Me After Meeting You

“Who’s to say. Who knows what will happen in the future?”

Amber shoved her lightly it was her wedding night, and she was still saying things like this?

“I’m telling the truth. In this day and age, even staying married for life is a miracle.”

“It might just come true if you keep thinking like that.” Amber rebuked.

“I didn’t know that you were so superstitious, Dr. Camille.” Trysta pinched her cheeks as she rested her arms on Amber’s shoulders. “Was Silvia telling the truth?”

The subject had changed so quickly that Amber didn’t fully follow. “What?”

“That Calvin’s also your crush.”

“How did you find out about that?”

“Silvia mentioned it, of course.” Trysta smiled deviously as she teased, “Prepare yourself. To liven up the festivities, the rooms tonight are male and female suites. The males’ rooms are right next door, so … you know.”

***

Amber got up. “Why don’t I leave first?” But she was quickly dragged to a halt by Trysta, who had chased after her while asking, “Is it true? Were you really in love with Calvin?”

How had the rumor transformed into her being in love with Calvin? Gossip truly grew wilder as it spread. She had said that he used to be her crush, alright? Used to be! Used to be!!

Trysta couldn’t hold her laughter back anymore. “You shouldn’t have told Silvia this, then!”

Amber didn’t want to talk about this subject anymore. “Shouldn’t you be heading over? Given these co-gendered suites and all these beautiful women, you should be careful lest someone steal your newlywed groom away.”

Trysta stated domineeringy, “Just let them try! If he can be stolen away, he wouldn’t be worthy of me in the first place.”

As she said this, her phone rang, not long after, Frank found his way here.

Amber opened the door and Frank poked his head in. A few other people came right behind him. Next to the door were two attendants supporting a female in a pink suit. Amber recalled that she was the girl who had caught the wedding bouquet earlier, as well as one of Trysta’s bridesmaids.

Frank was swaying as he walked and an alcoholic blush was still present on his face. Despite his intoxication, he was still clear headed enough to have the attendants to carry the girl in. Astonished, Trysta asked, “Who’s this?”

Frank rubbed his forehead as he explained, “She went to take a bath after drinking too much and almost drowned in the bathtub. This is a break room for the females, isn’t it? Can you let her stay here tonight? The hotel’s full and there’s no space for an extra person.”

Amber didn’t mind. But instead of focusing on the girl, her gaze was directed outside, to a man leaning on a lamppost with only half his face showing.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Ian ….

Because of the lighting, his expression seemed somewhat sullen. For some reason, he looked unhappy and his negative emotions seemed to emanate outward.

Upon noticing her gaze, he glanced back at her indifferently.

Amber broke eye contact when Ian headed inside. Trysta was helping the attendants take care of the drunk girl, all the while asking, “Why didn’t you just let someone send her back? Why are all of you here? Didn’t you say that you wanted to enjoy the hot springs?”

Amber raised her eyebrows. In the first place, would a germaphobe like Ian ever take a bath in this sort of place?

Indeed, Frank replied, “Don’t mention it. Just as we were about to take off our clothes, Director Axton had something come up. So, it was convenient for me to take Sarah back at the same time.”

Sarah was the drunken bridesmaid, supposedly a distant relative of Trysta. As Frank said this, he looked at Amber, somewhat embarrassed. “Amber, you didn’t drink tonight, did you? My friend has to leave urgently, but he’s too drunk to drive and we can’t find a chauffeur at this hour either. Could I trouble you to give him a ride? It isn’t far, just a half hour’s drive there and back.”

Amber didn’t respond, only looking at Ian again. He was standing to the side of the room and he seemed quite sober and completely capable of driving himself.

This time, he acted quite politely, turning toward Amber and clasping his hands together as soon as Frank finished talking. “I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Nothing like the man who had purposefully given her condoms just earlier.

Amber couldn’t understand what he was thinking and was reluctant to agree. It was only Frank and Trysta’s earnest gaze, as well as Trysta’s whispered words “send him away quickly. He’s going to ruin my wedding night if he stays here much longer” that finally got her to agree.

Amber wanted to sigh. Tactfully, she replied, “I don’t drive frequently and might not be a very good driver.” in an attempt to decline.

This time, Ian spoke to her directly. “Don’t worry. I’m not scared of death.”

His words left Amber speechless and it was Trysta who started worrying this time. “Actually, why don’t I just find one of my male classmates? Honestly, I’m somewhat worried at having Amber drive as well.”

Frank shook his head. “Forget it, they’re currently all bathing. It’d be too inconvenient to drag someone else out. Don’t worry, Amber’s a doctor with a dependable personality. As long as she drives slowly, there won’t be a problem. Right, Director Axton?”

Ian nodded.

Meanwhile, Trysta looked at Frank wordlessly. The couple exchanged a gaze and Trysta finally stopped speaking up. The two of them sent Amber and Ian to the garage. As Trysta watched the car roll away, she couldn’t help but frown. “What are you and Ian planning?”

Frank laughed and hugged her. “What could we be planning? I’m just having your classmate give him a ride.”

Trysta turned to stare at him. “Really? The two of you are acting so strangely, especially that Ian. It’s even weirder that he came at all today.”

Frank kissed her. “What’s so strange? Isn’t your husband worth him coming? And I want him to leave right away because if he stays, tonight we’ll ….”

The rest of his words were drowned out in their quiet laughter. Trysta pushed him lightly. “Act properly.”

“With my wife, what’s the point of being proper?”