Capítulo 53: 51. Competition
Saturday, 25th. April. 2015
Kai dropped me off at work early seeing as there was a meeting being held before opening to announce the fortnightly sales rankings. I had a feeling I'd rank well considering the amount in the payslip Koh had given me this morning. But compared to how much the others made, it was still uncertain just how I'd place. And again, it was only for two weeks. This was more of a forecast for how my monthly sales have been so far. What was more significant was the monthly performance. Despite the other girls here essentially being my competitors, so far none of them had openly said they were competing with me.
I made my way down the hall and upon entering I saw the entire cast of girls gathered, settling down on the couches in the center of the lounge together. A light chatter in the room. They must have been waiting for the meeting to begin. I noticed they had posted the rankings on the wall, so I took a second to check.
Aera
Lily
Sephora
Mia
Jia
Wyniee
Venus
Hina
Emi
Soo Young
Fifth. That was pretty amazing, considering I'd only been here for such a short amount of time. I really had the boys to thank for it, seeing as they were the ones that came to visit me the most.
Haru was nearly ready to begin the meeting, so I went over and squished in between Wynnie and Lilly. Sephora perched herself on the armrest beside us. Everyone quietened down as Haru finally came over and pulled up a chair and joined us.
"Does anyone else feel frustrated?" There was a mixture of sighs, and some girls gave a nod or muttered a yes to the question he'd posed. "When the rankings come in and Aera is making so many sales, isn't it frustrating?" He took a pause, but went on. "Basically, that kind of frustration is very important as a hostess."
Aera, the girl who had placed at number one, and the only girl with fiery red hair in the room, shuffled her chair around a little as though she had something she wanted to say. "Haru, if I may?" Haru gave her a nod and sat back, so she cleared her throat with a small cough and began addressing the room.
"So, this new client of mine. I met him two weeks ago, but he's spent 20,000 on me already. The first time we met, he happened to be a 'first time' customer. I really thought he was just going to be an occasional customer, but the guy took a liking to me and nominated me. Then he started coming here and spending money." After she was done, Haru took it upon himself to speak again.
"You girls have the chance to serve customers every time they walk in for the first time. You stand a very reasonable chance of getting nominated too." I listened as he continued on. This was the first time I'd heard him speak so seriously.
"You don't have time to worry about the guy or how he is doing. Worry about yourself instead. In my opinion, it's not cool if you girls worry about such things." There was mostly silence in the room. Everyone seemed to take in his pep talk.
"Seriously. If you care about the guys, then you should be more concerned with yourself and take it more seriously when it's the first time for them. Because it would be more embarrassing if you weren't selling, right?" He was making a lot of valid points. It is definitely embarrassing if you're not making sales. "You'll be more ashamed of yourself for not selling than you are of obsessing over guys' feelings."
I didn't think this much applied to me, but maybe it did. It sounded like perhaps some of the other girls weren't pushing their sales as hard as they should be. I understood the hesitation. If you have feelings for a customer, you find it harder to coax them into spending. And if that customer is someone you knew before you started working here, then it's not like the relationship was strictly business.
"1000 a month income, it's so embarrassing. So work really hard to get to number one." Haru exclaimed. He was really getting passionate about this and didn't seem like he was anywhere near finished, so I snuggled into Wynnie's arm as he carried on. "Depending on how you act, the amount of money they'll spend on you will change. It's so uncool to obsess over a guy and not worry about small things. But I know you can do it. I swear to god, you all need to treat people like you mean it. If you serve them seriously and they don't nominate you, still give it all you've got!"
"But if you can't get nominated from customers, don't think you're wasting your time. Because if you did nothing, it wouldn't make a difference, would it?"
Sephora gave a big sigh, so I peered up at her. "We should do our best."
A collective "Yeah" came from around the room at what she'd said.
"You girls have to do your very best. If your monthly income climbs up by only 500 or even 1000 by working hard like that, that's fine. If you do that, a different future awaits you. So never make excuses for yourself! Do what you can and work hard, and do what you can to the full extent of your ability. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me and I'll tell you how to make a million dollars in sales anytime! Let's work hard and expand our stores soon!" And with that, Haru finished his motivational pep rally and stood up with his fist in the air.
