Playing with loose pockets was, to say the least, not that hard.
It was Noah's first time, but that didn't stop him from winning.
Throughout the short game, he forcefully kept his mouth shut, only engaging in small talk without much meaning.
He had already lied to all of them after all, when he introduced himself.
Even if he carried on lying, he wouldn't earn anything more.
He could tell by the text hovering over the guys' heads.
The game was over just a few minutes later.
After bidding goodbye to the three, he returned to the counter to pay for his meal.
The waiter flashed him a smile as he inquired:
"First time playing?"
"You could tell?"
Noah asked back with a nod.
He was a bit embarrassed, but that didn't show at all.
"It would've been hard not to."
Even though it sounded like mockery, the two of them's relaxed expressions made it feel like an interaction between long-time friends.
The man put down the glass he was cleaning, making his way towards the cash register.
"So what now?"
He asked Noah.
Met with silence, he guessed the young man had nothing planned out.
A fox-like smile spread on his lips as he said:
"Were you planning on wooing a girl and sleeping at her place? Sorry, but this pool club isn't exactly 'rich' in that field."
Then, glancing around, he added.
"It's mostly just old and middle-aged dudes like me coming here to down a few beers with a cigar or a cigarette in hand."
The young tourist rolled his eyes at the remark.
This dude, he sure let his thoughts run wild.
"Come on, I'm kidding, even I only did that rarely."
'Rarely? Man, what kind of place did I end up in?'
Noah lampooned, but his outward appearance remained upright with little to no change in expression.
"I was just thinking about sleeping, to be truthful."
At that remark, the man's hands paused for a second, as if his brain and body couldn't operate at the same time.
Noah, who was trying to minimize how much he spoke, found it basic courtesy to ask:
"Is there anything?"
A bit embarrassed, the man resumed his movements.
"Nothing, a friend of mine asked me to sponsor some of his rentals and B&B's if I ever got the chance."
Clearly interested, Noah leaned towards him, holding his head up with the back of his left hand.
"That's perfect, I was just looking for a place to rest."
"Ehh, I doubt that, although new, they're all bare minimum.
Not quite sure it'd fit your standards."
Noah looked at the man silently, analyzing him with an emotionless gaze.
'It seems he's mistaken me for a rich second-generation or the likes.
Thinking I'm used to five-star hotels, luxury cars, and high-end food.'
That couldn't be farther from the truth.
However, Noah felt it wouldn't be bad to build that kind of image.
It would allow him to lie without being suspected and to interact with high society without many problems.
It seemed like the perfect identity for him.
But, while being mistaken as a rich tycoon by the man behind the counter could happen, he would probably quickly be found out in front of the 'real deal.'
For the moment, it was better to just think about finding a place to sleep.
If he didn't want to spend the night under the stars, that was.
If the conversation carried on, he wasn't sure about what bullshit he could come up with, so he decided to take the initiative:
With a firm expression, he murmured.
"Well, I've been to many places all over the world.
It won't hurt to try out something new."
Behind the counter, the man was dazed for a second.
Rich people… sure had a different mindset.
Being able to get onto those sky-high buildings, sipping on fine wine, yet deciding to share the sorrow of the lowly mud with normal people.
Well, let him do whatever he wanted to.
He'd probably get a backache just from sleeping on a mattress that wasn't as comfortable as his.
"Then, wait a second, I'll call him, tell him I found him a last-minute client."
Confused, Noah glanced at the clock again.
And understanding the gesture, the man reassured:
"Oh, don't worry, he used to hang out with me back in college, although we may have grown old, there's no way he's already sleeping this early."
The young man couldn't help but reply with a low muse.
"Mh" is all he said, but in his mind, a solid stereotype began to form regarding LA's youngsters.
"Don't worry, I'll ask him for the best room he has."
Before the man could slip off with that phrase, Noah managed to catch him and correct him:
"No, ask for the worst he has- how can one do things halfway?
I want a genuine experience."
The dumbfounded look on the middle-aged man's face persisted as he said:
"of… of course."
Just a minute later, he hung up the phone and returned with the results.
"he said he still has a room free for two nights in his bed and breakfasts.
But any further than that, you'll have to move places."
"Many thanks"
Noah replied with an uncaring look.
"It'll be around 55$ a night."
The young man nodded and confirmed.
"That won't be a problem."
"I figured."
Replied the other almost instantly.
"Still… It's really cheap, even more than what I pay in rent.
Are you sure there won't be any problems?"
"Don't worry, worst case scenario, I'll just get someone to pick me up."
That was a lie, too.
Just paying 55 for the night would already put him back in debt, not to mention a ride, and he didn't know anyone in this country.
'Living life scraping by is horrible.'
He thought.
If he was struggling even with the system, he couldn't imagine just how much worse normal people had it.
Leaving the pub with 46$ left to his name, Noah made his way to the address he was given.
Unfamiliar with the city, it was about two o'clock by the time he got to the small hostel.
The tall skyscrapers and blinding lights were a forgone illusion in that small neighborhood.
The streets were empty, as one would expect at that time of the night.
The somber hospital atmosphere created by the street lamps made him feel a bit out of place.
Even the music he usually listened to had begun to feel boring, so he just stood there listening to the buzzing of the light.
With light steps, he made his way into the building.
It wasn't a hotel, meaning there was no reception: he just got inside and walked up the stairs.
No matter how silent, someone still noticed him, and soon came to greet him.
It was a fairly young man, not even in his thirties.
"You must be Noah."
He greeted him from the last step.
He then moved out of the way, making space on the cramped stairway for the guest.
Noah was met with a long corridor.
Five or six dark wooden doors on each side, and an open one at the end of the hallway.
Following him to one of the doors, they soon stopped as the man grabbed the handle.
Pushing it revealed a small room with nothing but a bed, a small chair, and an even smaller desk.
A square window in front of it let a bit of light to slip inside, colouring the white sheets a faint blue.
"Here, this is your room. At the end of the corridor, you can find the bathrooms."
He introduced in a whisper, afraid of waking the other guests.
"Thank you."
Noah replied in the same tone.
"No problem.
Tomorrow morning, breakfast ends at 11:30.
Make sure you don't miss it, because it's all inclusive."
The man didn't even mention what time breakfast would start, probably seeing how late it was and not expecting the guest to wake early.
The soft footsteps of the man walking away echoed through the empty building.
"Ah! I almost forgot, you can find the breakfast hall just beneath us, go down the stairs, get out of the building, and get in from the other side.
Settle the bill before eating, it's 54$ a night."
Noah nodded silently.
"Then, goodnight."
"Goodnight"
With that, the young man got inside his room and closed the door.
Tired, he slung his bag on the desk and let himself fall onto the bed.
The sheets embraced him gently, making all the tiredness from the flight dawn upon him.
As he stared at the silent room's plain ceiling, the fear that this might all be a dream began to form in his mind.
Maybe, when he woke up tomorrow, everything would turn out to be false, an illusion, and he'd wake up on the plane.
But before he could reason any further, his eyes gently closed, and he drifted into a deep sleep.