Chapter Text
The city, far too bright and lively for that hour of the night, blinded me in more ways than one. My head throbbed, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I figured the alcohol hadn't managed to strip away the little dignity I still had left.
Ever since I arrived in Las Vegas, every principle and ideal I'd ever had was being reconsidered—or rather, trampled beneath the soles of my shoes.
After all, did I really need dignity?
All I wanted was to keep drinking my whiskey.
"I can't believe you drank half the bottle," I heard Ayo complain.
She'd spent a few years as an exchange student in my hometown, and we'd become close. Now here I was, paying for her trip.
"Did you want some?"
I asked lazily, amusement lacing my voice as I held the bottle out to her.
Without hesitating, she snatched it from my hand and tossed it into the nearest trash can.
That bottle had cost more than her entire wardrobe, but I didn't complain. She'd warned me she'd do exactly that if I walked out of the hotel carrying it.
At least I'd managed to drink half of it first.
"Get off the ground. Are you homeless or something? You have to be seriously drunk to sit on the sidewalk anywhere in the US"
I burst out laughing.
She wasn't wrong.
I wasn't that drunk, though—just exhausted.
I spotted a staircase and sat down.
People leaving the subway grumbled as they squeezed past me. I was sitting right at the exit, practically blocking the way.
It was cold, well past midnight. I couldn't see any stars, nor the moon. The city's neon lights and flashy billboards swallowed the entire sky.
Simply awful.
Uncomfortable.
At least to me.
"I'll shower later, Ayo."
I rolled my eyes, grumbling like a child as she grabbed my arms and draped them around her shoulders.
"Since all people do here is drink and gamble, that's exactly what we're going to do."
I smiled into her short curls.
Finally, an upside.
This trip had no purpose whatsoever.
Just two freshly graduated psychology majors blowing every cent they had.
All I needed was to get something out of my system—though I still didn't know what.
And like any adult who never really got to have a teenage phase, that night I was determined to make impulsive, probably terrible decisions.
"Ayo, I want to get married."
I hugged her tighter and closed my eyes, letting her keep guiding me.
"My wife would make you disappear in two minutes, Min!"
I heard her laugh.
Opening my eyes, I realized we'd reached one of the casinos.
Actually...
Several of them.
"That's her problem."
I stopped walking and gently pulled her back toward me by the forearm.
"Besides... which wife?"
"I'm not spending a single cent in there."
"And you won't be spending one anywhere else, either. What have you paid for this whole trip?"
I left her complaining outside and glanced curiously at the security guard.
He simply nodded and wished me good evening.
When it came to parties, casinos, clubs...
America certainly knew how to put on a show.
The place was dazzlingly bright, every inch of the floor covered by an elegant red carpet.
Too many colors.
Too much stimulation.
The dizziness returned.
I didn't even bother looking for Ayo.
She was undoubtedly gambling away my money.
Instead, I searched for somewhere to sit and grab a drink.
I'd never had a drinking problem.
I didn't need alcohol to have fun or to feel something.
I drank because I genuinely liked the taste.
I rarely got drunk.
Just... pleasantly buzzed.
As I walked deeper inside, I found a quieter lounge with dim lighting.
It almost made me sleepy.
Only two other people were there.
One of them immediately caught my attention.
The man was easily three times my size—both in height and build.
I couldn't make out his face at first.
Only his heavy black winter clothes.
Then I noticed the two shaved lines running along the side of his hair.
"Just water. For now."
I remembered Ayo.
She was still sober.
For now.
As for me...
Two more shots, and I'd become a completely different person.
"Water?"
The man I'd been watching spoke up.
He was Asian, too.
Three bottles of soju sat beside him.
I wondered if he was Korean.
"I already finished a bottle of whiskey on the way here."
I chuckled to myself as I walked over and took the seat beside him.
He followed my every movement with his eyes.
He was just as striking as his physique and sense of style suggested.
His eyes were unforgettable—sharp, intense.
Red.
Just like the rest of his face.
Even the tip of his nose was flushed.
"You don't look drunk." Such a beautiful voice.
His gaze slowly traveled from head to toe.
"Is the skirt comfortable?"
I looked down.
Right.
The long black skirt over my black pants.
"They made me wear it."
I sighed.
"But... yeah. I actually like it."
He smiled before turning his attention back to the green bottles.
A dimple appeared in his cheek.
There was also a tiny silver hoop piercing on his nose.
Ridiculously attractive.
"So..."
I tilted my head.
"Why is a man like you crying?"
He took another sip and laughed quietly, raising an eyebrow.
"A man like me?"
His sleepy voice competed with mine to see which one sounded rougher.
Interestingly...
He had no accent at all.
"You look like you're two meters tall."
I pointed at him, laughing awkwardly.
"I think anyone in my position would be crying."
He shrugged.
I noticed his fingers tighten around the bottle.
I simply nodded and stayed quiet.
Maybe he'd continue.
Maybe he wouldn't.
I drank my water while watching him run a hand through his hair before letting out a long sigh.
"I ended my five-year relationship today."
He lifted his wrist, pulling back his sleeve to check his watch.
"About... an hour ago."
My eyes widened.
His laugh echoed through the room.
"Five years? Damn."
I scratched the back of my neck, visibly flustered.
"Was it... a college relationship?"
He burst out laughing.
"Yeah."
He shook his head.
"Theater school, maybe."
He kept smiling, showing his teeth, but there was no joy behind it.
Only disbelief.
His eyes shimmered with tears threatening to spill over.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
I shrugged.
"You've earned the right to drink as much as you want tonight."
I reached for one of the bottles and poured myself some soju.
"And I'll drink with you."
I raised my glass.
He clinked his against mine.
We emptied them in one gulp.
"Can I ask why?"
He refilled my glass.
"She'd already been looking for a reason to leave."
"So she just needed an excuse, huh?"
He nodded.
There I was.
Drunk.
Regretful.
Playing therapist.
When I could've been back at the hotel sleeping for thirteen straight hours.
The one night I'd actually planned on being shallow and reckless...
...was turning into this instead.
"I wanted kids."
He stared into his glass.
"She didn't."
"Are you straight?"
"What?"
And just like that...
The first impulsive decision.
Followed immediately by the night's second regret.
I only realized what I'd said when he stopped talking and stared at me.
Confused.
Maybe even incredulous.
Probably expecting advice.
"Are you straight?"
I repeated slowly.
Well...
I'd already started.
Might as well finish.
"...No?"
"Was that a question?"
He laughed, tilting his head before shrugging off his black overcoat.
Underneath was a dark long-sleeved shirt.
He tossed the coat over his thighs.
He really was enormous.
He could probably snap me in half right there.
"I'm not sure."
He shrugged.
"But... does that matter?"
"No."
I looked away, taking another sip of soju.
"Just to you know..."
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
"I'd have a kid with you."
I shamelessly flirted with the broken man sitting beside me.
At least he didn't start crying again.
Or get offended.
Instead, he threw his head back laughing, both hands covering his mouth.
Every sentence that came out of me seemed to surprise him.
"I don't know if you'd make a good dad."
He rested one elbow on the counter, still looking at me.
"What kind of person drinks an entire bottle of whiskey on a Thursday?"
"You're in a casino, man." I rolled my eyes.
I nudged him.
He barely moved.
"Besides..."
I muttered,
"I actually know how to adopt a child."
"You think we should adopt a baby?"
"Definitely."
I smiled.
"By the way... my name's Yoongi."