Fortunately, the conversation didn't linger on that topic for too long.
At the dinner table, it felt as if everyone had coordinated beforehand—one by one, they came up to toast me.
Given that most of them were senior colleagues, I didn't feel it was appropriate to refuse.
Soon enough, I began feeling light-headed.
Sophie sat beside me, smiling but saying nothing.
By the end of the meal, I was stumbling as I walked.
Sophie, noticing, supported me, her expression filled with conflict and hesitation.
"Lucas, you've had too much to drink."
She said this while signaling for others to leave first with a glance.
I didn't reply, merely gazing at her face intently.
Sophie's breath quickened, and she quickly turned her head away.
After helping me into the car, Sophie was about to pull away when I grabbed her arm.
Her body wobbled, and she ended up falling onto me.
Our lips accidentally brushed together.
It was brief, and we both immediately pulled apart.
Sophie froze, then, regaining her composure, hurriedly stood up.
Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and she looked at me—dazed and half-conscious in the car—biting her lip.
She eventually took me back to my apartment.
---
The next morning, I woke up, my gaze fixed on the ceiling.
For a while, I couldn't shake off the groggy feeling from the hangover, my head still heavy.
I rubbed my throbbing temples, intending to assess my surroundings, but as I moved, my fingers brushed against something soft.
Turning my head, I froze.
Sophie lay next to me, her body completely exposed beneath the sheets, traces of tears still in the corners of her eyes.
I sat up abruptly, suddenly aware that I, too, was completely naked.
What had happened was painfully clear.
Sophie had already woken up and was quietly watching my reaction.
Seeing the anxiety on my face, she couldn't help but smile to herself before slowly opening her eyes, pretending to just have woken up.
"Lucas, you're awake?"
My expression was conflicted as I tried to piece together what had happened.
"We... last night..."
"I wanted it."
Sophie cut me off, her face flushing with color.
"I undressed myself, and I chose to be with you."
Though I had a sense of what had occurred, hearing Sophie confirm it with her own words caused a bitter feeling to settle in my chest.
"I'm sorry, I... I was drunk last night..."
"It's okay," Sophie said softly.
"I told you, it was my choice."