Aftermath

I woke up with a start, disoriented and confused at first, but slowing memories of last night flooded through my mind as my eyes wandered to the man lying besides me whose arm was draped over my waist. Looking over his shoulder through the windowpane, the dawn was fast approaching. I knew I had to leave as I didn't know how to face him if he woke up. Last night in a moment of weakness, I allowed things to go out of hand far beyond. But in the cold light of the day, I don't know how he would react if he found me there. Before last night, he didn't even knew I existed. So it was better this way I thought, as I slowly crept out of the room barely resisting the urge to look at him one last time.

Hye Jin was sound asleep when I came in. So I quietly crept into my bed as I laid my head down to rest, keeping memories of last night at bay for another day.

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Ji Hu woke up with a terrible hangover. He immediately made his way towards the fridge, took out a bottle of cold water and starting gulping down its contents. His memory of last night was hazy as he remembered a girl helping him to his room. She called him Sunbae.

Was she his junior? He can't remember her face, it was all blurry. He was just too drunk at the time but he did remember the things that happen afterwards.

Who was she? He didn't have a clue. Why did she leave? He didn't have the answer to that either.

He made his way to the bedroom hoping for some answers to the puzzling mystery. No trace was left of the girl except for the rumbled bed. If not for the red stain on the bed he might have thought of it all as a seriously erotic dream.

She was a virgin? Then why did she let him take advantage of her? Was he just a one night stand or did she have ulterior motives?

His head was spinning with all the questions left unanswered. He needed a shower to refresh himself.

As he made his way towards the bathroom something got caught on his foot. He bent down to retrieve it and found himself looking at an earring, a blue earring in the shape of an orchid.

After showering, he ordered breakfast as he started packing away his things in the bag. His flight was in three hour's time and it took about an hour to reach the airport from the resort. He thought about the girl and then he thought about the earring.

He knew the earring was not an ordinary piece so while checking out at the reception he said, "Manager, if someone ask for a lost earring in Room No. 1055, kindly pass on this note from me, will you?" He quickly jotted down his number in the states in a piece of hotel stationary.

"Sure sir or you could hand it over at the Lost and Found counter. We will be sure to return it to its rightful owner" the manager offered politely.

"I'd rather not. I want to see her again myself" he said.

"Very well, Sir" the manager replied.

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I woke up to the sound of retching in the bathroom. I sleepily made my way towards it when I saw Hye Jin sprawled on the bathroom floor.

"Hye Jin are you alright?" I asked in concern.

"My head is killing me and my stomach fails to settle down. I feel miserable" she said weakly.

"Here, let me help you up" I help her up to a chair as I brought a glass of cold water. "Drink this up, you'll feel better soon"

"What about you? How come you are not sick" she pouted.

"To answer you, I didn't drink as much as you did. I barely had just two glasses" I explained.

"Anyway where were you last night? I'm sure you were not in your bed when I woke up as I was not feeling well" she asked.

At the mention of last night, I felt guilty towards her as I knew what Ji Hu Sunbae was to her. I thought telling her the truth was the best response.

"One of the strap hook on your purse was lost. So I went outside in the hallway to search for it"

"Eun Su you're crazy. You went to look for it in the middle of the night" she was shocked.

"I also saw Ji Hu Sunbae"

"Ji Hu Sunbae, really. Like really here in the resort" she asked excitedly. "Did you meet him? Why was he here? What did you talk about?"

Though I had decided to come clean in front of her but in the end I hesitated.

"I just saw him from afar. We didn't get a chance to meet"

"Wow lets freshen up and go ask in the reception which room he is staying at" she said as she regain her energy.

"Did you forget we're leaving today?" I said in the hopes of avoiding meeting him face to face.

"Don't worry, we've still got plenty of time. Besides it would hardly take time just to say hello."

After freshening up, I reluctantly accompanied Hye Jin, as we made our way to the reception to inquire about Ji Hu Sunbae however we were already too late for he had checked out earlier.

I was sad and depressed for there was another reason I wanted to see him for. I had just discovered one of my Mom's earring was missing. I remembered I was still wearing them last night in his room but this morning I was wearing just one.

"Hye Jin just go on ahead. I wanted to ask something in the reception" I urged her forwards.

"Okay come back quickly to help me pack okay" I nodded and agreed.

When she left, I turn to the reception and asked "Excuse me but did the housekeeping by any chance found a blue orchid earring in Room No. 1055?"

"Please wait a moment Miss while I confirm with housekeeping?"

I waited anxiously for her reply but my disappointment was obvious in the end when she replied "I'm sorry Miss but housekeeping did not find any earring in the premises."

"Thank you" I said weakly as I made my way back with a heavy heart.

By noon we checked out of the resort. The ride to the airport was a quiet one as each of us were occupied by our own thoughts. I made precious memories here, but I lost some precious treasures too- my Mom's legacy and my innocence. This trip was truly a memorable one for the rest of my life.

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When the girls left a phone call came in at the reception.

"Hello Se Na, actually I forgot to hand over to you. At the end of my shift, the guest who was staying in Room No. 1055 asked to deliver a note for him to anyone who comes over to ask about a missing earring" the voice at the other end said.

"Really, actually a girl came by to ask about an earring but seeing that housekeeping had no clue, she left. She checked out just now" the manager on duty replied. "I hope we won't get into trouble for this"

"Oh!! Don't worry the guest seems to know the girl. I'm sure he got back to her some other way" the voice replied hopefully.