powder and scattered. Magic? Chris furrowed his brow.
“Boss, there was a weird troublemaker here earlier.”
“Really? You must have had a hard time dealing with them.”
Sena said while lightly patting Chris’s shoulder. It was an unconcerned response.
‘How many troublemakers must she encounter regularly.’
Chris kept the troublemaker blonde in mind. Planning to chase him away if they met again.
“Now that we’ve cleaned up Chris’s gin fizz, shall we start making cocktails properly!”
Sena said with a bright smile as she made cocktails. The menu item was the gin fizz that Chris had failed at.
“…..”
Chris silently watched Sena. She didn’t put the carbonated water in the shaker, but poured it separately into the glass.
‘So that’s why I failed.’
As Sena tucked her pink hair behind her ear, she noticed his gaze and turned her head. When their eyes naturally met, Sena gave him a bright smile.
“Oh right, Chris. The mop is over there. You know?”
“…Ha.”
She was telling him to clean up what he spilled. Chris got the mop and cleaned the foam-covered floor.
‘I can’t believe I’m mopping the floor.’
Though he found the situation absurd, the corners of his mouth curled upward.
“All done.”
Once the cleaning was done, Sena beckoned Chris over.
When he went over at her call, there was a pinkish cocktail with red undertones placed at Chris’s spot.
“This is payment for cleaning.”
“I can really feel your firm resolve not to pay me in cash.”
“As expected of Chris. You’re so perceptive.”
Sena smirked mischievously. But there wasn’t just one glass in front of him.
“Two glasses mean you want to drink together?”
“Yes! We got interrupted last time when customers showed up.”
Chris glanced at the lively tables. While he had been cleaning, it seemed Sena had taken care of all the orders—now the tables were packed with cocktails and snacks.
That must be why she had time to chat for a bit.
“Hmm. It’s non-alcoholic again.”
“But I put extra effort into this one, so give it a chance.”
Her claim that she’d put extra effort into it seemed true. The ice filling the round glass was finely crushed, unlike usual. The drink had a sweet peach flavor to start and a tangy lemon finish—it was surprisingly good.
“So what’s it called?”
“‘Peach Crush.’ I made the peach syrup myself.”
It had been a long time since someone had prepared a drink for Chris with such care.
With his mood slightly softened, he brought up the thought he’d been keeping to himself.
“About that cherry liqueur from earlier…”
“Yes?”
“That color was just like…”
Before Chris could finish speaking, Sena’s face already lit up.
Perhaps she had been waiting for him to notice.
“…It looked like the color of my eyes.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d notice. How should I put it? Chris didn’t seem like the detail-oriented type.”
“I notice everything. I have good observation skills.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
“I just choose not to mention things.”
Chris rested his chin on his hand, murmuring. He preferred to avoid unnecessary conversation—talking revealed things about people.
“So why are you telling me?”
Because it made them harder to kill.
That’s why.
Sena was an exception.
“With you, I don’t mind.”
“Huh? Why’s that?”
Since it wasn’t something he could answer honestly, Chris hesitated. Meanwhile, Sena tilted her head with a curious expression.
“I remembered something precious I’d forgotten. To not forget it again, I realized I need to embrace that ‘leisure’ you were talking about.”
Living a life stained with blood might make someone stronger, but it also made them forget what they were supposed to protect.
He couldn’t become such a monster. That would be exactly what the devil wants.
Chris looked into Sena’s eyes as he finished his Peach Crush. His gaze lingered longer than necessary on her neatly folded eyes and softly upturned lips.
For a fleeting moment, a vivid, radiant image overlapped with her face.
His mouth suddenly went dry, and Chris swallowed hard.
“So, Sena, to me, you’re…”
“Wait, hold on. Are you about to confess to me or something? Because that would be a problem. I’ll have to decline.”
For a moment, Chris stared at her in stunned silence before bursting into a quiet laugh. What was this absurd misunderstanding?
“What? Who said I liked you?”
“Then why were you looking at me so deeply? You’re confusing people.”
“Seriously. Getting rejected before I even confessed feels awful.”
Chris downed the remaining Peach Crush in one go. The crushed ice tingled in his head as it went down his throat.
“I’m sorry. In return, you can reject me once too.”
“Oh my. Alright then. Go ahead and confess.”
“Will you go out with me?”
Sena said emotionlessly. She seemed to throw out words without meaning them so easily.
What would she do if he agreed?
Of course, Chris had no such intention, but what if?
Chris parted his lips, which had been stuck together in disbelief.
“Get lost.”
“Now we’ve rejected each other once. Fair enough, right?”
Sena shrugged and tilted her glass. Seeing her relaxed attitude somehow irritated Chris. It felt like he was the only one taking things seriously.
‘Since when did I care about this stuff?’
Chris turned his head sharply. Both their glasses were empty now.
Chris spoke impulsively.
“I’ll continue the part-time job.”
“I can’t pay you much.”
Money meant nothing to Chris anyway.
“That’s fine. Just give me cocktails sometimes like earlier.”
“Will that be enough?”
“Sometimes I want to get drunk.”
Chris answered casually.
“Great. Since I mainly make cocktails, I’ll put you in charge of managing outside. It gets cold outside at night, right? A fire would be perfect.”
Sena’s face brightened as she chatted about dividing up the work.
“Of course, I’ll teach you how to make cocktails in between.”
“I can’t promise a set schedule. I’ll show up irregularly, so don’t wait for me.”
“Come whenever you’re free. I’ll put you to work plenty when you do.”
Her playful attitude made him wonder just how much work she was planning to give him.
‘Still…’
While here, Chris could briefly forget about death. He didn’t have to worry about being betrayed by someone, being hunted by packs, or whether the food he managed to find might be poisoned.
He could simply be a part-timer, exchanging lighthearted banter with Sena, the owner.
That must be the leisure Sena talked about.
And so Chris began working part-time at Milky Way Lounge again.
🫧
A week passed since Chris resumed his part-time job.
At first, they fumbled due to being out of sync after so long, but they quickly adapted, and now they worked seamlessly together.
The difference was…
[See you next time.]
Perhaps bothered by how he used to disappear without a word, Chris always said he’d come back before leaving.
Then he would show up unexpectedly. Sometimes in the morning before opening, sometimes at night near closing time.
‘He was always injured somewhere whenever he came.’
So she learned basic treatment from the doctor.
Having Chris around meant they could now utilize the lounge even late at night.
She no longer had to turn away customers, claiming the place was full.
Though it meant more work, it felt better than seeing disappointed customers leave, which always left a pang in Sena’s heart.
‘Well, even with more work, Chris helps share the load.’
Maybe, deep down, I was also conscious of what Medusa said.
“When I desperately need a cocktail, it’s nice to know the door will be open.”
Wanting to answer that desperation that could come at any time.
“…..”
Plus, Chris’s words bothered her too.
“I remembered something precious I’d forgotten.”
Back when I dreamed of being a bartender, I was captivated by the magic in cocktails.
It wasn’t about the taste, aroma, or color.
But if asked what it was, it would be hard to answer.
To be precise…
‘I think I’ve forgotten something too.’
Back when she dreamed of being a bartender, she was captivated by the magic in cocktails.
It wasn’t about the taste, aroma, or color.
But if asked what it was, it would be hard to answer.
To be precise…
‘I think I’ve forgotten something too.’
Suddenly I felt envious of Chris. He said he remembered again, but I showed no signs of doing the same.
‘Why did I become a bartender?’
I could explain the when, where, how, and why as much as needed. After all, I hadn’t lost my memories.
But those memories lacked the emotions that must have once been overwhelming.
It felt like someone else’s story, you could say.
Far from feeling moved, I felt deep fatigue.
“Will I ever remember too?”
With my mind in turmoil, I walked aimlessly through the desert. The feeling of my feet sinking into the sand was enjoyable.
Ding!
“Huh?”
The frivolous sound brought me back to reality. The content of the alert window that appeared before my eyes was…
<Alert> Warning! Prepare for sandstorm.
“Sandstorm? When?”
<Alert> 3
<Alert> 2
<Alert> 1
W-w-w-wait… Now?
How am I supposed to deal with this when you tell me so late!?
🫧
⋆｡‧˚ʚ Translator Note ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Peach Crush is sweet and fruity, with the bold peach flavor from the schnapps perfectly balanced by the tangy orange juice and the crispness of the vodka. The optional soda adds a bubbly, refreshing element, making it a delightful and easy-to-drink cocktail for any occasion.
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
