15. Unhealthy Addictions

TW: Mention of drugs

Siren's POV:

"Tonight, I can be whoever you want me to be," I kept my face straight before I burst out laughing.

He didn't react.

"I'm just joking," I told him.

Still nothing.

"Do you have a college degree?"

''No," Not yet, anyways.

''But you have studied economics?'' He looked uneasy as he stared at me.

''I read a lot of books,'' I tried being as vague as possible.

''I bet you do.'' He wasn't satisfied with my answer. ''Tell me-''

"Do you guys need anything else?" Our server asked, pointing to our empty plates.

We looked up at the same time before looking at each other. I sat back, realizing we sat a bit too close.

"A bottle of wine, please.'' I mumbled.

''So, you own an IoT company?" I asked him, mainly to distract him but partially because I was curious.

"Yes, we've been wanting to shift our focus to that. We've worked on modelling a fully AI powered home. We're talking blinds, vanities, beds, anything and everything you can possibly imagine."

''That's interesting," I leaned in. "Tell me more about it."

''You don't have to feign interest, it's okay if you think that's boring. A lot of people do." He tried to dismiss me.

"Are you kidding me? Who doesn't want to know about a house where you have technology to do all your work. That's so freaking cool!"

A half smile formed at the corner of his lips as he began explaining it to me.

"Wow," I sat back, trying to process all the information I just received.

As I looked around, I saw that there was no one in the whole restaurant except for us. I checked my phone. It read 1.12 a.m. My eyes widened as I realized how long we've spent talking.

"Isn't it way past the closing time?" I asked Noah as I returned my attention to him.

''Mhmm," He looked unbothered and relaxed as he sipped his scotch. He was clearly in no hurry to leave.

"It's a bit late. I need to get home," I told him as I started gathering my stuff.

Noah grabbed my hand, stopping me, "I'll take you home, you don't need to worry about that. No need to rush."

As we walked out the restaurant, he turned to face me.

"So, since you now know a lot about me, it's only fair that I get to know you a bit better. Don't you think?" He asked as he sipped his wine.

I knew it was coming but I wanted to avoid it if possible.

My lips tightened into a thin line as I rebuttaled, ''I asked you a work related question, you are free to ask me anything you want about my work."

He raised a brow, paused for a moment and then asked ''Are you addicted to any substance?"

"What does that have to do with my profession?"

"A lot of people in your line of work are severely addicted. I just want to know if you are too?"

I was well aware of the fact. The first thing Selena asked me when she got me this job was if I was getting in to afford my addictions. Most sex workers become sex workers to afford their vices. It's like a neverending rollercoaster ride. You get high and then stoop down to earn quick money, get high again and repeat. By the end, most of them feel nauseous and disgusted by themselves.

One of the few things I hadn't ever considered trying, even as a rich spoilt brat, was drugs. It's the easiest way to ruin your life, one way ticket to just outside the doorway of heaven where you can neither fully get in the heaven you long for and immerse yourself in euphoria nor return back to your life, your family and friends, your happiness back home.

I shuddered at the thought.

I looked up to see him looking at me, his expression dull as he waited for an answer.

"No, I tend to stay away from unhealthy addictions," I finally replied to him.

He didn't give any indication whether he believed me or not but judging based on what little I knew about him, I went with the latter. He stepped closer to me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. My skin felt hot as he stared at me and my mind was feeling hazy.

How much did I drink, again?

Three, four, five....?

''Can't really say the same about me. I am starting to slowly get fixated," His pitch black eyes shimmered with an emotion I couldn't decipher.

''To what?" I rested my chin against my palm.

''To you," He murmured, his soft breath fanning my face.

I bit my lip, trying to understand this man. Not long ago, he insulted me and now he's here, trying to make up for it. Is it guilt? I'm pretty sure this man is incapable of feeling that? Is it a want for what he can't have? In that moment, I decided I didn't care.

I leaned in, brushing my lips against him. Stepping on my toes in heels, I still felt so much shorter than him.

"Waeyo? Wae naya?" I looked up to see him staring at me.

(Why? Why me?)

Shaking my head, I pulled back, ''Singyeongsseujima daedabhajima."

(Never mind, don't answer that.)

Something flashed in his eyes as he stopped, ''Are you sure there isn't anything else you want to do. Anywhere else you want to go?"

He held my hand and I looked down where our hands were joined. That's when it hit me, he doesn't want to let go just yet. And I wasn't ready for this night to be over either.

