Author's notes: This actually started out as a sort of essay entry for a competition ("Everything suddenly went quiet", continue with the phrase.), but I decided to reuse it as a fanfic. Has an OC inside which will play as a sort of matchmaker. I hope you enjoy the first instalment of "Bartender"!
POV Alert: Elsie's turn. (OC)
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The resonance of the dull telephone calls resounded throughout the dull office, several co workers beside me trying very hard to finish their report on the market before twelve noon. I just worked as a secretary, picking up phone calls if my boss was absent and such. Sounds like an easy enough job I'm sure, but Sakura does not like to get her mocha latte cold that's for sure. It's like…her crack or something, if I may be allowed to make such a rude statement.
"ELSIE! I need you to print these documents for the court case at two thirty tomorrow, these are seriously important, so you better work on it fast!" Sakura beamed at me with her apple green eyes. She was a nice boss, sure enough, but sometimes quite forgetful…I readjusted my stubborn blonde hair and freed from its usual strict ponytail, letting it touch on my shoulders. I observed the documents with disinterest as I flipped through the papers, trying to find any slips or mistakes. Unusually, there was none.
"Come on Elsie, you don't think that I would always make a small grammar mistake in every document? Surely you must have a higher opinion of me!" She beamed further, flashing a small grin. "After all, I am a defence attorney." She said, making a sort of statement to her claim while flipping a strand of hair to one side by tilting her head. I fumbled quietly as my glasses slipped on the bridge of my nose again.
"N-no Sakura…It's just that—" I started coughing abruptly. Sakura frowned as she placed her arms on her hips, a sort of stance that she developed when got used to the feeling in court, the feeling when you get a point across the room to be precise.
"Elsie, you shouldn't work too hard when you already have that bad a cough!" Sakura proceeded to gently pat me on the back. I brushed back my hair behind my ear as I stifled my cough. "No I'm okay…I just have a habit of not drinking too much water…" My voice trailed off as Sakura's eyes widened with disbelief.
"NOT DRINKING TOO MUCH?! Elsie you don't take breaks at all, you don't even go to the toilet, heck you don't even go down a level and buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks!" Sakura slammed her hands on the table defiantly. "Elsie, go and take a break. Now." I hesitated and opened my mouth to persuade her, but she interrupted me with that small "tut" of hers when she found a contradiction in a witness' testimony.
"OBJECTION!" She yelled. "You see? You can't even take a simple five minutes off." Her eyes scanned my notice board and met my six minute segmented timetable. "And what is this…?" She tore the paper carelessly, a piece of paper still held on by a pin. I looked down and casted my glance on my lap, trying to ignore the stares that I was getting from other people.
"NO BREAK AT ALL?!" Sakura slammed her hands on the desk once again, causing the objects on the desk to jump up. I mustered up every single shred of courage and glanced up to find the attorney gazing at me, overwhelmed.
"Elsie…" She started, flabbergasted. "If you don't take a break now, then you won't come with me to court case tomorrow." I stared at her with disbelief, on her lips a small smirk. "You are such a workaholic Elsie…" She said as she took a fountain pen and scribbled down an address on the back of my timetable. I peered timidly as she quickly wrote in a nice century gothic handwriting.
"Just meet me at this bar here, and we'll discuss about…" She trailed off, and raised her hands to do an inverted comma hand sign. "Your daily timetable." I adjusted my spectacles again and frowned inwardly. Before I could protest she was off like the wind. I sighed and peered at the address.
"Genesis…?"
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Everything suddenly went quiet as I pushed through the heavy oak wood doors. Several heads turned to look at me that had interrupted their leisurely chat, some continued to sip their respective alcoholic beverages. I shifted my eyes as I tried to adjust to the dim lighting of the bar. The regular buzz continued, the familiar sound of the soft chime of glasses clinking towards each other and friendly exchanges of conversation. There was an almost humble atmosphere to the bar.
I strode quickly towards the counter and immediately took out my sketch book. From young I had a small obsession of drawing sceneries using the usual check back contour technique, a way of drawing objects using only a single line. My parents, seeing an artistic habit developing, offered to supply art materials for me. But the child in me had politely turned down their offers, knowing that it would only be a small hobby. I had the inability to continue things once I had lost interest in it, but strangely the "hobby" had continued for as long as I can trace back into my childhood.
"Shall I take your order?" A low voice rang throughout my ears, leaving a deep impression in my mind. I glanced up to find a thin man gazing down at me. His eyes were filled with an aptitude of calmness. If you looked closely enough into his black pupils without blinking, you could see several specks of gentian blue, my favourite crayon I used to carry around with me when I was still in kindergarten. Several wisps of raven hair blocked his gaze as he waited patiently for me to reply. I quickly snapped out of my reverie and blushed slightly.
