Working In A Beauty Salon - Part 7

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After finishing his workout, Hugo took a long shower, letting the warm water relax his body. As he dried off, he stared at himself in the mirror, his damp hair falling around his face. The words Alex had said to him earlier. You looked very pretty echoed in his mind.

Without thinking much, he reached for the outfit he had brought: a fitted top that hugged his slim figure and a pair of jeans with a slightly more tapered, stylish cut. The top was softer, with a bit of a scoop neckline, something he wouldn’t have worn before. He hesitated for a moment before slipping it on.

Looking in the mirror again, he tilted his head. Is this really me?

Kate's teasing, Bella's encouragement, Max's lingering glances, it all played in his head. He ran his fingers through his hair, leaving it loose instead of tying it up, then dabbed on a hint of moisturizer, something he had started using since working at the salon.

Satisfied but a little nervous, Hugo grabbed his things and headed out the door.

Kate was already at the salon, leaning against the front desk with a knowing smirk as Hugo walked in. Her eyes immediately scanned his outfit, taking in the fitted top and the way his loose hair framed his face.

"Well, well, look who decided to dress up today!" she teased, crossing her arms. "Trying to impress someone, Luna?"

Hugo rolled his eyes, but the slight blush on his cheeks betrayed him. "It's just comfortable, okay?" he mumbled, setting his bag down.

Kate chuckled. "Oh sure, just ‘comfortable.’ Next thing we know, you’ll be borrowing my lip gloss."

Before Hugo could respond, Lila walked by and did a double take. "Whoa, Hugo uh, I mean, Luna, you're looking stylish today! Love the look."

Hugo sighed, shaking his head. "You guys are making a big deal out of nothing."

But deep down, he wasn’t so sure.

As Hugo helped out at the salon, Kate couldn't resist bringing up the morning's gym incident.

"So, spill. What’s this I hear about a guy asking you out?" She teased, crossing her arms.

Hugo froze midtask, feeling his face heat up. "It’s nothing! Just, this guy, Alex, mistook me for a girl again and asked me on a date."

Kate grinned, leaning closer with a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh? But you introduced yourself as Luna to Alex, didn’t you?"

Hugo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, but that was different. I was just caught in the moment."

Kate smirked. "Uh-huh, sure. But you do realize you’ve been dressing a little, Luna-ish lately, right?"

Hugo shot her a look. "I just wore this because it’s comfortable. And stop calling me that."

Kate held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No, ‘Luna’ for now." She winked. "But I’m just saying, if the name fits."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "And you also gave him your number?"

Hugo hesitated. "Well, yeah. But I was caught off guard! And I" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t know, Kate. Am I gay?"

Kate tilted her head, studying him. "Do you like Alex?"

Hugo frowned. "I don’t even know him. But the way he looked at me, the way he called me pretty." He trailed off, feeling a strange mix of confusion and curiosity.

Kate smirked. "Sounds like someone’s questioning things."

Before Hugo could argue, Lila walked by again, smiling. "Morning, Hugo! Or should I say?"

Hugo groaned. "No! Just Hugo."

Later that day, Max walked into the salon, his usual confident stride slightly off, as if something was bothering him. He was quiet, avoiding eye contact with everyone, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with a far-off look.

Kate noticed right away. "Whoa, moody much?" she teased, trying to lighten the air.

Hugo, still lost in his own thoughts, looked up and immediately noticed something was off. "Max? You okay?"

Max simply shrugged, avoiding Hugo’s gaze. "Yeah. Just tired."

But Hugo wasn’t convinced. He had known Max long enough to tell when something was bothering him. He hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Are you sure? You don’t seem like yourself."

Max let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. "It’s nothing. Just..

Hugo paused for a moment, trying to recall the events from the bar last night. His head was still a little foggy from the drinks, but bits and pieces started coming back.

"Uh, I remember we were drinking, and dancing a little, Bella and Kate went to the bathroom and then,  you left early?" Hugo said, rubbing his temples.

Max folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "That’s it? That’s all you remember?"

Hugo frowned. "Yeah, was there something else?"

Max hesitated, his fingers gripping the towel in his hands tightly. He wanted to bring up what he had said to Hugo, how he had nearly confessed his feelings. But seeing Hugo’s confused face, Max felt a sting of disappointment.

"Nah, nothing important," Max muttered, turning away.

Kate, who had been listening nearby, smirked. "Oh, really? Nothing important? Max, you left the bar like someone just broke your heart."

Max shot her a glare. "Shut up, Kate."

Hugo tilted his head. "Wait, did something happen? Did I say something weird?"

Max forced a chuckle. "You were just, really drunk, that’s all."

Hugo sighed in relief. "Oh, okay. Thought I did something embarrassing." He laughed, but Max didn’t.

Kate glanced between the two, sensing the tension. "Well, whatever it was, I think Max is still thinking about it."

