Love at the Nth Time

A Second Inclination

Chapter 9

"Celine..."

"Ngh," she whined softly. Wrapped the sweater around her body, I kissed her forehead as I watched her as she slept. I chuckled.

She fell asleep when I got in the car after buying our food.

In my pocket, where I took out my phone, I saw 37 new messages and 19 missed calls, whereas some of them were from the women I had a portrayal appointment with this month and replied to the texts. I leaned on the seat, slowly put down my phone, and breathed heavily.

Troublesome as I got so many women. I didn't even consider Celine's reaction if she knew this. All of the women I had were aware of not being the only ones. There were relationships only for s****l pleasure. Some were serious. Still, I treated them the same.

"I fell asleep..." I glanced at her. She handed me the sweater I wrapped around her.

"Yeah, you're even snoring."

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Yup, I forgot to record it." I lied. She was sleeping soundly like a baby.

"Whew, I didn't sleep-talk, though?"

"Yeah, that'd creep me out if you did."

"Where were we?" She watched the night city outside the windshield,

"Heading home, you can sleep more. I'll wake you up when we get to your house. I asked your sister about your address anyway."

"Ah, no, I'm okay. I got tired. I didn't know I had so much fun." I tapped the steering wheel of the car.

"Wanna eat? I still have the food I bought earlier, but it's not warm anymore. Let's stop by a restaurant."

"No, it's okay. I'm not hungry. It's already 10 in the evening, so I can't go home too late."

Honestly, I liked to stay with her longer.

I did not know we would get close eventually. Maybe I had made a move, but Celine approached me. I could not help it anyway.

"You'll go with her to Thailand? I thought you'd be meeting your girlfriend there?" questioned Win, with a surprised look.

The details of this gown weren't really to my liking. I came up with the natural environment around me if it would fit in similarly to the environment where I lived. Yes, the off-shoulder type will emphasize the perfect curve of the shoulder lines and the tailored waistlines which incorporate it. My hand kept pointing at the ballpoint tip of the pen on the hip part. It's still lacking some details.

"I will meet Hang Cxhi. I will tell her about my flings eventually when we get there."

It wasn't like I couldn't tell her about it since I was only a close friend. I guessed. Above all, she already had a boyfriend.

"I never expected you'd be interested in simple women like Celine, though."

"Yeah, I even think about it all the time. But, I'm searching for another simple woman like her to date."

I wished to see it. I ought to weigh these feelings that kept talking inside me. Was it because of Celine's lifestyle, or did I get attached to it because of her?

*On call... Celine 03:12

"Do I need to bring shoes? Like, how many shoes do I need to bring? We're only staying there for a week anyway."

I blew out the smoke in my mouth. I was outside the balcony of my condo unit.

I could even buy whatever you need when we get there.

"Can I bring Momo also?" she asked.

"Momo?"

"Yeah, the penguin stuffed toy you bought for me."

"Oh." I chuckled. "Why did you name it Momo?"

"I just thought of it. Can I bring it?"

"Sure, it's fine."

"I need to bring liniment, since this would be my first time travelling outside the country."

"That's troublesome. Put it in a small plastic bottle-"

"Yeah, I know. I have those small bottles and cups for this situation." The sky was full of stars. It was a bit windy, and my shaggy hair, which was tied up sloppily, was scattered all over my face irritatingly. I went inside the room.

"I'll just buy you the things you need when we get there."

"Of course, I need to prepare. I'm trying not to make any trouble, and I don't want this to go wrong."

"It's getting late. You should go to bed. I'll pick you up at 8, 'kay?"

"Yeah, omg, I'm so excited I think I can't sleep at all." I laughed. I scanned the quiet room, it's tidy for hiring housekeeping frequently.

"You're like a kid. Just go to bed already. Seth will get angry if you don't." We laughed. I put my phone between my left ear and shoulder and picked up the unfinished outline of a gown on my working space.

"What are you, my mother? Okay, fine. See you tomorrow. Hey, bring a pillow or blanket. I think I can't sleep tonight, so I'll sleep on the plane." I chuckled and shook my head lightly.

I had already travelled outside with a woman other than her. Nothing's different- ah, yeah, it would be different.

I smiled when she stood in front of me. I put my hands in the pockets of my oversized sweater. "I thought you'd bring your whole house," I indifferently said.

