Working In A Beauty Salon - Part 6

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Kate leaned against the counter, watching Hugo and Max with quiet curiosity. She had known Hugo for years, ever since they were kids when he was just Bella’s shy little brother.

Even back then, there had always been something girly about him. He had long, silky hair that their mother and Bella would help him take care of. He never really fought back when teased and never got rough like other boys. Instead, he had always been gentle, soft-spoken, almost delicate in the way he moved.

And because of that, he had been an easy target.

She remembered how boys at school would laugh at him, call him names, and say he looked like a girl. But Hugo never fought back. He just smiled through it, pretending it didn’t hurt, though Kate knew better.

As Hugo finished getting ready, he glanced at himself in the mirror. With his long, neatly styled hair cascading down his shoulders and a subtle touch of lipstick enhancing his gentle features, he looked undeniably striking, almost too beautiful.

Even he couldn't ignore it.

Kate, standing nearby, let out an approving whistle. "Damn, Hugo, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you’re turning heads tonight," she teased with a wink.

Hugo's face heated up, but he didn't argue. A part of him was nervous, but another part? It was curious.

As they stepped out, Kate quickly dialed Bella. "You won’t believe how stunning your little brother looks tonight," she said with a laugh.

Hugo groaned. "Kate, don’t."

But it was too late.

Bella’s voice came through the speaker, amused and intrigued. "Oh? Now I definitely need to see this."

As soon as Bella arrived and laid eyes on Hugo, her jaw nearly dropped.

"Oh. My. God." She covered her mouth, taking in the sight of her little brother standing there, long, sleek hair framing his face, soft lips tinted with just a hint of color, and an outfit that, while not outright feminine, definitely accentuated his delicate characteristics.

Bella tilted her head, still grinning mischievously. “Alright, Hugo, or should I say,” She paused dramatically. “Wait, actually, what should we call you?”

Hugo blinked. “What do you mean?”

Bella smirked. 

“Well, looking like that, I can’t exactly introduce you as my brother, can I?” She nudged his arm playfully. “Come on, you need a cute name to match the look.”

Hugo groaned. “Oh, come on, Bella. This is just for fun. I don’t need a.”

“Luna.”

Everyone turned toward Max, who had been unusually quiet up until now. He was staring at Hugo, really staring.

“What?” Hugo asked, confused.

Max cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly. “Luna,” he repeated, a little softer. “I think, it suits you.”

Bella’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I like it! Luna it is!”

Kate clapped her hands together. “Perfect! Our little Luna.”

Hugo’s face turned scarlet. “Guys, stop.”

But Bella just grinned, slinging an arm around his shoulder. “Nope. It’s decided. Tonight, you’re Luna.”

Hugo sighed.

She blinked, trying to process it. Hugo wasn’t just looking good, he was looking gorgeous.

"Hugo," she started before a slow grin spread across her face. "Are you sure you’re my brother? Because right now, you’re giving serious ‘hot little sister’ vibes."

Hugo groaned, rolling his eyes. "Bella, please."

But Kate was already laughing, nudging Bella playfully. "Told you! Doesn’t he look stunning?"

Bella crossed her arms, still smirking as she circled Hugo like she was inspecting a masterpiece. "I mean, honestly? If I didn’t know you, I’d totally think you were some cute girl tagging along with us tonight."

Hugo’s face burned red. "Okay, okay! Enough already!"

Bella chuckled, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Relax, Hugo; I’m just messing with you. But seriously, damn. If I didn’t think you could pull it off before, I definitely do now."

Hugo didn’t know how to feel about that. But judging by the way Max kept sneaking glances at him.

Maybe he wasn’t the only one feeling conflicted tonight.

Kate raised an eyebrow, smirking as she turned to Max. “Wait a second, Luna, huh? That’s pretty specific.”

Max immediately stiffened. “W-What?”

Kate grinned knowingly. “Come on, spill. Was your ex-girlfriend named Luna or something?”

Max’s face turned an alarming shade of red. “No! Of course not!” He glanced at Hugo or rather, Luna, before quickly looking away. “I just thought it suited him.”