Hugo noticed Max's expression and felt a little guilty. He didn’t remember much from last night, but seeing how off Max was, he knew something must have happened.

"Hey, Max, I’m sorry if I said or did anything weird last night," Hugo said sincerely. "I really didn’t mean to upset you."

Max looked at him, his heart clenching. He wanted to say it wasn’t Hugo’s fault, that it was his own feelings messing with him, but instead, he just sighed.

"It’s fine, Hugo. Just, forget it."

Hugo frowned. "But I don’t want to just forget it if it made you feel bad. We’re friends, right?"

Max forced a small smile. "Yeah, friends."

Kate, who had been eavesdropping, rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you two are so awkward. Just hug it out already."

Hugo chuckled and playfully nudged Max. "I think Max would rather die than do that."

Max smirked slightly. "You’re not wrong."

Even though the tension wasn’t completely gone, the moment felt a little lighter. But deep inside, Max still couldn’t shake off his feelings.

As Saturday morning rolled in the usual weekend rush filled the salon started getting busy with customers arriving for their appointments.

After finishing his maintenance work, Hugo found himself naturally stepping in to help Kate and Max. He assisted with small tasks, handing over tools, organizing the workstation, and even brushing out a client’s hair under Kate’s guidance.

Max was quieter than usual, but he couldn’t help but glance at Hugo from time to time.

One of the customers, a cheerful woman in her mid-thirties, admired herself in the mirror after Kate finished styling her hair. "Oh my gosh, this is perfect! I feel like a new person!" she beamed, running her fingers through her freshly styled locks.

Overjoyed, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small, beautifully packaged lipstick. "I bought this shade the other day, but I already have one just like it. Consider this my little thank-you gift!" she said, handing it to Kate.

Kate chuckled, recognizing the shade instantly. "Oh, I actually already have this one too," she admitted with a playful shrug.

Without missing a beat, the woman turned to Hugo, mistaking him for a girl. "Then you should take it, sweetheart. This shade would look lovely on you!" she said, placing the lipstick in Hugo’s hands with a warm smile.

Hugo froze for a moment, glancing at Kate, who was barely holding back laughter. Max, standing nearby, shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact.

Kate smirked. "Well, looks like it’s yours now, Hugo. Might as well give it a try."

Hugo stared at the lipstick in his palm, unsure of how to react. "Uh, thanks?" he said hesitantly, his face slightly flushed as the woman walked away, still gushing over her new look.

Kate snatched the lipstick from Hugo’s hand and examined it with a playful grin.

 It’s a bold red matte, this is a power move, Hugo!” she teased, twisting it open to reveal the rich crimson shade.

Max, arms crossed, tried to look disinterested but couldn’t stop glancing at Hugo. The other stylists in the salon had overheard the exchange and were now watching with amused curiosity.

“Well?” one of the girls smirked. “Aren’t you gonna try it on? It’s a gift, after all.”

Hugo’s face flushed. “No way,” he protested, trying to hand it back to Kate.

“Oh, come on! It would totally suit you,” Kate coaxed, holding up a mirror. “Just a little bit, let’s see how it looks!”

The other stylists chimed in, encouraging him, some even pulling out their phones as if ready to capture the moment. Hugo sighed, feeling trapped.

“Fine, just this once,” he muttered.

Kate excitedly applied the lipstick, expertly gliding it across Hugo’s lips. When she pulled back, everyone gasped.

Max’s eyes widened.

“Wow,” one of the stylists murmured. “Hugo, you look, stunning.”

Hugo swallowed hard, staring at his reflection. The bright red lipstick made his lips look fuller, giving his face an unexpected elegance. For a moment, he barely recognized himself.

Kate smirked. “Guess Luna is making a comeback.”

Hugo groaned, “Don’t start.”

As the evening crept in and the salon buzzed with the usual chatter of end-of-day tidying, Hugo’s phone buzzed on the counter. He picked it up, seeing the message from Alex.

"Hey Luna, I was wondering if you'd like to meet up after work? Maybe grab a coffee or something? Let me know if you're free!"

Hugo stared at the screen for a moment, unsure of what to think. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he debated how to respond.

He glanced at Kate and Max, who were both finishing up their tasks. Max was wiping down a station, but Hugo could tell he was watching him out of the corner of his eye.

Kate, noticing his hesitation, came over and peeked at his phone. "Oh, Alex again," she said with a grin. "Are you going to meet him?"

He didn’t know what to say, but he was curious. "I don’t know, Kate. I mean, what does it even mean? Am I, am I gay?"

Kate gave him a knowing look, her voice softening. "You don’t have to label anything, Hugo. Just go with what feels right for you. 

Feeling both nervous and intrigued, Hugo typed back a response.

"Sure, I’m free after work. Let’s meet up."

