Chapter 9 - Irene (1)

I woke up with a brutal hangover, struggling to recall the events of last night. All I could dredge up was a blur of excessive drinking. The memory gap included how I ended up in my room, clad in a dainty negligee.

This hangover, though, was a relentless beast. Its claws dug deep, threatening to unleash the contents of my stomach. Summoning every ounce of strength, I managed to coerce my lethargic body into a sitting position, battling the nauseating waves threatening to crash over me.

Casting a bleary-eyed gaze to my side, I discovered a handsome young man with raven-black hair, peacefully lost in slumber. Uttering, "...I'm going to freshen up for a bit," I rolled out of the bed and stretched, unleashing a loud, drawn-out yawn that echoed the impending challenge of the day.