Snatching up the device, she quickly navigated to the recording app, her fingers trembling slightly with nervous energy. Relief flooded through her as she saw that the recording was indeed there, still ongoing. A rush of excitement coursed through her veins as she pressed play, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within the digital confines of her phone.
As the recording played back the events of the night before, Han-Bada's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment.
"Urgghh, why would I say that?" she groaned inwardly, cringing at her own drunken ramblings. Despite her embarrassment, she continued to listen intently, her curiosity driving her forward.
Finally, she reached the end of the recording, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the last moments to unfold. Her breath caught in her throat as she heard her own voice complimenting Travis, followed by his response. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she listened to the sound of his laughter, the warmth of his words washing over her like a comforting embrace.
But then, the recording abruptly cut off, leaving only the faint sounds of the night outside as Travis brought her back home. Disappointment welled up within her, mingled with a sense of longing for the moments she had missed.
Han-Bada's mind raced with doubts even as she listened to the recording.
"Well, that's kind of doesn't prove anything. He could have touched me while I was out cold," she mused, her thoughts swirling with suspicion.
With a sense of urgency, she dashed to her dad's office, her steps quick and purposeful. Upon reaching the surveillance system, she hastily scrolled through the footage, her eyes scanning each frame for any sign of wrongdoing. To her relief, the recording showed Travis did nothing – simply dropping her off and leaving without any untoward actions.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realized that Travis had indeed acted with integrity.
"Well, umm, I guess he passed," she admitted begrudgingly, her doubts gradually dissipating. However, another pressing matter demanded her attention.
"I should go get the key first though," she reminded herself, her mind shifting gears to the task at hand. The need for pain relief also asserted itself as her headache intensified. "I also need some pills; my head is killing me," she acknowledged, her pain becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
...
Travis stepped out of the steamy bathroom, feeling refreshed after his shower, and made his way into the cozy lodge. There, he spotted Soohyun, who was being tended to by Mijoo, as she meticulously adjusted his tie.
"When will you be coming back?" Soohyun's voice was tinged with a hint of anticipation as he averted his gaze, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Around 6 PM," he replied, his tone slightly bashful.
"Okay, I'll have dinner ready by then. Here's your lunch. Now go, you don't want to be late on your first day," Mijoo chimed in, her demeanor nurturing yet firm.
Soohyun nodded appreciatively, taking the lunchbox and carefully stowing it away in his bag. Spotting Travis, he quickly approached him with a friendly grin.
"I gotta go, bro. See you later," he exclaimed before dashing off, his footsteps echoing faintly through the lodge.
With Soohyun gone, Mijoo turned her attention to Travis, her warm smile welcoming him.
"Good morning, Travis. Come on in. I've already made breakfast," she announced, gesturing for him to join her at the table.
' Man, she can really act'
"How did you sleep last night? I bet you couldn't; I heard loud noises coming from the people who rented out the lodge yesterday," Travis remarked, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
Mijoo froze momentarily, her heart skipping a beat at his teasing. "Why does he always have to tease me like this?" she pondered, a fleeting hint of frustration crossing her features.
"Oh, I must have been really tired since I didn't hear anything," she replied, mustering a casual tone despite the slight flush rising to her cheeks.
"Well, I'm happy you got a good night's rest. Where is Ari? It seems like she's always barely here," Travis inquired, shifting the conversation seamlessly.
"She likes to roam around town. She should be helping me, but instead, she does that. Soohyun used to be the one that helps with the hardware issues, but now he has a job. Maybe he can fix them on the weekend," Mijoo explained, a touch of sadness evident in her tone, though she couldn't hide her elation that Soohyun had found employment.
"Why don't I help? I mean, I've got nothing better to do," Travis offered, his eagerness palpable.
"No, I can't have you do that. That would be taking advantage of your kindness," Mijoo protested, shaking her head gently.
"No, I don't mind. In fact, why don't we become business partners? I'd like to make this into something like a beach house lodge or even a hotel. I'm sure people will enjoy themselves here," Travis suggested, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yes, but I don't have the money for that, which is why I can only have four people that rent," Mijoo countered, her practicality tempering the optimism in Travis's proposal.
"That's where I come in. But let's talk about that later. For now, let's make this into an official business," Travis persisted, his determination unwavering.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Mijoo inquired, a mix of curiosity and skepticism in her voice.
"Don't worry, leave everything to me. For now, do you have any work?" Travis replied confidently, ready to roll up his sleeves.
"Well, the bathroom sink has been acting up. You could help with that. Let me show you," Mijoo said, leading Travis to the bathroom where she pointed out the problem.
Travis nodded, immediately grasping the issue. "I just need some tools," he remarked, already mentally planning out the repair process.
"Oh, I'll go get them, stay here," Mijoo said hurriedly, darting out of the room with a sense of purpose. Travis couldn't help but watch, mesmerized, as her dress swayed with each step, accentuating the graceful curve of her hips. Her movements were like a dance, a delicate ballet of efficiency and elegance. He clenched his hands tightly, fighting to suppress the surge of desire that threatened to overwhelm him, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure until she disappeared from view.
' Man, I might rub one off right now ' he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED