Cedric could never understand why booze became an indispensable part of celebration.
Yes, not even a week had passed since he had gone shit-faced with his friends, and Cedric subjected himself to another round of drinking.
And no, it is inevitable since the publishing house's president and CEO invited him.
The talk with the Japanese TV network representative went swimmingly. In less than three hours of going into the legalities and troublesome details of the adaptation contract, the entire project has received a green light.
It was fast and stress-free, really.
Maybe it is because both sides know what they want, and everyone is courteous and polite to each other during the discussion? Cedric has no idea what happened, but one thing is sure: it was the quickest negotiation he had ever experienced.
Oh, and the drinking session he had after that is also the quickest in kicking sobriety out of him.
"Aigooo~ our star writer, Sir Cedric Lim! Your aura is becoming even more brighter as time passes by!"
The CEO, in his late 40s, gratuitously poured his glass a premium sake. He had no choice but to down it in one gulp.
"Do you know that I once consulted a shaman, and she told me I will meet a noble person who will lead me to good fortune? Guess who I think it is, Sir Cedric?"
Another shot came his way, and gulp.
"It was you! Of course! Since I signed you into my company, everything has been smooth sailing. You're my lucky charm, Sir Cedric!"
The CEO appears so happy with the negotiation results that he gives his utmost attention to Cedric even though other people are at the long table.
Not going to lie. Cedric loved the compliments that were flying his way. Being praised in front of the editors of the publication he's working with boosted his confidence. However, the alcohol that comes with each praise is really too much.
Before midnight, their drinking party is thankfully finished. The CEO's secretary had to drag the inebriated old man back to the car, and Cedric, well, if it weren't for his strong alcohol tolerance, would be the first one to make "UWAK" sounds.
But seriously, he can't remember how he went home after that.
All he could recall was his editor Sophia offering to ride him home. It's already too late to consider it safe for a slightly drunk woman to go about, so rejecting her is only natural, even for a shit-faced gay like Cedric.
Then, he can remember hailing a cab… But he seemed to can't remember paying for the fare and getting out of it. Which is why it was a mystery…
How come he is lying on his own bed, staring at the familiar ceiling of his bedroom.
"Shit…" Cedric couldn't help but curse as a massive pain bulldozed his entire skull.
It's not rocket science for Cedric to know what his ailment is. He's hungover. A very major one.
"I don't want to drink anymore!" He swears, full of sorrow and regrets.
That is not the first time Cedric cursed out drinking alcohol. There were many times before this. Yet, in the end, one could guess the ending: he did get drunk and got shit-faced again.
Feeling a little hot, Cedric reached for his top to remove it, but then he realized it wasn't the red sweater he wore yesterday. It is a fresh oversized tee he always wears as the partner of his pajamas!
He looked down, and there it was his yellow pajamas. This bright yellow pajama has been with him since high school.
Cedric suddenly felt his nerves tingling.
"How did I go home again?" Cedric went back to his first question. He crawled onto his bed, searching for his phone, and thank goodness he found it quickly under his foot pillow.
Cedric pressed the power button, intending to see the time and check for emails and calls he possibly missed while sleeping. Maybe something there could help him solve the mystery of his going home.
However, the phone didn't light up.
"No way!" His phone is freaking dead! He didn't charge his phone before hitting the sack!
That stimulation is enough for him to jump out of his bed— which is a horrible idea in his state— "Arghh!"
The headache struck again. Miserable, Cedric sat and reached for his phone's charging cord a little more carefully. The phone finally lit up after it received the sustenance it needed.
'Seriously, I can't understand why I became someone's lucky charm when my daily life was in shambles!' Cedric thought, internally crying nonemotionally.
He pushed his body to let his back rest on the bed's board, "Is this karma's way of balancing out my fortune? After receiving a big blessing, I am suffering inconveniences. If there's more to come, please go easy on me, okay?"
After some while, Cedric turned on his phone, and a long string of missed calls and unread emails flashed into his eyes.
"How long was I out? This is too much for just a night of slumber!" Cedric asked himself, and he almost cursed out loud when he saw the time.
PM! It's already 6:45 PM!
In stable steps, he went to open the thick curtains covering the glass door leading to the balcony and was shocked upon seeing the partially dark skies.
"Oh my god!" The 29-year-old writer was spooked by how long he slept!
Let's say he arrived home by two in the morning and immediately slept after changing his clothes. That's more than fifteen hours of sleep! Is he terminally sick or something?
Considering his condition for the past few days, doctors will only say it is natural for him if he sleeps that long. The stress and missing periods of sleep are accumulating, burdening his body.
His body needed sleep, and with the help of premium sake, he got a long and uninterrupted sleep.
See? Sometimes, alcohol isn't so bad.
Cedric scrolled the long messages he received.
Sophia repeatedly asked if he had safely arrived home and congratulated him for the new opportunity he received. He quickly typed a formal response— trying so hard not to go into details and reveal that he overslept with zero recollection of what happened after they went their separate ways.
"I arrived home safe. Thanks for your concern, Sophie."
Then, Kelly and Charlie blasted their group chat after he sent the picture of sake bottles and sushi feast he slid down his digestive system last night.
"Wow! Celebration! Oh my, congratulations, Cedric!"
"Is the representative and producer young and good-looking? Teehee! Just asking for a friend."
Based on the messages, it no longer needs to point out who is who, right?
Since it's been hours since he last sent a message, Cedric also left a reply to signal that he's still alive.
He snapped a picture of himself and sent it to their group chat with the caption, "I survived the flood of sake. What can Noah and his ark say about me? Daebak."
Cedric playfully giggled and then focused on reading his other texts. This time, it was Mr. Kang.
"Mr. Lim, the client requested to move in a day earlier. Would it be okay?"
This made his eyebrows raise a little. There is no problem with moving in advance if that's what the tenant wants. The money has been cast, so there wouldn't be any problem on both ends.
But what he found weird were the subsequent messages.
"The tenant said that he will personally ask you for permission. Please expect a call."
"Mr. Lim, the new tenant, has successfully moved into the new unit. We also reset the security passcode, and there were no problems thus far. Thank you for doing business with us. Until next time."
It was not in Mr. Kang's character to decide things for himself.
Before, the old man always waited for his response before giving the tenant the go-signal to move, but now, he has even helped out this new tenant by setting up the unit's security!
What? Are they distant relatives or something?
And what call? He didn't remember anyone calling.
Biting his lips, Cedric started scanning his call log. Aside from the work-related calls, there were no new calls from unregistered numbers— "Wait."
Cedric's thumb stopped in the suspicious contact with only a "3:D" identifier or contact name.
He never used an emoticon as a contact name on someone! This must be new!
Cedric checked the call details and found out that the owner of this unfamiliar number called around midnight— a little later than the end of their drinking party, and thus, he must be on his way home at that time!
The thing with Cedric is that he is a little bright.
He could deduce a few things based on the circumstantial evidence present before him.
And something that tells him that if it was not for his effort that he managed to go home last night, it is most likely that someone helped him out.
That person most likely called his phone when he was comfortably sleeping in the cab's backseat.
"Oh my god!" Cedric wanted to crawl somewhere else and disappear. He could imagine himself being carried out of the cab, sleeping, and into his apartment.
What's worse is that his reasoning points out that it should be the person Mr. Kang told him about!
"What are the chances that it's my new tenant, damn?!"
He put down his phone with a thud, and just in time, his stomach hadn't digested anything for the past fifteen hours made itself known. "Krruuu!"
Right, he's overthinking because his stomach is empty. How can he think smartly when he has nothing to fuel his brain?
He should eat first.
Like his phone, Cedric's energy is drained. He doesn't have the patience to cook a single meal even though his fridge is full of food. Instant noodles are also a no-go since he felt that if he ate a thick and spicy instant ramen, he would end up in the hospital the following day.
He wanted something light yet satisfying. That's why he decided to go outside and grab a hangover soup at a nearby restaurant.
The 29-year-old felt himself salivating at the thought of the delicious soup.
Cedric carefully left his apartment, constantly looking over his shoulder in case his new neighbor came out the door.
If his thoughts are true, he'll be too ashamed to talk to his tenant for the coming months. And was it the hot uncle or the college student who helped him?
Well, whoever it is doesn't matter because he's doomed. A stranger changed his clothes, and he could do nothing to undo that.
Ting!
Thankfully, the elevator closed without anyone coming out of his neighbor's door. He rode the elevator in silence until the first floor.
"Sir!" The security guard greeted him with a polite bow.
Cedric flashed a friendly smile, but that went quickly when he heard the guard's words. "Last night—"
"Ah, yeah! My friend! I was with my friend last night. I'm sorry. Did I cause any trouble to you?" Cedric nervously smiled.
Gosh, he knows that this is an opportunity to confirm his thoughts, but shame beat him. He wants to fill his stomach first, okay?! He's not sure if he can take the truth without collapsing.
"No. Not really, Sir Cedric." The security guard became visibly relaxed as though he confirmed something.
"Okay. I'm going to grab some dinner then," Cedric bid goodbye and rushed out.
What he didn't know. The door he'd been dreading to open finally opened. It revealed a handsome young man with a ravishingly sheepish smile.
"Ahh! This was the first time I moved out of the clan house, but no one helped me to unpack! Damn, Victor. Let me stretch my back and tour around the vicinity."
He looked at the door opposite him and inwardly smiled, "Is he finally awake?"