I only call you when it's half past five

I only love it when you touch me, not feel me

When I'm fucked up, that's the real me

When I'm fucked up, that's the real me, yeah

• The Hills by The Weeknd

Vee walked into his nightclub, typing on his phone. He barely noticed Mark and Lia talking in the back instead of working, who were surprised to see him. 

"Oh my god, Lia, I think it is the ghost of Vee. Usually, he is here more than his home, but lately, I haven't seen him at all. I thought something happened to him." Mark started, trying to gain Vee's attention. 

Lia quickly joined in; she already knew Mark was teasing Vee, "I agree. It has been ten years since I saw the boss. Did he and the club have a breakup?" She even went dramatic, covering her forehead with her hand and swooning in Mark's arms. 

Mark caught her, fanning Lia's face, acting like she had grown faint. "See, this absence has been upsetting to Lia." 

Vee put away his phone, finally glancing at the antics of the two idiots. "Shouldn't you be working, Lia? And Mark, you don't even work here." 

Lia stood up, wiping the nonexistent dust off her clothes, "Fine, I guess I will go to work then. So, ungrateful." She rolled her eyes, fake complaining on her way out. 

"Hey," Mark crossed his arms, "I have been working here, for free minus the tips, because a boss went MIA. Speaking of the boss, have you seen him? Because I sure haven't." 

Grabbing a towel on the bench, Vee threw it at Mark. Mark jumped, almost screaming, when the dirty towel was barely an inch away from touching him. 

"Ew, that towel is dirty. Are you crazy?" Mark shouted. 

"Stop complaining. I told you I will be busy these next four months." 

"Every time your family tells you to do something, you still find your way back here, looking for someone to play with for the night. I haven't seen you at all. Are you done playing around, or does someone have your attention?" Mark wiggled his eyebrows, smirking at Vee. 

Vee sat down, trying to wave Mark away, "There you go, being nosy again. I didn't sleep with anyone here, and you act like it is suddenly the end of the world." 

Mark joined Vee, dramatically wrapping his arms around him, "Exactly. Come on, I know you so well, Vee. Who is it? Who caught my best friend's attention?" 

"When did we become best friends?" Vee tried pulling Mark's arms off him, but Mark was like an octopus. 

Sometimes he forgets why he lets Mark do whatever he wants and allows him to stick close. But then he remembers that Mark is the only real person around him. 

Although, he will never admit they are close because that would only inflate Mark's ego. And I would rather face my family than deal with a smug Mark. 

"Veeeeeeee, I know you love me. Now, tell me everything." 

"I hate you." 

"Come on! If you tell me, I will stop being annoying." Mark was a second away from whining. 

Vee scoffed, " I don't believe you. Annoying is in your DNA." 

"Veeee." 

Vee sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He already felt a headache coming on. 

He regretted his decision to come today, but he needed to occasionally check in on his club to ensure everything was fine. Is it too late to leave? Vee thought. 

Either way, he gave in to Mark's demands. Giving in was his specialty. 

"Fine, I will tell you if that makes you go away." 

"Yay! I knew you loved me!" Mark cheered, finally letting Vee go. 

Vee rolled his eyes. "Remember when Lia told you I brought someone back here instead of doing her job?" 

"Yes. And Lia is my gossip buddy, so she did her job perfectly." 

Vee ignored Mark's last sentence. Even though he threatened to fire Lia many times because she enjoys spilling to Mark, Vee wouldn't do it. Lia is his best worker and hasn't tried sleeping with him like others. 

"Well, he goes to the school I am temporarily filling a position at. We slept together more than once." 

"And he's been the only one you slept with these past few days? Oh, oh, do you finally have a crush?" Mark shook Vee's arm. 

"No," Vee shook his head, "I just—he is very addicting." 

"Hmm," Mark hummed, rubbing his chin while closing his eyes. "Sounds like he is making his way toward your heart." 

"It is only sex. Plus, he has a boyfriend." 

"But, he is the only one you slept with these past few days. That is something you've never done before. You like his attention on you, I bet? Was he who you were texting when you came in? And don't use the boyfriend excuse; it doesn't work with you." Mark explained. 

Vee shook his head, "You are thinking way too much about this, Mark. We are just having fun." 

"Look," Mark's hand landed on Vee's shoulder, "you think you are having fun, but you are already doing the person differently than your other flings, right? I know you don't understand your feelings because of everything you dealt with, but that's why you have me: to understand your feelings for you." 

"You sound like you want to be my therapist that I don't have or need. And I understand my feelings perfectly." Vee tried arguing, pushing Mark's hand off him. 

Vee believes he should understand his feelings. But after years of being used and unloved, could he truly know all his emotions when he barely learned them? He even allowed his anger to slip away from him and turned passive. 

But it shouldn't be hard to recognize how you feel, right? Vee thought. Mark was making him question himself. 

"Vee, Vee, my poor Vee, it is okay; I am your emotional support buddy. Let me help you unlock your feelings." 

"Go to work, or I will fire you." 

"I don't even work here." Mark fired back. But he still stood up, making his way towards the door. "Also, you are working with me tonight. So get your ass up too." 

Vee flicked him off but followed Mark anyway. 

As he walked out, he pulled out his phone, looking at the message Nine sent before he started paying attention to Mark and Lia. He clicked his keyboard, getting ready to type back but changing his mind last minute. 

We are just playing around; I am not catching any feelings. Vee thought, but his answers felt unsure.