Chapter 2. One Night Stand

Karina has been standing in front of the mirror for 30 minutes with clothes that she thinks do not represent her figure well. Normally, Karina only travels with office attire consisting of long pants and also short-sleeved shirts or blouses. This time, Karina looks different with a mini dress borrowed from Selena.

A few moments ago, precisely before Selena left with Zayn, Selena lent a beautiful mini dress that would have looked great if it wasn't Karina wearing it. However, after she put it on, Karina actually felt strange.

"Am I looking like a seductive woman like this?" Karina asked her own reflection.

Karina's makeup was far from natural. She even wore colored contact lenses that she bought a month ago and had never used before. Karina groaned in frustration and grabbed her hair, which she had carefully styled

"But if I don't do it, Selena will surely call me a lesbian again, leave me alone again, set me up with her friend, and even say that I'm an old virgin." Karina shouted in her room.

Karina's thoughts were all mixed up. Everything felt chaotic and she couldn't find a common thread in her current goal.

A moment later, the woman who had groaned in discomfort with the clothes she was wearing, looked back at the mirror with a stiff smile on her face.

"Okay. I'll do it. Just once, with a handsome man, and then it's over. I don't have to deal with him and let him say he dumped me? Oh wait- don't do that!  I'll be the one who dumps him," mumbled Karina with the complete scenario she had outlined.

Karina's determination finally solidified and she picked up a small bag that matched the color of the mini dress she was wearing and nodded her head while looking at her reflection.

"It's okay if I meet my soulmate there too. As long as he's handsome and well-off." Karina murmured, then she pursed her lips in front of the mirror, which looked red from the lipstick of Selena's that she intentionally borrowed.

Karina and Selena indeed lived in one house located in the city center. Besides their close friendship since high school, Karina and Selena also worked at neighboring offices.

To save expenses and the high cost of renting a house, they decided to live together in a two-bedroom house. Although not massive, the house was enough for them to live in and spend time together. However, sometimes Karina was left alone because Selena always stayed overnight at Zayn's house.

Karina had often urged the couple to get married or at least live together, but Selena was reluctant to do so. For her, Karina had to have a responsible man before Selena could leave Karina alone with Zayn peacefully.

Upon arriving at a place that Karina never imagined, the woman just stood frozen while staring at the front area of a very crowded bar at night.

"I'm crazy! I never even thought of visiting this place when I was a teenager!" Karina exclaimed in frustration inside her heart.

Karina was about to turn around, but a half-drunk man approached her.

"Where are you going, beautiful? You look very beautiful tonight." the man said.

Karina avoided him and eventually entered the line leading to the bar she swore never to enter. But she swallowed all her curses as she entered the bar she hated.

The loud music greeted Karina as soon as she entered the bar. Some people were seen moving their bodies with movements that made Karina feel disgusted.

Karina headed to the quieter drink bar area compared to the dance floor. She placed her bag on top and sat in front of the bartender.

"Would you like to order something?" the bartender asked when he saw Karina, who looked so beautiful with her clothes and makeup.

Karina looked at all the drinks on the shelf right behind the bartender, "Anything that's good," Karina replied.

"Wanna try Paradise Rum?" the bartender asked again while trying to recommend a drink for Karina to try.

"Sure."

The bartender quickly gathered several ingredients he needed such as grenadine, pineapple juice, Malibu rum, and blue curacao. With skillful hands, the bartender made a beautiful drink with layers of blue, yellow, orange, and red in the glass.

After finishing the drink, the bartender promptly handed it to Karina.

"Enjoy!" he said, placing a tissue next to Karina's glass.

Karina smiled as she looked at the drink that she never thought could look so beautiful, "Thank you," said Karina as she began to drink the Paradise Rum made by the bartender.

Karina's eyes lit up as she tasted the sweet and alcoholic flavor of her drink. The sensation of being intoxicated was so lovely for Karina.

Amidst Karina's enjoyment of her Paradise Rum, a man in a full suit sat down on her left.

"May I have a glass of whisky, please?" the man requested with his deep voice that tickled Karina's ears.

Karina, who was already slightly intoxicated due to the rum in her drink, glanced over at the man sitting next to her. The man was wearing a watch with the brand name Ralex on his wrist. Karina immediately smiled upon realizing that the watch was not a fake product, but a genuine one that even cost millions of dollars.

The drink ordered by the man was then served by the bartender in front of him, just as he had served Karina's drink earlier.

With just one sip, the man next to her immediately drank it without pause, "Another one." he requested while handing the empty glass to the bartender.

Karina turned her gaze towards the man sitting next to her and stared at his face intently, trying to see him in the dim light and darkness of the bar, complete with the loud thumping music.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" asked Karina.

The man who just gulped down 2 glasses of whiskey in one sip next to Karina, suddenly turned his gaze and looked at Karina from head to toe. The man did not look drunk, instead he appeared excited to see Karina sitting next to him.

One of his eyebrows raised, as if he was interested in Karina's offer. He loosened his tie with one hand while looking intensely at Karina, "Do you want to?"