His eyes were narrow and slightly puffy. Cheeks flushed from alcohol. Those full lips were unmistakable.
He was a student at the college where I work. But judging by Salin's reaction, he had no idea who I was.
— How do you know my name? Oh, you know who I am? That's cute. Wanna take me home, cutie? — he said, tapping the tip of his nose.
— Don't touch me!
— But you're holding me by the waist, silly. — He grinned, leaning even further back. — So of course I can touch you!
And for some reason I'd rather not examine, that didn't bother me. Not yet.
Who the hell is this guy?
— I don't know where you live, Park. I'm busy. Take care. — I let go of him and turned back to my car.
Did he call me cutie?
— No, you can't leave me here! — Salin shouted. — It's your duty to take me home! It's dangerous out here alone! There are gangs around!
I was set on ignoring him, but people around us started moving again.
— Sir, you ran him over! You need to take care of him if you know him! — a woman yelled from the bus stop.
I looked at the phones in people's hands, ready to snap a photo. Anything like this would get me in trouble.
— Let's go, Park — I said at last, and he smiled, showing his teeth and squinting his eyes.
He's... cute.
I'll admit it.
— Hurry up! It's late, I still have work...
I looked toward my nightclub, then at the time. While I hesitated on what to do, the drunk was already getting into my car.
With all these people around, maybe I didn't have a choice anymore.
— Don't puke! — I warned, concerned. I didn't know how much he'd drunk or if he was high.
— Where do you live?
— Korea.
— District? Apartment?
— Why do you wanna know? I can't bring kittens home.
— I wanna know where to drop you off, damn it! Just tell me!
— Korea! It's not hard!
With no idea where Park Salin lived, I figured that if he woke up tomorrow, he'd probably be surprised — but once he recognized me, maybe he'd calm down.
— Where are you taking me? What is this place? — he asked as I helped him down the hallway, heading into my apartment.
— My place. You won't tell me where you live, and I don't know either, so just crash here — I yelled, since the moment I opened the door, he wandered off and disappeared straight into my bedroom. — Tomorrow, once you're sober, you can go home on your own! — I shouted again.
Maybe my tone made me sound pissed, because Salin came back into view, looking at me like I'd just insulted his whole family. For a second, he even seemed sober.
— You're younger than me. Stop treating me like a teenager. — And then he vanished from view again.
That caught me off guard. Salin was definitely older than me, and even drunk, he nailed that detail. When I followed him, I found him sitting on my bedroom floor, head resting against the bed.
— Park, get up. — At school, whenever he wasn't passed out in class, he was focused and surrounded by good friends. Never imagined I'd find him drunk.
In my house.
Is this gonna cause me problems?
He seemed fine.
But there's something weird going on with me... Something that makes zero sense.
I grabbed him by the arm to lift him up, planning to take him to the guest room.
— Where are you taking me? This is my room, let me sleep! — He started flailing in my arms.
He was stubborn, but I was used to dealing with stubborn people. This wasn't difficult.
Out of nowhere, the shorter guy latched onto my neck. Before I could figure out what was happening, I found myself locked in a drunk, sloppy, but surprisingly effective headlock.
That bastard.
Was all I could think when I realized he wasn't letting go.
— Let me sleep here! — he said, trying to sound threatening.
— This is my room! — I argued, trying to pull away from his arms.
— Doesn't matter. — He finally let go and flopped onto the bed. — I'm sleeping here!
I stood there, watching him sprawled sideways across my bed. Salin passed out in seconds.
He slept with his mouth a little open. Tossed and turned, took up space — definitely not the kind of person who lets anyone else sleep peacefully.
I stopped staring. Still had work to do.
Salin hadn't shown up to school all week. I figured something serious must be going on.
I went to my dresser, grabbed a motion-sensor camera, and turned it on. This way, I could leave the apartment and still keep an eye on him.
As I passed the bathroom, I considered cleaning myself up, but honestly, I didn't feel dirty. I washed my hands out of habit and headed off to finish my last shift.