Bella chuckled, crossing her arms. “Mmm-hmm. Sure, Max. Sure.”

Kate leaned in teasingly. “So, if you didn’t have a girlfriend named Luna, maybe it was a crush?”

Max groaned, rubbing his temples. “Can we just drop this, please?”

Meanwhile, Hugo, Luna stood frozen, completely unsure how to react. Why did the name seem to affect Max so much?

The dim lighting and pulsing music of the bar created a warm, intoxicating atmosphere. Hugo Luna felt a little out of place as they walked in, Bella leading the way with Kate and Max trailing behind.

For the first time in his life, Hugo wasn’t sure if people saw him as a man or a woman. 

As they reached the bar, a bartender, a tall, handsome guy with a cocky grin leaned in. “What can I get for you, ladies?”

Hugo froze. His stomach did a weird flip.

Bella and Kate snickered, but Max was dead silent.

Hugo cleared his throat, his voice still in its usual tone. “Uh, just a beer.”

The bartender blinked, looking confused for half a second, before nodding. “Coming right up, miss.”

Kate lost it, laughing as she clapped Hugo on the back. “See? You’re totally pulling it off!”

Hugo’s face turned bright red. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, burying his face in his hands.

Max, however, didn’t laugh. Instead, he stole a glance at Hugo at Luna his expression unreadable. Did he like seeing Hugo like this? Or was it something more?

As the drinks arrived, Bella raised her glass. “To new experiences!”

Kate smirked. “And to Luna.”

They all clinked glasses.

Max couldn’t stop glancing at Hugo as the evening went on. His usual calm, composed demeanor was slipping, and he felt a strange mix of emotions churning inside him. The way Hugo, or rather, Luna, laughed, the way he held himself so confidently, made Max feel an odd flutter in his chest.

He couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Hugo seemed to fit into this new persona. He was happy, genuinely happy and it looked good on him. Too good.

Max couldn’t look away. The soft glow from the bar’s neon lights caught in Hugo’s hair, the subtle curves of his figure, and the way the sleeveless top framed his shoulders all of it was making Max feel things he didn’t know how to handle.

He took a sip of his drink, trying to distract himself, but it wasn’t working. His mind kept wandering. Why did Luna look so perfect tonight? And why was it making his heart beat so fast?

The laughter around him didn’t seem to reach him, not really. It was as if he was in a bubble, just watching Hugo, trying to understand what he was feeling.

As Hugo Luna talked to Bella and Kate, Max’s gaze followed him with a mixture of admiration and confusion. Was he attracted to Hugo like this? Was this what he had wanted without realizing it?

He tried to shake the thoughts away, but they only grew stronger. Hugo looked happy, and that smile of his was genuine.

It made Max feel both content and, uneasy.

As the night went on, Max couldn’t ignore the growing feelings inside him. 

The realization hit him hard. All these feelings he’d pushed down for so long, feelings that had always been buried beneath layers of self-doubt and fear, had suddenly surfaced. He couldn’t ignore them any longer.

He needed to tell Hugo. No more holding back, no more pretending. Max had to be honest with himself.

Max leaned closer to Hugo, his hands trembling slightly. “Hey, Luna,” he started, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Max’s heart pounded. He took a deep breath, the words getting stuck in his throat for a moment. This was harder than he thought.

“I, I just wanted to say something,” he began, voice soft but determined. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately, and I can’t ignore it anymore. You, you look incredible tonight, Luna. And I.”

Hugo’s smile softened, and for a moment, he seemed to understand what Max was trying to say. He leaned in a little closer, his eyes searching Max’s face.

Max swallowed hard, feeling a rush of warmth flooding his chest. “I’ve been feeling this way for a while now, but I, I think I’m falling for you, Hugo. I mean, Luna. I don’t know when it started, but I can’t pretend it’s not there anymore.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Max held his breath, anxiously awaiting Hugo’s response. The silence between them was thick with anticipation.

Hugo blinked, his smile faltering for a split second. Then, slowly, his expression softened, and he reached out, gently touching Max’s arm.

Max could see the change in Hugo’s eyes as he spoke those words. He’d hoped for a different reaction, maybe a smile, a laugh, or even a shared moment of realization that they both felt the same way. But what he got instead was something unexpected.

Hugo was swaying slightly, his words becoming more slurred as he leaned in a little closer. He blinked, then gave Max a playful, almost teasing smile.

“You’re kidding, right? This is a joke, Max, right?”

Max’s heart sank as Hugo’s words registered. The warmth he’d felt just moments ago evaporated like a puff of smoke. He looked at Hugo, 

“No, I’m not joking,” Max said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. But his hands were shaking, betraying him. “I mean it. I really care about you.”

Hugo, though, wasn’t processing things the way Max had hoped. He laughed softly, the sound a little too high-pitched, and swayed on his feet. “Yeah, okay, Max. Sure you do. You’re a good guy. You know that?”

Max watched in silence as Hugo took another sip of his drink, his face flushed from the alcohol, his eyes unfocused. The reality of the situation hit Max hard.

Hugo was too drunk to understand what he was saying. He had no idea how serious Max was, and now it seemed like he thought this whole thing was just some kind of joke.

Max swallowed, holding back the wave of disappointment and confusion threatening to drown him. “Yeah, I guess I’m just a good guy,” he murmured, trying to force a smile, though it felt strained.

Hugo, still laughing softly, raised his glass and took another swig. “

He couldn’t let Hugo see how hurt he was. Instead, he nodded quietly, even though every part of him wanted to scream.

The moment of truth was slipping away, and Max realized that Hugo, in his drunken haze, wasn’t going to take him seriously.

So, instead of continuing to push it, Max stayed silent, hoping Hugo would sober up and remember their conversation later. But deep down, he knew it might not even matter.

Max had just bared his heart, and in return, all he got was a drunken laugh and a few words that felt like they were brushed aside.

The weight of unspoken emotions, the sting of being laughed off, it was too much. Without a word, he stood up, grabbed his jacket, and walked out of the bar. 

The noise of laughter and clinking glasses faded behind him as he stepped into the cool night air.

He didn’t know where he was going. He just knew he had to get out of there. Seeing Hugo like that drunk, carefree, oblivious to what had just happened, made something inside him ache.

For so long, he had kept his feelings locked away, convincing himself that it was better this way. But tonight, he had let them slip, even if just a little. And Hugo, Hugo hadn’t even noticed.

The streets were quiet, the distant hum of traffic the only thing keeping him company as he walked aimlessly. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his head down, replaying the moment over and over in his mind.

Did I make a mistake? Did I misread everything?

He let out a deep sigh, frustration and sadness twisting together inside him. He wanted to believe that Hugo could feel something too, that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. But tonight had proven otherwise.

Maybe it was time to accept reality.

Maybe Hugo would never see him that way.

After wandering the streets for a while, Max finally pulled out his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen as he debated what to say. He didn’t want to seem upset, didn’t want to cause a scene. So, he kept it simple.

Max: Hey, I left the bar. Heading home. See you guys later.

He hesitated for a second before hitting send. Almost immediately, the message was marked as read. But no response came right away.

Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he sighed and continued walking toward his apartment.

Kate was the first to notice Max’s message as she scrolled through her phone, her vision slightly blurry from the alcohol.

“Guys,” she mumbled, nudging Bella and Hugo, who were both giggling at some inside joke. “Max left.”

Bella squinted at the screen. “What? When?”

Kate shook her head. “Don’t know. He just said he was heading home.”

Hugo, who was swaying slightly, tried to focus. “Max left? Why didn’t he say anything?”

Kate sighed. “Probably didn’t want to deal with a bunch of drunk idiots.” She looked at Hugo, whose lipstick was slightly smudged, and something in the back of her mind clicked. But she was too tipsy to piece it together properly.

Bella stretched her arms. 

“We should go too. It’s getting late.”

Kate agreed, and after settling the bill, the three of them stumbled out of the bar, half-laughing, half-trying not to trip over themselves. Hugo is still lost in the haze of alcohol.