"That would be heavy, so no." I smiled.

She was wearing a pastel pink bomber jacket, skinny jeans, and white sneakers. I stopped by a stall near the airport when I spotted a short-brimmed bucket hat.

"Stay here." I bought a white one for her.

I didn't know I would be this caring for her. I was a caring woman even before, though. But this time, no strings attached.

I put the hat on her. "It's sunny there, so you have to protect your eyes from the sun," I stated. Her eyes moved as she stared at my infatuated eyes. I cleared my throat, and we both looked down on the ground as we heard a couple of voices walking by beside us.

"Let's go," she said, smiling a little. I nodded, and she walked first, heading inside the airport. What was that strange for a brief moment?

I booked a flight early in the morning, so we could take a rest or stroll around Thailand ahead if she wanted to. Typically, it's not yet the season for vacation trips, but who cares? This woman knows how to grab a sudden opportunity, and I was willing to offer it to her.

I watched her take a picture of the plane ticket for social media posts. I gazed at her hand while we headed to the plane. She's walking ahead of me, busy taking selfies. My eyes followed her pale hand, a sudden urge to hold that hand. I looked away. No way I could, and why would I?

If I was with another woman, we'd be all so lovey-dovey all this time now.

I put her handbag in the overhead bin, next to mine.

"Omg, I'm going to Thailand..!" She was looking outside the window of the plane.

"Put on your seatbelt, dummy."

"Omg, I'm so excited!" I laughed. I leaned on the seat next to hers.

"I think you sleep. After all, you've got a lot of energy." She laughed.

"I made memories for the first time."

Make memories, huh.

"You treasured your first times, ha." I sort of watched passengers passing in the aisle.

"Ha? Oh yeah, I cherish it, and you know I don't wanna miss anything."

First time with her boyfriend, making the most of it. How sweet was that.

"Did your boyfriend know about this?"

"Ah, no, he won't let me anyway, so this is a secret."

"What?" She looked up at me.

"This is a secret. Ryan's a jealous guy, so I can't say."

"You'll fight if he knows this. Just tell him already." I checked on my wristwatch, it was almost time to depart.

"As if I can, he'll get mad."

"That's as if he never gets mad at you when you did something wrong anyway? I don't wanna be the cause of your fight."

"Okay, I'll tell him when we get there, so he doesn't have any choice. He can't just stop me." Celine giggled. I chuckled and rolled my eyes. Right.

"Seth, hey, Seth." I slowly put my shades over my head, and I fell asleep. "We're near." She put my hair over the sides as it's covering my chin. My heart skipped.

Damn it. I could be fragile when it comes to being the one taking care of.

We checked in at a hotel I know. It's my fifth or sixth time.

She was amazed by the sightseeing in the city of Bangkok. Like a kid who got freed from a cage.

Celine and I went out to eat lunch in a local restaurant. Celine was so clueless about what to eat, so I recommended her good cuisine to try. She's too lively for a person who only gets an hour of sleep because of excitement. She ceaselessly looked around and muttered to me the things she found dissimilar here and in her country. The day went by, strolling around the area where I got to see a nearby park I hadn't visited yet. We came back to the hotel around 9. I was gasping in so much embarrassment and disbelief.

"Oh my god..." I facepalmed myself and controlled my laughter. I watched this staggered girl throw her chest on the bed. "Hey, change your clothes first before you go to bed! You're so embarrassing." I kept controlling my laugh as I moved closer to her. I shook her shoulder.

"I'm going to sleep. I'm too sleepy."

"Right, i***t, you should spend this day getting enough sleep rather than walk around outside like you're drunk! Come on, your jacket!" I knelt on the bed and guided her to sit up.

"I'm anaemic. I'm like this when I don't sleep." My eyebrows raised, I quickly rolled her luggage near the bed.

"Yeah? Should I be happy? I'm opening your luggage," I asked for permission even though I had opened it already and swiftly grabbed a pink shirt. My eyes widened as this reckless girl took off her clothes, wearing only her bra. She took the new shirt from me and wore it. Her hand leaned on my shoulder, and she squatted down beside me to get a pair of shorts in her luggage.

I watched her sit down on the bed and take off her jeans, exposing her black undies, and rest on the bed afterwards.

"Leave them there. I'll clean that stuff up later," Celine mumbled and covered herself in the blanket.

Wow. I went speechless.