"No thanks…" I paused for a while. "I'm sort of waiting for a friend." I returned to my gaze to the currently empty page. He nodded in response, smiling calmly as he returned to wiping the glass he held in his hand. Usually I could think of something when I had touched the tip of the fine tip marker, but I could not think of anything, with pen poised in the air.
"Are you an artist by any chance?" I raised my gaze to find him observing me, an interested glint in his eyes. I recapped the marker and let out an inaudible sigh. "I only take it up as a hobby, since I have the habit of giving up half way once I lose interest." I replied, flipping absently to previous pieces. The pictures seemed endless; you could tell there was a hint of gradual improvement in them, the lines becoming much more confident and bolder with every flip of a page.
"It seems your friend must have let the appointment slipped their mind…" I closed the sketchbook with dissatisfaction, frowning inwardly. "She tends to be forgetful at times." I mustered a thin smile and unexpectedly let out a rather irritating cough. His eyes suddenly filled with concern. "That doesn't sound too good…" He muttered under his breath. I struggled to keep my raspy cough under control, noting that people were starting to stare.
"I'm not feeling too well these days…" My voice trailed off as phlegm started to gather. I looked up to find the bartender reaching out for a glass and disappeared under the counter. He came back into view with a honey jar in his hand and a small spoon utensil. He swiftly disappeared into the kitchen with fluid like movement, the back doors swinging on its hinges. I tried to clear my throat with no luck. I usually could stand Sakura's forgetfulness, but leaving her sick friend in the bar was a bit too much. A steamy drink was placed on the counter in front of me. I looked up expectantly to find the bartender smiling thoughtfully at me, drooping eyes and all.
"It'll soothe your throat." He said. I timidly sipped the drink, a slightly sweet and gentle taste invading my taste buds. The steam immediately condensed on my glasses as I gulped down the beverage hungrily. I set down the glass and thoughtfully licked my lips, savouring the honey taste. "Where did you get the recipe?" I questioned. He smirked a little and replied. "It was passed down from my family for generations." He paused to observe me closely, as in taking in every detail of my face for the first time. I blushed timidly under his scrutiny. I finally remembered that I didn't bring my wallet since Sakura would be treating me.
"Umm…I sort of forgot to bring my wallet…Since my friend said she would be treating me…" The bartender interrupted me before I could continue and flashed another beaming smile at me. "No worries." He winked at me, causing me to blush even further. "It's on the house." He returned to dutifully wiping the glass. I inhaled the honey scent and sighed peacefully.
"Someone's happy." He smirked as he monitored the bar submissively. "Do you work through the night?" He nodded his head in response. I felt a ghost of a smile pass my lips for the first time in a long while. "If it's too rude of me to ask personal questions, I can keep quiet." He peered at me with interest, a small smile had settled on his lips again. I opened my mouth again to speak, but found that I couldn't utter any words. He smirked a little and gave the answer to the unsaid question.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
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The morning rays shone into the windows of my apartment as I scooped my hair into its usual ponytail. Today was the day of my first trial! Though I was only going to helping Sakura…I quickly dressed up in my usual suit when my cell phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID while stuffing everything that I needed for the trial later on. It was Sakura…Probably about to apologise for the other night. I flipped open the phone and took it away from my sensitive eardrums immediately as Sakura's chirpy and frantic voice boomed in.
"ELSIETODAY'SPROSECUTIONISTHEREDEYEDPROSECUTOR!!!" I frowned to myself as I tried to decipher the words that came tumbling out.
"Sakura…could you please steady yourself and tell me what's going on with the prosecution…" I placed the cell phone between my neck and shoulder and continued packing my bag. "Okay okay." Sakura inhaled several long breaths before continuing. "I don't think I might be able to win this case…" I yawned slightly, knowing that she would always have nervous breakdowns before the court case. I proceeded to rub out last night's sleep that had gathered in the corner of my eye. Sakura sighed impatiently.
"The prosecution is extremely tough. Ever heard of the red eyed prosecutor?" I frowned inwardly. Of all people, she should know that I was not sure about popular lawyers!
"What's his name?" I tried to not express my annoyance. I awaited for the reply as Sakura took a couple more deep breaths.
"Uchiha Sasuke." …What?
"C-could you repeat his name again…?" I knew Sakura was slapping her forehead at this very moment. Before she could reply, I screamed.
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Go lawyers who shout "OBJECTION" by day and bartenders who pretend to be therapists by night. Please review!