Travis left Jasmine a thousand dollars, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty as he parted ways with her. Unsure of his next move and eager to put some distance between them, he hurried out of the club, the music fading into the background as he stepped onto the bustling street.

In the dimly lit alley, he paused, his eyes darting around as he searched for any sign of Soohyun. A pang of jealousy flared within him as he imagined Soohyun with another girl, his mind conjuring images of them together.

"He's probably with that other girl. Let me check," Travis muttered to himself, his hand hovering over his phone. But before he could dial Soohyun's number, a series of unmistakable sounds caught his attention.

" Ahhh, Ohhh Yeah!!!!" 

Moans. Coming from the alley.

Intrigued, Travis couldn't resist the urge to investigate. He approached cautiously, the shadows dancing around him as he crept closer.

What he saw made him chuckle under his breath. Soohyun, the notorious ladies' man, was going at it with the girl, hitting it extra hard from the back.

"Mission accomplished," Travis thought, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he turned away, leaving the couple to their tryst. With a newfound sense of closure, he strolled away into the night, the cool breeze brushing against his skin as he disappeared into the darkness.

What is Travis's plan? Well you'll just have to wait and see.

Travis made his way back to the lodge, a sense of unease gnawing at him as he approached the door. The muffled sounds of pleasure emanating from within confirmed his suspicions, and he braced himself for the confrontation that lay ahead. Just as he reached for the doorknob, it swung open, revealing Mijoo clad in her night dress.

Her gaze flickered to Travis, confusion clouding her features for a fleeting moment. "I thought you left with Soohyun. Where is he?" she asked, her brow furrowing in puzzlement as she approached him. But before she could fully process the situation, Travis began his charade.

"Hmmm, ohh, it's you, Mijoo-Noona. What are you doing outside?" he slurred, his words slinking out in a drunken haze.

As Mijoo drew closer, a wave of alcohol wafted from Travis, assaulting her senses with its pungent aroma. She couldn't help but inwardly lament his inebriated state, even as she tried to make sense of the situation.

"He's drunk as hell. Where is Soohyun, though? Well, that doesn't matter. It explains why he's just standing here for no reason," she mused silently, her thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty and apprehension.

Before she could formulate a response, she felt a pair of arms encircle her body, pulling her close. Startled, she looked up to find Travis staring at her with bleary eyes, his intentions unmistakable.

'Don't panic. He's just drunk. I wish he would do all of this while sober,' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for what was to come.

"Mijoo, kiss me," Travis slurred, his voice thick with desire as he tilted her chin up, closing the distance between them with a reckless abandon that left her breathless.

The world seemed to fade away as their lips melded together in a bittersweet dance, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirling within Mijoo's mind. Despite the unexpectedness of the moment and the undeniable wrongness of it all, there was an undeniable spark between them, a connection that transcended the boundaries of reason and logic.

But as the kiss deepened, reality came crashing back with a jolt. Mijoo's conscience pricked at her, reminding her of the consequences of their actions. With a sudden surge of resolve, she pushed against Travis's chest, breaking the kiss and putting some much-needed distance between them.

Her chest heaved with exertion as she met Travis's gaze, her eyes clouded with a mixture of guilt and uncertainty. "Travis, stop, let's do this when you're right minded " she whispered, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart.

"Do you like me?" 

Travis's question hung in the air, heavy with anticipation, as Mijoo struggled to find the words to articulate her feelings. With a slow nod, she finally managed to convey her agreement, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But I'm old, Travis. But as long as you'll have me, I don't see any problems. As long as we keep it a secret."

As the weight of her confession settled between them, Mijoo couldn't help but question her own words.

'What am I saying? I'm sure he can't even hear me now. Well, it doesn't matter, I said it,' she thought, a mix of apprehension and resignation gnawing at her insides.

Travis's response was laced with a hint of amusement as he quoted her words with exaggerated air quotes. "Sure. Let's talk about this tomorrow. When I'm 'sober,'" he remarked, his tone playful as he turned away.

The sudden shift in Travis's demeanor caught Mijoo off guard. 'He was acting,' she realized with a sinking feeling, her heart pounding in her chest as she stumbled backward, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of dizziness.

"He was playing all this time. I can't believe I said all that!!!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing crimson like an anime girl caught in a moment of pure awkwardness.

Every word she had spoken under the influence of his feigned drunkenness echoed in her mind, and she couldn't shake the mortification that washed over her. With a groan, she buried her face in her hands, wishing she could disappear into the ground to escape the embarrassment.

.........

Meanwhile, Travis chuckled to himself as he made his way back to his apartment, the weight of his charade finally lifted. He shed his clothes with a tired sigh, flopping onto the bed with a sense of relief mingled with exhaustion.

 'I'm so tired, man. I hope Soohyun and that girl become a serious thing,' he mused wearily, his mind drifting into the realm of sleep as he surrendered to the embrace of exhaustion.  

TO BE CONTINUED