The barber shop, a calm and peaceful place, where you can only hear the sound of scissors and the noise of water. That's where I work, as a professional barber. Even though, this place is quiet, not a lot of people come here, but, there's a client of mine that I consider him as one of my favorites costumers, his name is Naib Subedar, a Mercenary. He may seem scary on the first view, I also thought that, but when you get to know Mr. Subedar better, you'll notice he's kind and sweet, and he also loves food. I admire him, his sweetness and kindness, he's is not bad looking too, I find his long hair pretty, and Mr. Subedar always takes good care of his hair, it's surprising coming from a mercenary, his hair smells like cinnamon and honey mixed together, a great combination. I confess, I do have a little crush on him, it's been a while since I realized that, it's awkward, because I don't know much about him, well, Mr. Subedar vents to me while I cut his hair and take off his beard, but there's not much about him.
"Hello? Sir?" A random client asked.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I ended up daydreaming." I apologized to the client.
"It's okay, anyways, here's the money." The costumer handed me the money and left.
"Wait! I have to give you the change!" Noticing it was already late, I sighed and put the money in the box.
The door's bell ringed, meaning someone got in the barber shop. For my surprise, it was him, Naib Subedar, the mercenary who I just daydreamed about.
"Hey, Jack!" Mr. Subedar waved towards me.
"Oh! Mr. Subedar! It's surprising seeing you today, you only come here twice in a month but it's the third day you're coming, did something special happen? Sit here!" I pointed to a chair and he sat on it.
"I have a date." The mercenary looked at me.
"Oh. A date, huh."
"Yes! With an explorer, his name is Kurt, he's cute." He chuckled.
"Right, same as usual?" I asked him.
"Uh... I think I'm going for something new, can you cut my hair short?" Naib touched his hair and loosing it.
"But— Your hair is so pretty, you know, I love your hair in that way." I looked over him, stroking his hair.
"I also need to tell you somethi—" The door's bell ringed, and a costumer came in.
A man with carrying a backpack arrived the barber shop, he had short brown hair and a beard, I've never seen him in my whole life, but it's not bad having new costumers.
"Oh! Kurt! What a coincidence!" The mercenary waved at him and stood up.
"Oh! Naib! Hello!" The man walked towards Naib and hugged him.
I tried faking a cough for them to notice what they were doing, Mr. Subedar looked at me and smiled and went back on sitting in the chair, the unknown man sat in another chair beside Naib. I put the "apron" on his chest, and closed it on the back of his neck.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Subedar?" I asked him while caressing his hair.
"I— Uh..." He seemed really bothered by that decision, I thought someone was forcing him at first.
"Y—Yes! Cut it short, you can keep my bangs."
When the intrusor started talking to another barber, I whispered on Mr. Subedar's ear.
"Naib. You know both of us don't want that."
"You caught me, I really didn't want to cut my hair. Kurt said I would look cute with short hair." He whispered back.
"But you don't want that, and you don't have to satisfy anyone's wishes."
"Yeah, you're right."
I stroked his hair and kissed his head, I could notice Mr. Subedar blushing, how cute.
"H—Hey... Are you..."
"Yes."
"Really? I couldn't even notice."
"Yeah, I have to keep that as a secret, but I'm bisexual." I whispered on his ear.
"O—Oh! Bisexual, huh..." Mr. Subedar blushed more intensely, he seemed shy.
"Same as always?" I caressed his hair.
"Yes! You know me well." Naib looked at me and gave me a gentle smile.
I started splashing water on his hair and cutting the ends of the hair, I love feeling his hair, may seem something normal for me, as a barber and hair dresser, but Mr. Subedar is different, his hair is fluffly and has a pretty good smell. He's just my type, I admit.
"Is it done?" He asked.
"Almost! Can I do a tiny braid on your hair?" I massaged his shoulders.
"Mm, yes." Naib closed his eyes while I massaged his shoulders.
"Your back is tense, are you nervous these days?" I asked him.
"Well, actually, I have something to tell you. But I'll do that later." Mr. Subedar looked at me.
"When?" Naib looked at the door and winked at me, I giggled at his movement.
After everyone left the barber shop, I closed the shops door and locked it. I smirked at Naib, but he seemed worried and sad.
"Is everything okay, Mr. Subedar?" I approached him.
"Yes— It's just that—" Before he could finish his sentence I put my hand on his left cheek.
"Jack? Jack— What are you doing?" Naib slapped my hand out of his face.
"Oh, you're not in love with me?" I looked over to him.
"Why would I be in love with you? I don't know you, you can literally be The Ripper who's out there killing people."
"You think I would kill people?"
"N—No! That's not what I meant, Jack I-"
Oh yes, he could notice the tears in my eyes after that sentence, honestly, am I really that obvious? I am The Ripper, but no one has ever find out about it, Naib's just that smart, how cute.
"I'm sorry... It's not the right time, I'm going to defend my hometown on the war." He carressed my face and wiped my tears out.
"You're— Defending Nepal?" I asked him.
"Yes, it's my hometown."
"But what if you die? What if someone kidnaps you or kill you? What if you get classified as missing?"
"I'm sorry, Jack, I have no choice."
"Don't go, please-"
"I'll be okay, don't worry, friend." Naib did a little punch on my arm and chuckled, I smiled and hugged him tightly, not wanting to stay away from him, we stood like that for 5 minutes before I kissed his forehead and gave him a headpat.
"Be careful, please. I'll be waiting."
He smiled before leaving the barber shop, I never thought our friendship would end like this. But, not really a friendship, because for my side, I loved him, I loved Naib. Him, his shining personality and his soft long hair. Wish I could touch his hair for the last time, no one survives the war.
