I Can Use Filthy Game Currency In The Real World
Chapter 99: Drinking

Chapter 99: Drinking

"Oh..." Emma muttered, staring at Alex. His name was as plain as his face, nothing flashy, nothing special. She couldn’t figure out why he felt so familiar, so easy to be around. Maybe it was how he talked. A philosophy major, sure, but it wasn’t some geeky flex, he just kept things smooth, natural, never over the top.

"What’s up with this guy...?" she mumbled under her breath, barely audible.

"Oh, I’ll grab the drinks. You’re from the accounting bar, right?" Alex said, stepping up like it was no big deal.

"Uh... how’d you know?" Emma blinked, caught off guard.

"I was there too," he grinned, his tone light.

"Oh..." she trailed off, like something clicked faintly in her head.

Before she could piece it together, Alex rolled right on. "Uh, uh... thanks. You didn’t have to buy," she said, flustered, clutching the drink he’d handed her.

Normally, Emma would’ve bristled, some random guy chatting her up, buying her a drink unasked, acting like they were already pals heading back to the bar? That pushy crap usually set her off. But with Alex, she let it slide. Weird, even to her.

"It’s cool. I owe you one anyway," he said, shrugging it off.

"...You wearing them?" he tossed out, casual as anything.

"Yeah," she nodded, then froze. "What...?"

He didn’t answer, just kept walking beside her, that soft smile tugging at his lips. Emma frowned, sneaking a glance up at him.

"Mall," he said, smooth and easy. "I grab clothes there for my partner sometimes."

Emma stopped dead, her breath catching. Mall, where she modeled underwear. Her head spun.

"What, what, what? What’s that mean?" she stammered, trying to play it cool, but her voice cracked, too obvious she was rattled.

"Haha," Alex laughed, light and breezy.

A chill shot through her. Silence hung for a beat.

"I know it well," he said, forming a camera with his hands, framing her through one eye. For a split second, her mind flashed back, overlapping with that manager, zooming in on her barely-there panties, barking at her to spread wider.

Thrill. That old rush hit her hard. The day she’d gone solo to the studio, touched herself, then fucked the manager who’d pounced. They’d hooked up a few more times after, but that first spark? Never came back.

"What... why’m I like this..." she whispered, a wet heat blooming between her legs as Alex "snapped" his fake photo, winking one eye shut.

"What, what’re you saying...!" she blurted, her voice trembling.

"Hahaha," he chuckled, playful as ever.

For the first time, Emma actually wanted to jump a guy first. Watching him laugh, she fought the urge to spread her legs right there, beg him to check out her thong and t-shirt combo.

"Just messing with you. I buy underwear there a lot, saw a model with a body like yours, Emma," Alex said, brushing it off like a joke, letting it drop. His calm vibe, the way he acted like he knew it all but didn’t push, threw her off even more.

She couldn’t meet his eyes, too much.

"Hey, over there!" she snapped, pointing randomly.

"Huh?" Alex turned, puzzled.

"...What’s your social media?" she asked, yanking out her phone.

"...Huh?" He blinked, caught off guard.

"Your Social Media, you got one, right...?" she pressed, staring up at him, his grin still lingering.

....

"What the hell just happened?" Alex muttered to himself, rattled. It worked, too damn well.

"...Have a drink," he said, handing one to Emma.

"Oh, sure," she replied, snagging it.

"Sweet! I’ll treat you next time to pay you back!" she chirped, then bolted back to her bar table.

"Hmm." Alex scratched his head, glancing at his phone. He’d thrown it out there, casual, testing the waters with Emma, and it landed perfectly.

"A hidden camera or what?" he laughed to himself. It felt like the universe was punking him.

He’d half-thought, "No way I can pull this off," but went for it anyway. Nailed it. Mid-chat, he got smooth, dropped Mall like a tease, watched her squirm.

Played it off as a joke when she freaked, and boom, she asked for his social media. They followed each other, said see-ya, and split.

She’d pay him back later, she said. So, she’d hit him up first? Score.

"Hehe," Alex chuckled. Process didn’t matter, result was gold.

He knew Emma got off on showing off, so he’d parked himself where her skirt could flash a peek. Worked like a charm to spark things off. Or maybe, just random luck, his vibe clicked with her type?

"Hey, why’re you so late?" Mike’s voice cut in as Alex slid back to their table.

"Late? Just got here," Alex shot back, grinning.

....

Mike cracked open the bottle I’d grabbed, pouring it into a glass with a quick twist. I flicked my eyes sideways, Emma was back at her table, chatting easy with her crew, like nothing had happened.

