Chapter 5

"Thailand? But I..." Hearing his suggestion, Elena realized he was right. If she stayed stuck in this room wallowing in grief, she would only drive herself insane.

Her gaze drifted back to the wad of money resting near her feet, and a resolve formed in her mind.

"Alright, thank you," Elena replied with a faint, playful tone. "I'll head over first and test out the waters for you."

Mateo smiled. That was the Elena he knew—outwardly strong, generous, and often acting tougher than anyone else. Whenever trouble arose, she was always the first to step up and shield others. Yet beneath that brave exterior, she was still just a girl who desperately needed comfort and care.

"Just go have fun and rest up," Mateo said warmly. "I'm still at work, so I'll let you go now."

Elena collapsed onto the sofa the moment the call ended. The topic of taking a vacation involuntarily dragged her thoughts back to her pathetic ex, Bruno.

Throughout their entire relationship, they had never gone on a single trip together. For years, she had diligently saved money in their shared account, hoping they would one day travel the world. In the end, Bruno never took her anywhere—he simply made off with every penny.

Lying on her back, she kicked her legs in a fit of rage, accidentally striking the stack of banknotes resting on the floor.

"Scumbag, I hope I never cross paths with you again," she cursed under her breath. But as her eyes lingered on the cash, vivid memories of the previous night came rushing back, sending a sudden flush of heat straight to her cheeks.

"Stop it. Get a grip." Elena shook her head frantically, desperately forcing those embarrassing images out of her mind.

After resting on the couch until her limbs stopped aching, she grabbed a fresh set of clothes and headed into the bathroom to wash up.

As the warm spray of the shower cascaded over her body, Elena felt an overwhelming urge to scream at the top of her lungs.

Her collarbone and chest were marked with visible red bruises that stung slightly under the hot water. Any lingering romantic notions vanished instantly, replaced by pure irritation toward the stranger from the hotel. "Was that guy a wild animal or what?" she muttered bitterly, scrubbing herself clean.

By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, sheer exhaustion had taken over. She dried her hair and immediately collapsed onto her bed, falling into a deep sleep.

The following morning, a sharp knock at the door woke her up. Having skipped her convenience store shift, she had disabled her morning alarms and slept straight through the night.

Tossing on a casual outfit, she opened the door to find a delivery courier handing her the flight ticket Mateo had arranged.

She had completely forgotten her drunken promise to visit Thailand, but holding the physical ticket in her hand meant there was no turning back now.

Noticing that the departure was scheduled for the very next day, Elena spent the rest of her time in her room browsing online travel guides. She learned that Thailand was a tropical haven famous for its rich curry dishes, vibrant culture, and scenic views.

The more photos she scrolled through, the more eager she became. A change of scenery was exactly what she needed to heal her broken heart.

Since her luggage was still packed from when the landlord threw her out, she simply unzipped her suitcase to swap out a few clothes. This time, she packed all the bold, stylish outfits she had been too self-conscious to wear around Bruno.

After being approached by so many men at the bar, Elena realized she shouldn't hide her figure anymore; she actually possessed an attractive, enviable body.

Following a long flight lasting nearly ten hours, Elena finally touched down on Thai soil the next day.

Stepping out of the airport, a wave of humid, tropical air brushed against her face. The warm breeze reassured her that she had made the right decision.

Instead of booking a guided tour, she preferred wandering through the streets at her own pace. Immersing herself in the vibrant local traditions, she felt a profound sense of relief. She was glad she hadn't allowed her heartbreak to trap her at home, or she would have missed out on such incredible beauty.

From exploring the majestic temples of Bangkok to feeling the ocean breeze along the sandy shores of Pattaya, her spirits lifted higher with each passing day. Still, seeing romantic couples enjoying the sights together occasionally brought a tinge of melancholy. No one willingly chooses to travel alone. She had always envisioned embarking on such journeys with Bruno, yet here she was, completely by herself. All his past promises and sweet declarations had evaporated into thin air.

Her final destination was Chiang Mai, chosen specifically so she could hike up Doi Suthep. The mountain was renowned as a landmark destination and a deeply revered sacred site.

Intrigued by the local translation referring to it as the "Mountain of Immortals," Elena decided to hike up and see if there was any truth to the legend.

After preparing her gear a day in advance, she set off up the mountain trail early the next morning. To her delight, the path was quiet and uncrowded, allowing her to peacefully take in the lush natural scenery of Thailand without any rush.

With the peak standing at over 1,600 meters, many hikers began to tire halfway up, pulling off to the side of the trail to catch their breath.

Elena kept a steady pace, continuing upward without stopping. As she neared the 1,000-meter mark, she reached into her bag for her water bottle, contemplating a quick pause.

Further up the path, only an elderly couple remained ahead of her. Elena followed from a comfortable distance, occasionally looking up to admire them. Dressed neatly, they held hands and supported one another with every step. Their quiet affection filled Elena with a quiet sense of envy.

As the trail grew steeper, the couple began to slow down, their stamina wearing thin. Rather than passing them, Elena chose to maintain her pace behind them, drawing a peaceful comfort just watching them walk together.