I was going to leave this place in a few days, it didn't matter anymore. What he thought of me or what I thought of him. It didn't matter what happened tonight. When I go away, it will all be nothing more than a distant memory.

With that thought in my mind, I squeezed his hand in determination before I pulled him along with me.

"You said you wanted to see Vegas? Let's see Vegas.''

As I led us into a random karaoke bar on the strip, Noah looked at me in question but followed me nonetheless.

Unlocking the door to a private booth, I gestured Noah to get in with a grand sweep of the hand.

''We both know, I can sing. Let's see if you can too," I threw the microphone to him which he caught effortlessly.

He looked down at the microphone before reverting his attention to me.

"This is not really my scene." He looked at me and I had to admit, he didn't exactly fit in here.

"Are you scared to lose?"

"Are you challenging me?''

''Yup. It's a battle,'' I told him, picking another microphone, pointing it at him

''Just play any song you want," He told me as he removed his suit jacket. My breath hitched as he rolled up his sleeves to reveal his well built physique.

I tried not to look at him as I put in the song.

First Class by Jack Harlow started playing and he started rapping the lyrics.

I burst out laughing at his pathetic attempt of singing.

"And I could put you in-" He sang without any rhyme, making me choke. He smiled at me as I rolled on the floor, a genuine smile. It didn't leave my notice that it was the first time I had seen him smile.

He rapped jumbled up lyrics, words that didn't exist in the English language. For all I understood, he might as well be communicating with extraterrestrials.

By the time he was done, I was cracking and my stomach hurt as I sat in the couch.

''Don't laugh, the scoreboard says 42, it's not that bad."

''That machine is broken," I replied as I put in another song. Sweetest pie by Dua Lipa.

"You've never been to heaven, have you?'' I raised a brow at him, rolling the imaginary drums.

''Come get you dose of the sweetest pie," I sang from memory, dancing without rythm.

I got a 94.

Another song.

I covered my ears as he sang and he rolled his eyes at me. I caught him smiling at me a few time but he'd pretend to gag everytime I sang.

Another song.

We sang a duet. Out of time.

We drank too much alcohol.

I danced to a Michael Jackson song.

Another bout of laughter.

It was a few hours before we left the bar, still singing and laughing.

We walked down the strip, looking through the shops, malls. We stopped by the Bellagio fountain and I sighed.

''What is it?"

"It's nothing. I've just never seen these fountain shows. I've always wanted to but I never seem to be on time to catch them," And now I may never see them.

"How about we see them today?" I looked up at him, shaking my head.

''They're closed,'' I said in a duh-tone as I continued walking down the street.

''Ok then do you wanna shop some more?" He asked me.

''Nope,'' It wasn't really fun to shop alone and I realized it was hanging out with my friends and family that I enjoyed the most and not necessarily the shopping part.

Ugh, I miss Aria. I need to go home soon.

I sighed before Noah pulled me along with him.

''Where are we going?'' I asked.

''This is a sign that we need a rematch," He pointed to a casino across the road.

''Aww, is your ego too bruised from loosing the last time?" I teased him, patting his chest.

''It's okay, you'll get used to it if you stay with me a bit longer."

''We'll see about that," He was way too cocky as we sat at a poker table.

I lost.

He raised a cocky brow at me. It made me want to punch his face.

I pouted as I sat back, my arms crossed.

''Aww, aren't you a sore loser?" He gave me the same look of sympathy I gave him. ''Does it hurt? But then again, you lost that game of pool to Evelyn too and she's not the greatest player, you know."

He rubbed my arm and I swatted his hand away.

''I lost that game because of you," I glared at him.

''Me? What did I do?" He placed a hand on his chest in the most dramatic way.

''Y-you distracted me!'' I complained, "I need a rematch on that too."

I won.

I stuck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes at me.

''It's just a game," He mumbled.

We sat back, exhausted and I turned to look at Noah only to see him staring right back at me.

''I told you I have some business I need to take care of next week in New york," He stated. "Would you like to-"

"Woah, going too fast, aren't we? You could be a serial killer, for all I know.''

"Well, since you've already spent more than enough time with this serial killer, a week more wouldn't really make a difference, would it?

''Noah, we haven't even know each other a full week. Surely you have to understand how utterly absurd what you're saying to me sounds?"

''How about we meet after I'm done with my trip?" He offered.

I shook my head, ''I'm sorry Noah, but I'm not going to be around for long."

He looked like he wanted to ask more but I cut him off.

"Can we not talk about this right now? I have something else I wanna do."

''You aren't taking me to a chapel to try and marry me, are you?" He looked so serious.

"You wish," I snickered.