The tension in the room released as there were shuffles and girls all bowing and saying 'Thank you' before getting up and making their way to the dressing rooms. "He said some crazy good stuff," Wyniee turned to me.
"I get so mad when he gives such inspirational speeches." Mia laughed. They dragged me with them into the dressing rooms to get ready. Another night of mystery and allure awaited. I never knew what to expect once we opened. Who would I be entertaining? What events would unfold at the end of it all? Last night was a testament to that.
Once I was dolled up, I was squeezed into a transparent floral lace corset one piece. With the most elegant matching white lace train, it wasn't too long, but I still had to hold it in my hand as I hurried to find Haru.
I wasn't surprised to hear Jin and Jimin had occupied the VIP room for the night. But Aera approached us, her long black hair and burgundy corset giving her an edge. Haru told her she'd been requested as well, which stunned me.
"Oh? Jin and Jimin, I haven't seen them in so long! This is going to be fun," she gave a wink. Something about her annoyed me. Was it just because I was now finding out that she knew them, and possibly had for a while? Or maybe it was that 'I'm better than you' aura she gave off. Haru hurried us along, and we exchanged quick pleasantries and introduced ourselves to each other as we were being ushered over to the VIP room. After all this talk Haru gave of competition, it couldn't be at a worse time. Aera didn't seem like the type of girl to easily fold, either.
Aera took the lead and burst into the luxuriously decorated VIP room, calling both Jin and Jimin's names out. They were settled into the plush couches that lined the wall. "Why don't you come and see me as often? I missed you Jimine," Aera was quick to slip down in the space beside him and hang on to his arm. I could feel my irritation already bubbling.
"Ahh. I've just been so busy, but I'm here now," Jimin gave her one of those cute smiles, the one that melts your heart and makes it hard to resist him. Jimin could probably ask anyone to jump off a bridge and smile like that and there'd be no further questions asked.
"Jia, you look beautiful," Jin's compliment caught my attention. He smiled and held out a hand. "Aw, you're so sweet," I gladly took it as he guided me to sit between him and Jimin.
"Really? Just busy? Are you sure it's not that you've met someone else?" Aera giggled from beside Jimin. I glanced at them, Jin too. Her obnoxiousness was making me want to roll my eyes, but I suppressed the urge.
"No, no. It's nothing like that," Jimin refuted before turning to Jin and I. His smile was wide and cheeky, but he turned back to Aera quickly as she gave his arm a shake.
"Good, I'd be so jealous if another girl had stolen my Jimine away," she wined. Jesus. This is going to be a long night. I literally jumped when Jin suddenly laughed really loudly.
"What's that make Jia then?" Jin scoffed, putting Jimin on the spot. He turned back to us.
"Hm? My best friend, of course. You know that," Jimin sent a little wink in my direction. He wasn't being serious right now, surely. The nerve.
"Yep. Best friends. Nothing more." I doubled down, emphasizing the 'nothing more' as I stared Jimin directly in the eye.
"Huh?" Aera giggled. "I was wondering why you chose Jia the last few times you visited. It's all making sense now."
"I'm relieved to hear that's all it is," she went on, cuddling up closer to Jimin.
"Ugh. Forget them. Let's order something to drink, baby. What're you in the mood for, hm? Tell Papi SeokJinnie," Jin gave a relenting sigh.
The two of us looked over the menu together. When I mentioned we go with something light, Jin refused and said he was in the mood for champagne, so I gave in. He placed an order for the sparkly five set of Moët & Chandon Rosé bottles that glowed in the dark.
While we waited for the champagne call to start, we sipped on some Shochu and Tea as we chatted amounts ourselves. But I was elsewhere mentally right now. It was taking all my inner strength not to slap Jimin on the chest and ask him what the hell he was doing.
Jimine was a wildcard. There were times he was so sweet and gentle, you'd never think he was such a flirt. But then it's like a switch flips and this other side of him just comes out. One that's the complete opposite. He can be so mischievous and deviant. It's honestly mind boggling and I still don't even know what to make of it. I've just been accepting it without questioning it, mostly. But, at times, it really was confusing and it hurt.
