12 FAREWELL

< Athaire Starlight Hotel

UTC+2 0809 AM SAT

Room 700 >

Looking startled and helpless back at him, she opened her mouth to call out his name only to realize that she was unable to do so.

"I-" she began instead.

"No," he sighed as he let go of her, "I'm sorry. I reacted rashly." He sat upright and brushed back his hair with one hand while leaving the other on the headrest of the couch. How frustrating. Falling asleep in this situation. Maybe he was getting old. With twenty-eight years, he should be able to keep up his guard for days without sleep, but this slipup was unacceptable. At least it was his day off. "So, let's talk."

"Sure," she agreed and also propped herself up to sit formally on the couch with an appropriate distance from him, so it was still comfortable to face him. "First of all, thank you for taking care of me, however, I'm afraid to say that I've a rather cloudy recollection of the events last night. Therefore, I would highly appreciate it if you could take your time to clear up a few things for me."

He stared at her for a moment before replying. She did not resemble the crazy drunk lady from last night anymore. At all. Instead, her posture suggested somewhat of a stiff office lady, serious about work to a fault. But she was appealing, nevertheless. "Sounds fair. How about you tell me what you remember, and I try to fill in the blanks as good as I can?"

She thought about it for just a second before saying, "Deal. I remember having a drink out alone after hours. I…think I was wandering around after they kicked me out of the bar since they wanted to close, and I was searching for something, but I don't know what. That's all I recall." She was getting to the point quite fast, but One Shot couldn't quite shake off the feeling that she was withholding some important details. Such as why she was drinking out alone. But that was her private choice and it was far from him to meddle into the affairs of another.

"The moon."

"What?"

"You said you were looking for the moon when I met you."

She looked horrified and apologetic.

"It seems I've said a bunch of nonsense to you and inconvenienced you. I am so sorry. I know this is no excuse, but I don't usually drink. If you want compensation for what I have caused, please name the amount and I will transfer it to your account as soon as I get home. But in order to do that, could you tell me what I did or said and how I happened up here with you?"

"…sure." He agreed. "You were running around searching for a moon, as I told you, and when you met me, you kept talking about…I don't quite remember what. To be honest, you were mumbling quite a bit and then you fainted in the streets. I didn't want to leave you like that, but since you had no address on you, I took you to my room. I'm just staying for the weekend, which is why you are in this hotel room. And to be clear, I did not stay here with you. I went out jogging and returned just a moment ago. So, you don't need to worry about compensation or anything like that."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

One of her phones rang a short tune, signaling the arrival of a message.

One Shot glanced over to it. "You might want to check your phone. You received quite a lot of messages during the night. Your family must be worried."

"I don't have a family." Angel pulled out a phone from her pocket and indeed, a bunch of missed calls and message notifications flooded her screen.

"Your boyfriend then?"

Her face turned stiff as she skimmed the messages.

"Work," she explained as she typed in a quick reply before turning back to One Shot. "It seems a mishap occurred, and I need to leave right away."

"Mind me asking what you do for work?"

"I am an editor for a publishing company. Right now, there is an issue with one of the projects I am in charge of, but the details are confidential as it is not published yet. I hope you understand."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly in response. "Don't worry, I think I do."

"Nevertheless," she continued as she rose to her feet. "Should you change your mind and require compensation, especially for the clothes, the medicine, and the room, please feel free to reach out to me. It is only right that I pay for them. Here is my card." She held out her business card.

One Shot followed suit to stand up and accepted it without any intention of ever using it. It was going in the trash as soon as she left. "No need to concern yourself. I hope…" he hesitated before continuing and reaching out his hand, "you have a pleasant weekend."

"You, too." She replied with a smile as she shook his hand.

Then she walked out the door.

The door fell shut and One Shot was left alone in the room.