Chapter 9
Nima woke up with a pounding headache, from the previous night's heavy drinking assaulting her senses.
"Ah! My head feels like it's about to burst," she groaned, sitting up slowly.
She quickly took in her surroundings: a spacious room with a king-sized bed where she had been sleeping, a beautiful painting of cherry blossoms hanging on the wall directly in front of the bed.
"Where is this? Where am I? Why am I wearing this oversized shirt, and of a man? Where are my clothes?"
Just as panic started to set in, James entered the room, a tray of breakfast in his hands.
"You're awake? Did you sleep well? You really gave me a hard time yesterday. Are you sure it was your first time getting drunk?" James teased, a playful smile on his face.
Nima felt a flush of embarrassment. "Did I trouble you too much yesterday?"
James chuckled, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "Yes, first you got drunk and fainted in front of everyone. Then I carried you all the way here with you blabbering nonsense that I couldn't even understand. Then, as soon as I got you inside, you puked all over me, and it got on both of our clothes."
"Then, did you change my clothes?" Nima asked, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.
James leaned in closer, their eyes locking. He gently touched her face with his fingertips, his touch soft and lingering as he slid his hand from her cheeks to her chin, lifting her head. "What if I did?" he asked, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
Nima stuttered, her voice trembling. "Wh—what do you me—mean?"
James chuckled softly, his eyes filled with amusement. "Don't worry. It wasn't me, it was my housekeeper. She's an old lady. She bathed you and changed your clothes. So, not only me, but you also troubled my housekeeper," he said with a gentle laugh. "And," he paused, "you shouldn't drink when you're around other people."
Nima looked confused. "Pardon?"
James rubbed the back of his head, looking slightly sheepish. "You shouldn't drink too much."
Nima sighed, her shoulders relaxing a bit. "I don't think I'll ever drink again after what happened yesterday. I don't want to trouble anyone."
James hesitated, his eyes softening. "I mean, you should drink but only when you're with me."
Nima, astonished, burst into laughter. "Why? So I can puke on you again?"
James's face turned awkwardly silent, making Nima feel a pang of guilt. "Sorry. I thought you'd find it funny," she said apologetically. She checked her phone and suddenly stood up, panic setting in. "I gotta go, I'm late for work. Aunt Rey will kill me if I get there late." she got out of the room in a hurry.
James watched her as she got out of the room, then sat on the edge of his king-sized bed, flipping his hair back with a naughty smirk. "You really are something else, Nima," he said, his voice tinged with admiration and something deeper.
What actually happened the previous night -