By Zephyria “What can I get you for a cocktail? You can choose from these eight categories.”
Song Hyun-soo presented the cocktail list they had prepared to the two of them.
“Hmm… I’ll have whatever you recommend from the gin-based cocktails, Hyun-soo. What about you, Oppa?”
“I don’t know much about cocktails. Is it okay if I just leave it to you, Hyun-soo?”
“Shall we? You like wine, so I’ll prepare a cocktail with wine in it for you.”
“There are cocktails with wine in them?”
While quickly preparing cocktails for the two, Song Hyun-soo continued the conversation.
“I didn’t know either. I found out while preparing for this event. It’s a cocktail called New York Sour. Though I’ll be modifying it a bit.”
“New York Sour?”
Han Joo-young, who was from Boston, not far from New York, showed interest.
“Despite the name, it wasn’t created in New York. The most likely theory is that it was made in Chicago in the 1880s.”
“Then why is it called New York Sour?”
“It was called various names like Continental Sour and Southern Whiskey Sour, but it gained popularity in Manhattan, New York, and became known as New York Sour.”
“How do you know all that, Hyun-soo?”
“For a bartender, knowing the origin of cocktails is basic knowledge.”
“Were you formally trained?”
“No. I’m self-taught.”
“You sound like a total pro!”
“He really does, Hyun-soo. You look so skilled.”
It had been eight years since he first came to Seoul, took charge of preparing cocktails, and practiced making them alone after closing the shop, shaking the shaker. In truth, it was a career that could be called professional.
Having completed the cocktails, Song Hyun-soo placed one glass on each of the two coasters.
“A gin-based Aviation. And a New York Sour made with Malbec¹).”
“The color alone is so beautiful. It’s a visual that absolutely needs to be captured in a photo.”
Shin Hyo-jin immediately started taking pictures of the purplish Aviation cocktail. Han Joo-young, on the other hand, tasted it first. He took a cautious sip, and his eyes widened.
“Mmm! What is this? It’s delicious! I always thought cocktails were neither here nor there. But this is totally my style!”
Only then did Han Joo-young take out his phone and start taking pictures of the cocktail.
Who orders red wine with fish? Isn’t that more basic than common sense?
When Han Joo-young said that to him, even the most shameless Song Hyun-soo felt his face burn. He felt incredibly embarrassed, even though he knew Han Joo-young said it without malice.
And Yoon Joo-ho, who usually offered a word of advice, had merely observed the situation that day. Not that Yoon Joo-ho had any obligation to intervene.
But today. Looking at Han Joo-young taking pictures of the cocktail he made and drinking it with continuous admiration, Song Hyun-soo felt as if he had already received an apology from Han Joo-young. He felt no lingering resentment about that day’s emotions.
Being recognized was a greater revenge than hearing a few words of apology.
“What is everyone doing on the 10th of next month?”
Instead of saying anything to Han Joo-young on the spot, Yoon Joo-ho had invited the three of them to his birthday. And he had entrusted the bar to Song Hyun-soo.
Perhaps Yoon Joo-ho had this outcome in mind from the very beginning.
Song Hyun-soo looked around again, searching for Yoon Joo-ho.
He was the guest of honor who had arranged this event. More than anyone, Song Hyun-soo wanted to make him a cocktail. He planned to signal him over once he found him.
This time, he found him without difficulty. His tall figure walking into the hall from the direction of the entrance was immediately noticeable. If he was in the venue, finding Yoon Joo-ho was never difficult.
He was walking slowly through the crowd, engaged in conversation with someone.
Jin Seo-yeon. A top actress, 15 years into her debut, and the same age as Yoon Joo-ho.
She had debuted in high school, playing the younger version of a lead actor alongside Yoon Joo-ho in the same drama. After instantly rising to top-star status with the title “Nation’s First Love,” she had maintained that position firmly ever since.
Seeing her face as she walked beside Yoon Joo-ho, Song Hyun-soo swallowed dryly and licked his lips.
“It’s simple. Just sleep with top stars. People with a lot to lose keep secrets from each other.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s trade secret for avoiding scandals. Why did that specific phrase come to mind at this moment?
Even while making cocktails for the next person in line, Song Hyun-soo’s gaze kept following the two of them.
Standing at a high table in front of the large picture window, the two of them briefly gazed out at the night view. Then, Yoon Joo-ho personally took the coat she had draped over her shoulders. Jin Seo-yeon, wearing an evening dress that revealed her shoulders, was more beautiful than the night view outside. As Yoon Joo-ho handed her coat to a waiter, he suddenly looked this way.
Their eyes met. He was definitely looking at Song Hyun-soo. But instead of signaling him over, Song Hyun-soo involuntarily averted his gaze.
“Hyun-soo. We meet again.”
The next person in line arrived at the bar and stood there.
“Oh? Senior.”
It was Jeong Seong-won.
“I was a bit disappointed we didn’t get to talk much earlier.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I deliberately aimed for the last spot so I could talk more with you, Hyun-soo.”
Come to think of it, Jeong Seong-won was the last person in line.
Song Hyun-soo, who had been glancing towards Yoon Joo-ho and Jin Seo-yeon, collected himself and put on his professional smile.
“Since you’re the last customer, I should make it extra special. What would you like?”
“Hmm, could you recommend a romantic cocktail for me, Hyun-soo?”
“How about ‘Kiss of Fire’ with a vodka base? If you usually prefer strong drinks, I can reduce the sweetness and increase the alcohol content.”
“I’ll go with whatever you make, Hyun-soo, for today.”
Jeong Seong-won, who primarily played gentle and soft-hearted roles, seemed not much different from his on-screen persona. He had a good physique and a strong, masculine appearance, but his tone of voice and gaze were soft, making him easy to talk to. It was fortunate that, despite being a top star, he wasn’t arrogant.
Song Hyun-soo rimmed the edge of an inverted triangle martini glass with lime and then coated it with sugar. He added various ingredients to the shaker and began to shake.
“Wow… Hyun-soo, your cocktail skills are beyond a hobby!”
“I’ve been exposed to it for a while.”
“I see. No wonder your shaker technique is so good.”
Even as he received Jeong Seong-won’s compliment, Song Hyun-soo’s attention kept drifting to Yoon Joo-ho and Jin Seo-yeon. They looked quite serious, deep in conversation.
“Is
“Until now, I’ve only done minor roles or extra work.”
“Even someone like you had to go through such hardship. I did too.”
“I was unknown for several years.”
“Wow, I feel a sense of kinship.”
Jeong Seong-won had worked as a child actor around the same time as Yoon Joo-ho. His career had then slowed down, and he resumed acting after becoming an adult.
“Still, Senior, you’re a top actor now.”
“Me… I was lucky to get into Look Planning, so people still say it’s all thanks to my agency.”
Leaning his elbow on the bar, Jeong Seong-won spoke with a bitter expression, hunching his broad, thick shoulders. He was one of the most popular actors these days, so Song Hyun-soo hadn’t expected him to feel that way.
While pouring the contents of the shaker—ice, vodka, sloe gin, lemon juice, etc.—into the glass, Song Hyun-soo tried to comfort Jeong Seong-won.
“Ah, what are you saying? They say luck in this industry only lasts about five years.”
“Five years? It’s been exactly five years since things started going well for me. Should I be careful?”
He handed the finished cocktail to Jeong Seong-won, who was joking. It was a ‘Kiss of Fire’ with reduced vermouth and increased vodka.
“Wow, this is great. It’s strong, so it’s fiery at first and sweet at the end… Mmm, it’s really good.”
Jeong Seong-won, raising his dark eyebrows and nodding, put down his glass and asked Song Hyun-soo,
“But who says that? That luck only lasts five years?”
“Yoon… Joo-ho… Senior.”
As Song Hyun-soo answered, his voice faltered. Yoon Joo-ho had appeared behind Jeong Seong-won, who knew when he had arrived.
“What are you drinking?”
He walked directly towards Song Hyun-soo, then leaned casually against the bar and asked Jeong Seong-won.
“Ah, Senior. You’re here? It’s ‘Kiss of Fire.’ I asked Hyun-soo to recommend a romantic cocktail.”
Holding up the intensely orange cocktail, Jeong Seong-won smiled at Song Hyun-soo. Dimples formed vertically on his masculine face.
“It seems more like a sexy cocktail than a romantic one, though.”
¹) Malbec: Argentinian wine.