Mika watched as Loretta downed her first glass of alcohol while he took a small sip.
"You are good with drinking." His tone sounded as though he was making a statement when, in fact, it was a question.
Loretta looked at him, her face becoming flushed from drinking. "I rarely drink, but I hear it can help," she said as she filled her cup again and drank it in one go.
She was not even sure what it tasted like, only that the burning sensation did make her a bit forgetful.
"Why not drink it slowly?" Mika suggested.
Loretta shook her head. She waved over the waiter and had him bring more drinks, then she paid for them all.
"I think we should get a cab," Mika said. Since he was also drinking, he was not sure he would be able to drive.
Loretta nodded in agreement. Mika immediately texted a friend, asking him to come pick them up.
Loretta drank quickly, and she got drunk just as fast. Mika looked helpless. He had thought that, judging by how quickly she drank, she might have a good tolerance, but instead she became wasted just as quickly.
He felt very helpless about that. He had thought the two of them could have a drink and get to know each other better. Fortunately, he had already called a friend, who arrived shortly after.
The friend looked a bit surprised when Mika showed up holding a drunk woman.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Home, but first let's drop her at her hotel," Mika said, giving directions. His friend did not ask much.
Just as they were about to get into the car, Loretta suddenly covered her mouth. Mika could tell she was about to throw up, so he helped lower her head by the gutter and held her.
Loretta threw up while his friend helped him get water to clean up. Loretta cooperated so well that Mika was beginning to think she was not so drunk, but once they entered the car, she began to murmur to herself.
"I am just an unwanted child."
Mika, seated with her at the back, was shocked to hear that.
"Why would you say that?" He knew that people tended to be honest when they were drunk. He was really curious about Loretta and could not stop himself from taking advantage of the situation.
"My family is a blended family. When I was young, Mom told me Dad was dead. Only now do I know my father was a rapist. She had no idea whether he was still dead or alive," Loretta said.
Mika was shocked. He had not expected to hear those words.
Loretta looked at him and noticed his face was filled with pity. "Don't feel sorry for me. Anyway, I might not have long to live," she said.
"What do you mean by that?" Mika asked. He began to doubt her words. He had seen the posts saying she was engaged to a man who killed his wives, but he was not one to believe such superstitious nonsense, so he wondered if she was sick.
"It is a reality that I believe. That is why I am out here doing all the things I want to do," Loretta said.
Mika looked at her, his heart feeling complicated at that moment. "Then what else is on your to-do list?" he asked, but Loretta was already asleep.
Fortunately, when they got to the hotel, Loretta woke up. Still in a half-awake state, she told the receptionist her room number. Collecting the keys, Mika helped her into the elevator.
"So, what plans do you have for tomorrow?" Mika asked. He was not even sure why he was so interested.
"I am not sure." She shook her head. The two got to her floor.
Mika half-carried her to her door. Just as he used the key to open it, the opposite door opened.
"What happened to her?" the bodyguard asked as he stepped out.
He had agreed with Loretta that she would always let him know before going out. In the past week together, even when she went to the swimming pool, he had been aware, so he had learned to trust her.
Unexpectedly, she left the hotel that evening without telling him. He had been worried sick when he discovered it during dinner time. He immediately called for backup to find out where she had gone, but before any report got back to him, she returned.
"You?" The bodyguard felt something tighten in his throat when he saw that the person holding Loretta was Mika.
"We went to eat dinner together and check out some shops. She got drunk, so I brought her back," Mika said. He honestly saw no need to mention that he had deliberately waited for her.
The bodyguard, looking at the two of them, could not help but wonder what they were up to.
"Thank you. You can go back. I will help her settle in," he said, pulling Loretta away from him.
Mika noticed the bodyguard seemed hostile toward him, but he did not argue. He simply turned and left.
The bodyguard took her inside, helped her take off her shoes, and helped her onto the bed before leaving.
.....
When Loretta woke up the next morning, she felt a splitting headache.
"Why did I drink so much?" She used her hand to hold her head. She thought about how she had gotten drunk the last time and ended up in the hospital. While she was still thinking about what to do, she received a call from the front desk. Mika was there to see her.
Thinking about how he had brought her safely back to the hotel, she granted him permission to come up.
She quickly went into the bathroom to wash her face, hoping that would help, but it did almost nothing.
Knock knock
Loretta, who was still thinking about what to do next, heard the knock on her door. She was still wearing yesterday's outfit, so she simply walked over and opened the door.
"I brought you this." Mika showed her the hangover medicine and breakfast he had bought.
"Thank you." Loretta was a bit surprised but touched by his thoughtfulness. As long as she could remember, no one had ever been so kind to her. "Come in." She moved aside and let him in.
Mika walked in, handed the medicine to her, and placed the breakfast on the table.
Loretta, feeling like her head wanted to split open, quickly took the medicine.
She looked at the food on the table. "This is quite a lot," she said. There were three sets of breakfast.
"I was not sure what you would like to eat, so I got three sets, hoping one would be to your liking," Mika explained.
"Well, have you had breakfast?" Loretta asked, and Mika shook his head.
"Then join me," Loretta said. The two ended up having breakfast together.
"Anything else you want to do?" Mika asked. He had no idea why he was so interested in her.
Loretta looked at him in shock. She wondered if she had said things she should not have while drunk.
"I mean, you are here on vacation. I hear it is a trend now to have one last adventure before getting married. I guess that is why you are here," Mika lied, feeling embarrassed to admit that he had tried to pry into her life while she was drunk.
Loretta thought about it. There were still a few places she would love to travel to, but she could not afford it.
"Maybe a real date," Loretta said. She had lived for so long and never dared to get into a real relationship.
Mika looked at her, stunned.
"You must have seen the news. My marriage was just agreed upon by our parents," Loretta said.
"Don't get me wrong. I am not asking you to take me out on a date. I was just speaking randomly," she quickly added, feeling that her words might be misleading.
"Oh, but I would be glad to take you on a date. How does this evening sound?" Mika said. He could not even explain why he was happy about the opportunity to take her out on a date.
Loretta smiled. "You do not have a wife or girlfriend you would have to explain to, right?" she asked. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in a scandal.
"No. I broke up with my ex a year ago," Mika answered.
"Alright." She accepted.