As they walked down the dimly lit street, Hugo swayed between Kate and Bella, his arms draped over their shoulders for balance. His voice was soft and dreamy, his words slurring as he mumbled, “I love to be a girl, I love to be a girl.”

Kate and Bella exchanged glances. Bella raised an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on her lips. “You really are enjoying this, huh?”

Hugo giggled, his head resting briefly on Bella’s shoulder. 

“It’s fun, I feel, free.”

Kate chuckled. “Well, you certainly look the part tonight, Luna.”

Hugo hummed, not even reacting to the name this time. Bella nudged Kate knowingly, but they didn’t press him further.

When they finally reached Hugo’s apartment, Bella fished out his keys from his bag and helped him unlock the door. “Alright, princess,” she teased, “time for you to get some sleep.”

Hugo pouted slightly but stepped inside, turning to give them both a lazy wave. “Night, girls~” he sang, before disappearing inside.

Kate and Bella stood there for a moment, Kate smirked. “He’s really slipping into this, isn’t he?”

Bella sighed, shaking her head with amusement. “Yeah, but I don’t think he even realizes it yet.”

With that, the two walked off into the night, leaving behind a very tipsy and very confused Hugo, Despite the dull throb in his head, Hugo forced himself out of bed. The memories of last night were hazy, but flashes of laughter, music, and the feeling of being free lingered in his mind.

Shaking it off, he stretched and grabbed the first thing he could find, his snug tank top and a pair of tights from the shopping trip with Bella and Kate. They felt surprisingly comfortable, hugging his body in a way that wasn’t unpleasant.

After quickly fixing his hair into a loose bun, he took a deep breath. Gym time.

As he stepped out, the morning air felt crisp against his skin. He tried not to think about how effortlessly he had dressed like this, or how natural it felt.

Arriving at the gym, he noticed a few guys glance his way. At first, he thought nothing of it, until one of them gave him a second look and smiled.

Something stirred inside him. Did they mistake me for.?

Brushing off the thought, Hugo walked inside, ready to push through the hangover and get lost in the workout.

As Hugo finished his workout, he checked his phone and saw a message from Kate.

Kate: Skipping gym today, too hungover. See you at the salon later!

Hugo smirked. Lightweights. He could still feel the dull ache from last night, but pushing through the workout had helped clear his head.

After a quick shower, he got dressed, this time opting for something a little less tight than his gym outfit, but still more fitted than his old, baggy clothes. He had stopped thinking too much about it. It just felt, right.

The same guy from the day before approached Hugo once again, the one who had mistaken him for a girl. With a confident yet friendly smile, he stepped closer and said, "Hey, I saw you here yesterday. You caught my eye."

Hugo tensed as the man continued, "I’m Alex, by the way. And I was wondering if you’d like to grab a coffee sometime?"

Hugo’s heart skipped a beat. Does he still think I’m a girl? His mind raced, unsure of how to respond.

Hugo hesitated for a moment before turning to Alex and asking, "You do know that I’m not a girl, right?"

Alex chuckled softly, his expression completely unfazed. "Yeah, I know," he said with a shrug. "But honestly? Gender doesn’t really matter to me. I just think you’re really pretty."

Hugo felt his face heat up at the unexpected compliment. Unsure whether it was from embarrassment, flattery, or something else entirely.

Alex smiled. "So, how about that coffee?"

Hugo swallowed hard, his mind in turmoil. Was this just a joke? Was Alex serious? And why did a part of him actually consider saying yes?

Hugo takes a deep breath. "Actually, my name is Luna," he said softly, the name slipping from his lips almost naturally.

Alex’s smile widened. "Luna, huh? I like it. It suits you."

Hugo felt a strange warmth in his chest, but before he could overthink it, Alex pulled out his phone. "Here, let’s exchange numbers."

Hugo nodded, his fingers slightly trembling as he typed in his number. As their phones buzzed with the confirmation, Alex gave him a wink. "I’ll text you later, Luna."

As Hugo walked away, he glanced down at his phone, seeing Alex’s name in his contacts.