Max’s expression immediately changed when he heard Hugo’s message to Alex. His face tightened, and his eyes darted quickly to Hugo, his usual calm demeanor replaced with something unreadable.

Hugo didn’t notice at first, as he was focused on putting his phone away. But when he looked up, he saw the flicker of disappointment in Max’s eyes.

"Max, are you okay?" Hugo asked, trying to gauge his mood.

Max quickly masked his emotions and nodded, though it was clear he was uncomfortable. "Yeah, just surprised, that's all," he said, giving a tight smile.

Max's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He sat in the back corner of the salon, pretending to be busy, but his thoughts were drowning him.

"I love Hugo. I really love him."

It wasn’t just friendship. It wasn’t just admiration. It was something deeper, something that had been buried inside. But now, seeing Hugo change, seeing how easily Alex had stepped in, made Max feel like he was losing something precious.

"Who is this Alex, really?" Max clenched his fists. "What does he want with Hugo? Does Hugo actually like him?"

That idea made his stomach churn. Would Hugo really go on a date with Alex? Would he hold his hand, smile at him the way I wished he would smile at me?

Would Hugo ever love him the way he loved Hugo?

He had never felt this helpless before. He had always been the quiet one, the one who stayed in the background, never speaking up about what he wanted. But now, he was realizing that if he didn’t do something soon, he would lose Hugo forever.

Hugo agreed to the date with Alex and sent him the salon's address. With Kate’s help, he got ready, embracing a slightly more feminine look. As Alex pulled up in his sleek Mustang outside the salon.

Max watched from the salon window, his jaw tightening as Alex stepped out of his sleek black Mustang. The guy had confidence, charm, and a presence that made Max uneasy.

Hugo, standing near the mirror, was finishing up his look with Kate’s help. A soft, fitted top, skinny jeans, subtle makeup, and the red matte lipstick that had been gifted earlier. It was the most feminine Max had ever seen him.

As Hugo stepped outside, Alex leaned against his car with a charming smile, his eyes scanning Hugo from head to toe.

"Wow, you look amazing," Alex complimented, opening the car door for Hugo.

Kate stood by the salon entrance, watching with an amused smirk, while Max clenched his jaw, pretending to focus on cleaning up. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the broom tighter.

Hugo hesitated for a moment before stepping inside Alex’s car. He could feel Max’s gaze burning into his back, but he shook off the feeling and smiled at Alex.

"So, where are we going?" Hugo asked, adjusting his seatbelt.

Alex chuckled. "It’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll love it."

As the car pulled away, Max tossed the broom aside and stormed to the back of the salon. Kate noticed and sighed, shaking her head.

"Poor Max," she muttered under her breath.

Kate crossed her arms and looked at Max with a knowing expression. "Okay, spill it. What’s going on with you?"

Max hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. He sighed heavily before finally admitting, "Last night at the bar, I told Hugo that I love him."

Kate’s eyes widened. "Wait, what? You actually told him?"

Max nodded, frustration clear in his voice. "Yeah. But he was too drunk to even realize what I was saying. He thought it was a joke."

Kate exhaled sharply. "And now he’s out on a date with Alex."

Max clenched his fists. "Yeah. And I hate it. I hate watching him walk away with someone else while I just stand here, pretending like it doesn’t matter."

Kate placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Max, you need to tell him again. When he’s sober. When he can actually process it."

Max shook his head. "What if it’s too late? What if he actually likes Alex?"

Kate smirked. "Then fight for him. You’re not the type to give up that easily, are you?"

Max looked down, his heart heavy. "I don’t know, Kate. I really don’t."

Hugo now Luna offering a charming smile as he extended his hand. Luna hesitated for a moment before taking it, stepping out of the Mustang.

The restaurant was stunning, with golden chandeliers, elegant decor, and waiters dressed in crisp uniforms. It was clearly one of the most expensive places in the city.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” Hugo muttered, looking around in awe.

Alex chuckled. “Only the best for someone as beautiful as you, Luna.”

Hugo felt his cheeks flush at the compliment. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention, especially from a guy. It felt strange, but also kind of nice.

As they were led to their table, Hugo couldn't shake the feeling that this was something completely new. He had been convinced to dress a little feminine before, but now, sitting in an upscale restaurant, being treated like a lady.

Alex ordered for both of them, his confidence effortless. “You’ll love the steak here,” he said with a wink.

Hugo picked at the edge of the tablecloth, still unsure how to act. “Alex, you do know I’m not actually a girl, right?”

Alex smiled. “Luna, I don’t care about labels. I care about how you make me feel.”

After dinner, Alex handed Hugo a beautifully wrapped box with a soft smile.

“This is for you, Luna,” he said, watching Hugo’s reaction.

Hugo hesitated before taking it. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

Alex chuckled. “I wanted to. Open it.”

Hugo carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside was a stunning evening gown, elegant, flowing, and undeniably feminine. His breath caught in his throat.

“It’s beautiful,” he admitted, running his fingers over the soft fabric.

“I’d love to see you wear it on our next date if you don’t mind,” Alex said, his gaze warm and hopeful.

Hugo felt conflicted. A part of him wanted to refuse, but another part of him the part that had been slowly getting used to this was tempted.

“I, I’ll think about it,” he finally said.

Alex smiled, satisfied with that answer. As it was getting late, he drove Hugo home. The ride was quiet, with only the soft hum of music in the background. When they reached his place, Alex turned to him.

“I had a great time tonight,” he said.

“Yeah, me too,” Hugo admitted, still holding the gift.

“Goodnight, Luna,” Alex said, his voice smooth as ever.

As Hugo stepped out of the car, Alex gently grabbed his wrist, making him turn back.

“Wait,” Alex said softly. Before Hugo could react, Alex leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

Hugo froze, his heart pounding.

“See you at the gym tomorrow, Luna,” Alex whispered with a confident smile before pulling back.

Hugo felt his face flush as he nodded, unable to form words. He clutched the box with the gown tighter and quickly turned toward his door.

As Alex drove away, Hugo touched his cheek where Alex had kissed him, still feeling the warmth.

He kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch, still holding the gift box from Alex. His mind was spinning from everything that had happened that night the dinner, the dress, and most of all, the kiss.

Without thinking, he grabbed his phone and called Bella.

After a few rings, she picked up, her voice groggy. “Hugo? It’s late, what’s up?”

“I, I don’t know,” Hugo muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I just got home, from my date.”

That woke Bella up. “Wait, what?!

“Yeah, and it was, weird. He took me to this fancy restaurant, treated me like a princess, and then” Hugo hesitated, his fingers brushing over his cheek. “He kissed me.”

There was a pause before Bella practically shrieked, “HE WHAT?!”

Hugo winced and held the phone away from his ear. “It wasn’t like that! Just on the cheek,” he quickly clarified.

“Oh my God,” Bella giggled. “And? How do you feel?”

“I, I don’t know,” Hugo admitted, looking down at the elegant dress in his lap. “Confused.”

Bella sighed dramatically on the other end of the line. “Confused? Hugo, a hot guy took you out to the nicest place in the city, gifted you a dress, and kissed you. That’s like a fairy tale!”

Hugo groaned, leaning back against the couch. “Bella, I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. I agreed to another date, and he wants me to wear this dress next time.” He hesitated before adding, “And the worst part? I didn’t hate any of it.”

Bella smirked. “Oooooh, so you liked it?”

“I don’t know! Maybe? I mean, I liked the attention, I liked feeling, special, I guess.” Hugo bit his lip. “But this isn’t me, right? I’m not supposed to like this. And Max.”

Bella’s tone shifted. “What about Max?”

“He’s been acting weird. He was upset when Alex came to pick me up. And before that, he.” Hugo hesitated. “I think he has feelings for me.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

Then Bella sighed. “Wow. Okay, so let me get this straight. You went on a date with Alex, who clearly likes you. Max is jealous. And you are sitting there all confused because, deep down, you liked dressing up and being treated like a girl. Do I have that right?”

Hugo swallowed. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”

Bella chuckled. “Well, bro, or should I say, sis, you’re in deep.”

Bella giggled. “Oh, come on! You love the attention, you love how Alex treats you, and you obviously don’t hate looking a little feminine. And Max? Well, Max is a whole different problem.”

Hugo sighed. “Yeah, Max.”

Bella paused before speaking again. “Be honest, Hugo. How do you feel about him?”

Hugo hesitated. “I, I don’t know. Max is my friend. I never really thought of him that way before.”

“But now?” Bella pressed.

“Now, I feel guilty,” Hugo admitted. “I don’t want to hurt him, but I also don’t know if I feel the same way.”

Bella hummed. “And what about Alex? You seemed to enjoy your time with him.”

Hugo thought back to the date the way Alex looked at him, how he made him feel special, the way his heart raced when Alex kissed him goodnight. “Yeah, it was nice. He makes me feel like someone else. Someone exciting.”

Bella snorted. “You mean like Luna?”

Hugo flinched at the name. “Yeah, I guess.”

Bella sighed. “Hugo, I think you need to figure out who you really are and what you really want before you end up hurting both of them and yourself.”

Hugo nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Yeah. You’re right.”

“Of course I’m right,” Bella said smugly. “Now, get some sleep, Luna. You’ve got another date coming up, and if you’re gonna wear that dress, we need to make sure you own it.”

Hugo groaned. “Bellaaa.”

But she just laughed. “Good night, sis.”

Hugo hung up and stared at the dress Alex had gifted him. Who was he really? Hugo, or Luna?