He was sweet to me always, but at the same time, he had no problem being sweet and flirtatious with other girls, too. Even when I was right here. Was this normal? It made me jealous, so jealous it was burning in my chest. But, he was.. my best friend.. not my boyfriend. So, did I even have a right to feel that way?
It was complicated. Then again.. Could I really blame him for wanting to be with other girls? If I'd lost my memories, it's not like he could just come to me. So, when he'd been lonely.. it'd been other girls that he'd turned to..
There was that scenario, or perhaps, even before he'd been around other girls too.. I couldn't say for sure. And for some strange reason, it made me question whether what Namjoon had said yesterday held any relevance right now. Perhaps it was conceded to think Jimin was acting this way because of me.
Either way, I was jealous. I just couldn't help it. And the way he's smirking at me while he's rubbing her arm right now. Is he doing this shit on purpose? He knows it's making me jealous. This is even worse.
Ugh.
I'd been absentmindedly listening as conversation went in one ear and out the other. Knocking back drink after drink as I stewed in my annoyance when suddenly the room went dark and the door burst open as a group of girls carrying in the glowing sparkly champagne bottles made a huge entrance chanting! God, I need to get out of my head right now and focus.
—-----------------------
Everyone's faces lit up excitedly against the colorful glow as they realised the champagne had arrived and the bottles had all been placed down on the table. The girls jumped around and pumped energetic fists into the air in celebration as the chants ended. One girl handed the karaoke microphone to Jimin. We hadn't started using it yet, but it was still on and when Jimin started talking, his voice was louder than the excited chatter in the room.
"Hi, this is Jimin," He giggled somewhat shyly, and some girls giggled too. "These bottles are so pretty, but you're all pretty, too. I don't really know what we're celebrating, but let's drink together and enjoy the night."
There were a few 'aw' and 'how cute' comments from the girls as they fawned over how adorable Jimin was being right now, all smiley and sweet. I even had to catch myself from staring at him for too long, but it was almost impossible when he turned on the charm. Just before I thought that was it for speeches, Jin whisked the mic from him and cleared his throat, which caught the room's attention again.
"Well, that was enlightening." the glare Jimin gave Jin at his comment only added to the sarcasm of it. "Amongst these set of 5 shining champagne bottles, the most shining thing in this room is my princess' smile beside me."
Jin's bold declaration nearly made me choke on nothing. My face burned as the girls all made cute doe eyes of admiration at me for how damn cute Jin was being right now. He may as well have just announced to the entire room that I was the most important thing here. It was embarrassing, but in the most endearing way. Jin was such a sweetheart.
"She's totally unaware of her own charm, but I know it best. Anyway, let's pop these bottles, shall we?" Jin ended his speech, put the mic down on the table, and turned to me.
"You're so sweet Jin, we're getting married. It's decided. I want you to take me as your wife," I jokingly fainted in his arms. He laughed, but pulled me closer.
"Gladly, I'll take you in every room of our newlywed home, eat our wedding cake from between the delectable valley of these delicious-" Jin was clearly drunk as fuck as he tickled between my cleavage.
"Shhh! Too much information, Papi," I quickly put my hand to his lips to shush him. Luckily there was so much noise in the room with everyone cheering over Jimin and Aera popping the first bottle. No one seemed to hear him.
Jin moved my hand away and pulled me closer to him as we watched the other two chug from the bottle. Soon enough, it was our turn. Everyone watched with excited anticipation and cheered as Jin pulled the cork out with a pop. I took the first taste. The bubbles of the champagne as I drank it down had me feeling delightfully dizzy.
Jin finished the other half of the bottle off with the help of some encouragement. It was quite the spectacle in the dark like this, glowing bottles and glow sticks the girls waved around as they cheered Jin on.
Eventually the lights were flicked back on dimly and the ensemble left again. Once it was merely the four of us again, more drinks and karaoke ensued. By the end of the night, I was so drunk that I could barely see two feet in front of me. Somehow Jin had convinced Haru to let him drop me back off at home. That was, after I'd sobered up a smidge. Jin had helped me with that, as the two of us were left in the room together. I hadn't noticed when Jimin and Aera had left, but it had been that way for a while.
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder