Chapter 2: The Fleeting Night

On my way out, I spotted Laia crouching isolated on the corner of the street. I had assumed she had already departed, as their group wasn't at their table when I returned from the restroom.

Seeing her alone, I suddenly felt the urge to rectify things, even if it meant reconciling with her after playing around and breaking things off the next day.

"What was I even thinking?" I muttered.

I was about to call for a cab when I suddenly saw her stumble to the ground as she tried to stand up and walk. Normally, I would have laughed my heart out already seeing her wasted like that, but I strangely felt annoyed instead.

"Damn! Why did you even drink if you can't even handle it?" I grumbled as I approached her.

I scooped her into my arms and examined her disheveled appearance up close. Her skin appeared remarkably soft, and her scent, a delicate blend of perfume and alcohol, intoxicated me. I nearly lost my composure, tempted to kiss her neck right then and there in public.

"Laia... Where are your friends? Why did they leave you here alone? Unlock your phone and call someone who can come pick you up. I'll wait until they arrive. It's not safe for you to wander alone," I urged, scanning the area to search for any familiar face.

"Hah... Not one of them is my friend, Elrod," she whispered before losing consciousness.

She still addressed me by my last name despite us having been classmates since the first grade. While it wasn't surprising, an uncomfortable feeling gnawed at me. She looked so alluring that I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

"Damn it, Laia Dominic! Wake up! You should have unlocked your phone and dialed someone first! I'm going to leave you here if you don't wake up," I shouted, aggressively shaking her to awaken her.

She wouldn't budge, and no one around seemed to know her. I removed her glasses and stowed them in the case protruding from her bag—there was a risk they might break otherwise.

"Fine! I'll leave you here. I want to rest now," I declared while hoisting her into my arms and positioning her by the pub's entrance.

Everyone was looking at us and began whispering to one another. I retorted, "I don't know this woman!"

"Tsk! Jerk! I heard him call her Lai or something similar, and now he's denying it. Such a dog! Hope he stays single for life," one woman muttered, casting me a scornful look.

"Shh... He might hear you. Don't be nosy. Let's go," the other one said.

"F***! You're driving me crazy, Laia," I grumbled in embarrassment.

I cradled Laia in my arms once more and hailed a cab. She continued to slumber, with no alternative but to take her along. With midnight already here and I had to rise at five in the morning, I had no choice but to book a hotel room near the airport.

"Damn it, Laia! Don't blame me when you wake up."

We reached the hotel, and I attempted to reserve a separate room for us.

"Apologies, sir, but we can only accept cash currently," the receptionist informed me.

"Do you have a twin room available?" I inquired.

"Just a moment, let me check our records," she replied.

"Alright!" I nodded.

"Sir, all of the twin rooms are presently taken. Please accept my heartfelt apologies," she notified me after a few minutes of reviewing their records.

With no twin room accessible, I had no choice but to settle for a double room. The cost of two single rooms would surpass my budget.

"Damn it! Why can't I use my card?" I demanded in frustration.

"Our card system is presently down. Therefore, we can only accept cash. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and kindly request your understanding," the receptionist clarified.

"Damn it! The next hotel is quite a distance from the airport. I'll take the double room, but please provide us with an extra comforter and pillow," I responded.

The receptionist agreed, handing me the room key, and mentioned that they had already delivered the extra pillow and comforter to our room.

Upon our arrival in the room, I immediately noticed its smaller dimensions compared to others I frequented. The limited space made it feel a bit cramped and lacked the luxurious amenities I had encountered previously. Nevertheless, at that moment, my weariness overcame any concerns about the room's size or amenities.

I gently laid Laia on the bed, her still-unconscious form taking up a significant portion of the available space. My arms throbbed with fatigue from carrying her. Deciding on a quick shower to freshen up, I placed Laia on the bed and left the bathroom door slightly ajar in case she needed anything. All I wanted was to rest and put this peculiar evening behind me.

I was still dizzy even after taking a shower, and I was light-headed. I wanted to sleep already.

I donned the bathrobe from the bathroom and left my clothes on the vanity table. I was drying my hair with a towel when I realized Laia was already sitting on the bed—she still seemed out of it.

"Are you awake now?" I inquired.

She fixed her lifeless gaze on me, then stormed into the shower, wordlessly shoving me aside and slamming the door.

"Hey! What's the matter? Are you really that drunk?" I queried, rapping on the bathroom door.

Her phone rang, so I seized it and pounded on the door, shouting, "You have a phone call! Answer it and see if they can pick you up here."

The bathroom door swung open unexpectedly, taking me by surprise. Laia stood there, still soaked from head to toe, her robe carelessly draped over her form. As she reached out to grab her ringing phone with her wet hands, I deftly intercepted it. I handed her a nearby towel, and my gaze transfixed on the glistening droplets clinging to her neck. An intoxicating blend of perfume and the subtle fragrance of soap and shampoo hung in the air as I meticulously dried her hands with a single swift motion.

"You're completely drenched!" I rattled.

The persistent ringing of the phone came to a halt, prompting me to switch it off and casually toss it onto a nearby table. I continued to wipe Laia's hands with meticulous care, absorbing the awkward silence that had settled between us. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she tilted her head slightly, yet not a word escaped her lips.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" I inquired.

She lightly shook her head, maintaining her puzzled gaze.

"How about a husband?" I probed, drying her hair and neck.

Once more, she shook her head. I drew her closer and whispered, "Would you mind spending the night with me?"

I teased her, still fuming about my friends laughing at me earlier over the childhood slapping incident.

I wanted to check if she had sobered up, but she surprised me by wrapping her hands around my neck and whispering, "You might regret playing with fire."

"Damn it! Are you challenging me?" I demanded furiously.

"No, but it's up to you to figure out what I mean," she replied before releasing me.

She pushed me and silently went to the table to get her phone.

Her demeanor and actions threw me off guard. She seemed different from the Laia I knew, yet I couldn't resist her provocation.

I impulsively grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, which resulted in her accidentally dropping her phone.

Slowly releasing her hand, I wrapped one of my arms and leaned forward, patting her lips gently with my thumb. As my chess kept thumping hectically, I inquired, "Is it truly you, Laia?"

"Yes. Who else should I be?" Laia replied.

I slowly approached her lips with my mouth slightly open as I slipped my hand at the back of her head while gently pulling her closer. Her cheeks were flushed as she closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her lips were so soft and moist that I couldn't help but occasionally nibble on it while sucking it lightly and tracing it with my tongue. Our tongues intertwined a few times, and our breaths grew heavy.

My heart raced as my feelings for her intensified.

I swiftly lifted her into my arms, placed her on the bed, and positioned myself over her. "I believe I won't be the one regretting this," I whispered.

"Should I be scared by now?" she asked with a straight face.

I whispered in her ear, "Maybe? Or maybe not," licking and nibbling it lightly as I moved down to her neck.

She shivers every time my tongue touches her skin. The refreshing and crisp scent of her perfume, intertwined with the subtle notes of soap and shampoo, enthralled me in the fleeting moment. Her soft and cold skin is so irresistible that I wanted to leave a mark on it.

I've never been this eager before.

I want her, even if it's just for today.