''Pretty, isn't it?" I looked at Noah as we stood on the viewing deck of the Eiffel Tower of Las Vegas.

''I've seen prettier things.'' He placed his hands in his pockets as his hair flowed softly with the wind.

''Me too,'' I stared at him before looking away.

I understood the meaning of the feeling 'Top of the World' as I looked down at Vegas. All of it, shining and glamorous for the rich but dingy and dark for the poor.

I'll miss this city but at the same time, I won't.

I'll leave this place for a much much better future. My memories of this place weren't particularly fond ones. I had to flee here to escape a maniac and possibly prison. I had to work as a maid for maniacs.

Jeo michinnyeondeul. Those crazy bitches. They really thought I was their slaves.

''Jiog-eseo sseog-eola saekkideul,'' I shouted as loud as I could.

(Rot in hell, bastards.)

I kept shouting curses at everyone who wronged me till my throat hurt.

''Is that enough profanities for a day?" I looked up, shocked as I remembered Noah was still standing beside me.

''Mhmm, I'll come back here another time for the ones I couldn't say today."

''There's more?"

''How'd you know I was swearing anyway? " I asked him.

''It's fascinating how much of a language you can understand just by looking at another person's expression. Eyes are the gateway to the soul. They say that for a reason,'' He smiled at me.

''How did you get us in again?" He asked him as I remembered the employee telling us that it was past closing time.

''I happen to possess a set extremely exceptional persuasion skills. It comes in handy," I grinned at him and his lips thinned in a straight line.

"I bet you do.''

''Shall we go, now?" He asked me before I had the chance to question what he meant.

''Sure.''

We wandered around the streets, just looking around as we walked side by side in silence. It felt nice, not talking. It felt almost, normal, in a way.

My feet faltered as I watched a few old couples dancing in a small dance bar. I smiled as I looked at them. I've always had a fascination with the retro era and this looked like a scene straight out of the 70s.

My hand bumped with Noah's and I looked up to see him smiling softly at me. He's been doing that a lot tonight. Maybe it's the alcohol in our systems but I don't mind.

He gently took my hand in his before leading me into the club. Hanging his jacket at the back of an empty chair, he took me to the dance floor.

At last by Etta James crooned softly in the background.

He raised my hand, placing a gentle kiss on it before placing it on his shoulder. I smiled up at him as I followed his lead. We danced around and I allowed myself to forget everything but him for a single moment. I imagined how whatever it was between us had gone down if we had met each other under different circumstances. If I hadn't been on the run and he hadn't been seeking out an escort.

Fly me to the moon replaced the song and I mouthed the words softly along. Noah pulled me closer and I rested my head against his chest.

It was strange and scary how much comfort this man I haven't known for a week can give me.

''You have a captivating voice, angelic like the call of a Siren," I smiled against his chest.

''Well, your voice may be a mix between a pterodactyl screeching and a hairy armadillo choking on his laughter with a dash of a bat dying but you can sure move pretty well.''

''That might be the closest thing to a compliment I'm getting from you, so I'll take it."

''I need to get home," I told him after a long while of silence. I wasn't sure how long we'd spent dancing here and I had no idea what time it was but I was pretty sure it was very late.

"One last song," He told me as he went over to the band and requested a song. The man looked at me, gave me a small smile before looking back at Noah and nodding.

Oh, pretty woman played and I laughed at the irony.

We stood in front of Ceaser's Palace facing each other, knowing it was the last time we'll ever see each other. At least, I hoped it was the last time. I knew the more time I spent with this man made me a little bit softer, a bit more gullible and I didn't want to go back to being the easily manipulated child I used to be.

I stared at his dark eyes, feeling right at home as I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek before pecking his lips. I lingered for a few moments but before I could pull back, he held me closer.

Leaning forward, he captured my lips with his. He swirled his tongue over my lips, asking for more. I gladly parted them, letting his tongue caress mine.

Just as the kiss deepened, he let go of me. I looked up at him with hooded eyes before I kissed him passionately.

His hands held me as I swayed, partially due to the alcohol but mostly because of his heady kisses.

He caressed my waist, one hand moving up my back till it was at the nape of my neck. He gently pulled my hair, forcing me to look up at him.

His lips traced mine before he moved to my jawline, peppering soft kisses along my skin until he reached my earlobe. He softly bit it, licking to soothe it before he whispered,''Don't tempt me, vixen. I made a promise I intend on keeping."

''Promises are meant to be broken,'' I hummed and his grip loosened before he held me like he wasn't planning on ever letting go.