"...Should’ve gone harder," I muttered, a twinge of regret hitting me. It’d gone too smooth. If I’d known it’d play out this well, I’d have pushed bolder, like I did with Kelly. Missed my shot.

Too late now, though. Still, I’d cracked open a door with Emma, future chats were on the table. Good enough.

"What else we ordering?" Jake asked, leaning back.

"Hmm," Mike hummed, swirling his drink.

"Isn’t it past 9 already?" I checked my phone.

"Yeah. Where’s the Idol Group at?" Jake grumbled.

I took another sip. Booze was still flowing, but the snacks were gone. Past 9, and no sign of Idol Group, the whole reason we were here.

"More... uh," I started, trailing off.

Buzz. My phone rattled on the table. Kelly.

"Hold up, got a call!" I said, snagging it.

"What, a girl?" Mike perked up, smirking.

"Yeah," I nodded, standing.

"..." Jake just stared, mouth shut, as I headed to the back of the bar. Too loud up front.

"Yeah?" I answered, ducking into the quieter spot.

"Alex! What’re you up to?" Kelly’s voice blasted through, slurring hard.

"...You drunk?" I asked, clocking it instantly.

"Hmm. Just a little," she giggled.

"That ain’t a little," I shot back.

"Whatever! What’re you doing?" she pressed, steamrolling on.

"At the festival with the guys. You?" I said, keeping it short.

"Oh! Where" she remembered.

"Yeah, my college," I confirmed.

"Hmm. Alex chasing girl groups," she teased, ignoring half my answer.

She kept rambling, not really listening. Her side was dead quiet, no festival noise. Made sense, she wasn’t into celebs or crowds.

"Then that’s it! Heading home," she declared.

"..." I paused, wheels turning.

I’d already pulled that sneaky skirt move with Emma, felt it in my bones. If I went to Kelly now, it’d end with us banging, no question. Been a minute since I’d seen her, too, too wrapped up in Tessa’s quest. Tempting as hell.

"Where’s mine?" I asked, testing.

"Okay... I’m near the College," she said, voice dropping low.

"Uh... 30 minutes?" I threw out, quick math in my head. Show’d start soon, wrap in half an hour. 9:15 now, 9:30 at the latest.

"Hmm. Girl groups and me, huh?" she laughed, catching my drift.

"Haha," I chuckled. She got it, sharp as ever. Woman’s intuition, man. But we’re just hook-up buddies anyway.

"I’m always there. Wanna swing by?" I pushed, grinning.

"...Lemme think..." she purred, voice turning flirty. I knew that tone, green light.

"Haha. Talk later then..." I started.

"Oh, bro! Gotta hit the stage!" a shrill voice cut through from her end.

Drop. I hung up fast, ducking behind a tree like a reflex. No clue why, just instinct.

"...Uh," I muttered, peeking up slow.

A small park stretched out behind the bar. Someone in a loud, sparkly outfit was pacing, phone to their ear.

"Oh, hurry!," they snapped.

"Huh...?" I squinted. Too far to see their face, but something clicked, the outfit, the sharp voice, the vibe. People around were sneaking looks.

"Serena...?" I whispered. Idol Group’s main vocalist, bright, bouncy, the group’s spark plug. Had to be her.

"...Okay. Nothing tomorrow, so I’ll carve out time," she said, restless but locked in.

"Seriously, knock it off!" she huffed, half-laughing.

I froze, hooked on her call, piecing it together. Annoyed, yeah, but she was into it, really talking.

"Phew. Fine. Give me a ton tomorrow," she sighed.

"Here, give me a lot...?" I echoed in my head. My brain’s been steeped in dirty thoughts lately, her "give me a lot" twisted erotic fast. Even pissed, her soft, smirky tone fueled it.

"Huh. Hanging up. Might call after if I get a sec," she said.

Click. She pocketed the phone and vanished.

"Okay, give me a lot." I mumbled, replaying it. Quest habit, snagging clues, building the puzzle.

"No way," I breathed, mind racing. Those three lines mashed together in my head, landing on one wild guess.

Serena, Idol Group’s golden girl, secretly banging someone?

"Okay, okay," I nodded, already picturing it. Her, tangled up with some dude, grinning ear to ear. No proof, but my brain ran with it.

"Oh, wow," I gasped, half-laughing. If that was real? Nuts.

"Hi, everyone!!" a cheery voice boomed from the stage.

"Uh," I jolted. Lost in my head, I’d missed it, the show was on. Serena, or whoever, dipped, and now they were live.

I snapped out of it and hustled back to the bar.