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墨書 Inktalez
Amidst the thundering music and vibrant lights, the bartender's voice flowed like a warm stream through the clamor and reached Leo's ears. He casually said, "Hey! Kid, here's your beer." With those words, a foamy beer slid along the bar and came to a steady stop in front of Leo.
Leo looked at the beer in front of him, feeling impressed by the bartender's seemingly casual yet precise pouring skill. A faint smile appeared on his face. He grabbed the ice-cold glass, took a deep breath, and then took a big sip. The refreshing beer flowed down his throat, taking away the dryness in his mouth and a hint of restlessness in his chest.
After drinking the beer, Leo felt like he had become more relaxed. His gaze gradually shifted from being lost to clear, as if he had found a moment of peace in this busy world. He raised his glass again, slowly savoring the taste of the beer, and felt the burden in his heart lighten. Leo's eyes wandered through every corner of the bar, thinking of Mike's words about maintaining a smile even in the face of adversity. He smiled slightly.
The full beer glass in Leo's hand quickly emptied, and unconsciously he tapped the table, indicating another round. Soon, as the second glass of foamy, cold beer slid in front of Leo, his heart suddenly sank. The glass in his hand seemed to become heavy, and his thoughts were in conflict. Leo stared at the beer, struggling inside. He knew his pockets were empty, and he didn't even have the money to pay for this beer. Various possible solutions quickly flashed through his mind, but none seemed practical.
He knew deep down that being in this place without the means to pay would be extremely embarrassing and shameful. But on the other hand, this cold beer was more than just a drink to him. It represented an opportunity to relax and temporarily escape reality, a shared memory with his former comrades. He thought of Mike, the friend who always managed to find hope in the most difficult moments. Leo felt a surge of inexplicable courage in his heart; he didn't want to give up like this.
Gently setting down the beer, he decided to confess and communicate with the bartender after finishing this drink. He hoped to find a solution, even if it meant facing some consequences. In this noisy bar, Leo felt a hint of loneliness and helplessness, but at the same time, he realized that only by facing reality could he find the strength to stand up again.
Leo took a deep breath and decided to first drink this beer, and then confess his situation to the bartender. He knew that no matter the outcome, he had to face it. This was his first step to starting over, and no matter how difficult the road ahead, he had to bravely face it. He raised the beer glass in his hand once again.
Just as Leo was about to raise his glass again, deeply immersed in his thoughts, a female voice suddenly broke his reverie. The voice carried a hint of surprise and curiosity: "Hey, aren't you the guy who got beaten up by a group of thugs in the alley the other day?" Leo's heart jumped, his hand trembled slightly, almost causing the liquid in the beer glass to spill.
Leo's movements froze in an instant. He slowly turned his head to look at the source of the voice. Standing before him was a woman who appeared to be around thirty years old. Her short hair was neatly trimmed, giving her a smart and stylish appearance. There was a hint of curiosity and concern in her eyes, but more than that, there was a direct and candid quality about her.
Leo stared at her with some confusion, trying to search his memory to identify this woman. He was certain that he had never had direct contact with her, but she seemed to have some understanding of him. Leo furrowed his brow slightly, unsure of how to respond.
The woman didn't immediately respond to Leo and added, "It was that night, in that dim alley, when you were surrounded by a group of thugs. It looked really bad. We almost stepped in to help, but then those guys left on their own." There was no mockery or disdain in her tone, but rather a hint of sympathy for his situation.
Suddenly, the scene from that night flashed through Leo's mind: the dim alley, the merciless punches and kicks, and the eventual departure of the thugs. He remembered the middle-aged man in a combat vest and the man and two women behind him. The events of that night instantly replayed in his mind.
"Oh, it's you guys," Leo responded somewhat awkwardly. He wasn't sure how to handle this unexpected encounter. He felt his cheeks flush slightly, feeling at a loss for being recognized in such an awkward situation.
The bartender's expression towards Leo was initially friendly, but when he heard the woman next to him mention the words "vagrant," his face suddenly changed. His eyes became sharp and he walked over to where Leo was sitting at the bar with displeasure. The atmosphere in the bar became tense for a moment. The bartender's gaze was as sharp as a knife, clearly unhappy about the possibility of Leo being unable to pay. Sitting at the bar, Leo felt the surrounding eyes focused on him, and his embarrassment and anxiety reached a peak. His hands trembled slightly, and his fingertips holding the glass turned almost white.
"Hey! You don't have money to drink?" The bartender's voice was filled with impatience, as if ready to explode at any moment. Leo felt cornered, he lifted his head to explain, but couldn't make a sound. The bartender's attitude became even more hostile: "You stinking beggar! You dare to drink my wine!"
Just as the bartender raised his hand to drive Leo away, a short-haired woman quickly pulled out two banknotes from her wallet and handed them to the bartender. Her voice was firm and calm, but conveyed an unquestionable authority: "Boss, these two drinks are on me." Her gaze was fixed on the bartender, as if conveying an unspoken understanding.
The bartender took the banknotes, and the anger on his face slightly eased, but his eyes still stared sharply at Leo, as if assessing his identity. He looked at the banknotes, then at the short-haired woman, and finally sighed helplessly, "For Sarah's sake, I'll let it go." With that, he turned and left to attend to other customers' orders.
Leo watched the back of the short-haired woman, feeling a strange sense of gratitude welling up inside him. He awkwardly averted his gaze, filled with confusion and turmoil. He knew he couldn't continue like this and needed to quickly find a way out of the current predicament. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and began to contemplate his next course of action.
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