Souvenir - Chapter 3.3

Vera was a working girl, blending into this upscale club.

Her “friend” was likely one of her fellow workers.

Looking at Vera’s fleeting glances, I could roughly guess where her companion was among the crowd of dancing women.

So she wasn’t a socialite.

She wasn’t a model.

She was a prostitute—and a mother, or at least she claimed to be.

Or maybe the child was just another fabrication.

“I see… but before we go anywhere, I’d like to know a little more about you. Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

I didn’t care who it was—I just wanted someone to stay by my side and keep talking.

On nights like this—full moon Fridays—I felt an unbearable loneliness.

Just as Vera was about to open up, Alex appeared behind me, tapping my shoulder lightly.

“Hey, we’re all splitting up. What are you gonna do?”

I pressed my fingers against my chin, thinking for a moment before nodding.

“Alright. I’ll head out too.”

With a smirk, Alex leaned in and whispered.

“And what about her?”

A pause.

“…I’m taking her with me.”

Alex let out a low whistle before casting a quick glance at Vera. Then, with two stunning women on either side of him, he casually walked away.

They looked like models.

I reached into my pocket, checking for my car keys.

For a moment, I wondered—had Alex already figured out Vera was a prostitute?

It was possible.

Maybe I had been just as predictable as ever.

Maybe I still hadn’t learned how to truly see women for who they were.

The thought made me recall my father, and a cold weight settled in my stomach.

I didn’t want to think about him right now.

I needed to shake this feeling off, to change the atmosphere somehow.

“It’s getting cold,” I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets and exhaling a white breath into the night air.

Vera wrapped her arms around herself, laughing softly.

“Nights like this make you want someone to talk to, don’t they?”

“Why don’t we take a break in my car?”

The words left my mouth before I even realized I had said them.

She hesitated for a brief second before nodding.

“…Alright.”

“I just need to change first. This dress is rented—I have to return it before I leave, or the rental fee will be ridiculous.”

“Got it.”

I sank into a nearby sofa, waiting.

Alex and the others were nowhere in sight.

Truthfully, I hesitated to take her with me.

But it was late, the streets were dark, and no one would care what we did.

Still, I didn’t plan for this.

Where was I even taking her?

Would I simply drop her off at her place?

I had no answer.

I couldn’t understand my own motives.

What about Vera intrigued me enough to take her into my car?

Deep down, I knew—she wasn’t worth anything to me.

And yet, tonight, I wanted to let loose—just for once.

Maybe I was simply drawn to her striking green eyes, wanting a closer look.

Lately, work had been suffocating—too many complications, too many stressors.

And perhaps, after so long, I had forgotten what it felt like to interact with a woman outside of work.

—

Alex had always been a player.

Even back in law school, he had a reputation for being a womanizer.

We first met while working on the Law Journal, a legal publication led by the school’s top students.

He had graduated from Harvard Law, and despite the rivalry between our schools, the best students had mutual respect for each other.

From our very first meeting, we had recognized each other as equals and worked together.

I never had much competitiveness in me.

Unlike others, I never cared to compete with the best—I just did my work.

—

By chance, Alex and I were both hired at the same prestigious law firm after graduation.

One evening, not long after we started, I was about to head home alone when Alex slung an arm over my shoulder and grinned.