Chapter 4: The Rescue
Mint: “Ana, what’s wrong?” Her roommate asked as she walked in their apartment. Her welcoming smile faded.
Mint: “You’ve been crying!” She is staring at Ana’s face. “WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?”
Ana: “Nothing”. THAT was the problem.
Mint: “Then why are you crying? You never cry.”
Ana: “I was almost hit by a bike today”.
Mint: “Oh, are you ok?”
Ana: “Christian saved me”.
Mint: “How was coffee? I think he likes you.”
Ana: “Not anymore. I won’t be seeing him again.”
Mint: “why?”
Ana: “he is a little out of my league Mint”
Mint: “Stop right there. I’ve told you many times that you are gorgeous. Stop putting yourself down.”
Ana: “Let’s stop talking about it. I am going to my room. Need to study”….
The next coming week Ana concentrated on her finals. When she finished her last exam, she finally smiled for the first time that week. It’s time to celebrate! She is done with collage!
When Ana got home, Mint handed her a package. She is dancing around the apartment thinking what to wear to go out tonight.
Mint: “Here, a package for you.”
Ana: “oh”
Mint: “Open it”
Ana opened and box and found a leather box with three old books in mint condition. White card falls out with a small note.
“Why didn’t you tell me there was danger? Why didn’t you warn me?
Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them off these tricks…”
It was a quote from one of the books.
Mint: “Wow. From Kugimiya?”
Ana: “Can’t think of anyone else”.
Mint: “What does this card mean?”
Ana: “No idea. I think it’s a warning….and I have no idea why”. She is confused by the warnings.
Mint: “I know you don’t want to talk about him but he is seriously into you”.
Ana: “I can’t accept these books. It’s too much”. She is going to send them back.
Vertigo, Banyan Tree Hotel. Sathorn Road. Bangkok
Vertigo is one of the top rated bars and very close to Chula. It's in Sathorn and it's just a few minutes away in traffic... big deal for Bangkok.
People always consider traffic when picking a spot to meet and eat.
All the soon-to-be graduates are out in forces to celebrate their freedom from the education system. The bar is hopping with loud music and flowing drinks. Ana and Mint are celebrating in style. Pope joined the girls.
Pope: “What's next for you Ana?”
Ana: “Mint and I are moving to her condo that her parents bought for her as graduation present in Sathorn, not too far from here...and I am going to look for a job in downtown Bangkok”. A few drinks made her speak so fast.
Pope: “Another magarita?”
Ana: “Are you trying to get me drunk? I better stick to white wine. I’ll go get another glass”.
Mint: “One more for me too”… she shouts from the couches.
As she was moving towards the bar, her head spins. She needed to get away from the noise. She tried the bathroom and as always the ladies room had a long wait. To ease her boredom she took her phone out and started to play with the names she had called. She saw the number… Kugimiya’s. Small smile formed her face and her fingers pressed the call button.
Christian: “Anastasia?” He sounded surprised. Wait, how did he know it’s her number?
Ana: “Why did you send me the books?” She slurs.
Christian: “Are you ok? You sound strange?”
Ana: “I am not the strange one. YOU are”. There she told him. So brave with alcohol in her veins.
Christian: “Anastasia, have you been drinking?”
Ana: “What’s it to you?”
Christian: “Where are you?”
Ana: “In a bar”
Christian: “Which bar”
Ana: “In Bangkok”
Christian: “How are you getting home”
Ana: “I’ll find a way”.
Christian: “Which bar are you in?”
Ana: “Why did you send me the books Christian?”
Christian: “Anastasia, where are you? Tell me now!” his tone is stronger now…. So dictorial.
Ana: “You’re so …. domineering” she giggled. She is amused by his tone.
Christian: “Ana, so help me, where the heck are you?”
Ana: “Somewhere in Bangkok." She smirks. "Goodnight Christian.”
Christian: “Ana!”
She hung up the phone. Her head still spinning. Still not knowing why he sent her the books. Within the minute, her phone rings and she jumped.
Ana: “Hello”
Christian: “I am coming to get you” and he hangs up.
Ana went back to the group’s sitting area and told Mint that she needed to step away because she needed fresh air.
Mint: “Ana, you are such a light weight” and she smiles "and we are at a roof-top bar Ana. You mean, you need to get away from the noise?"
Ana nodded.
Pope: “I’ll go with her”.
As they walked towards the balcony, he puts his arms around her to steady her. He had a little too much to drink tonight too.
Ana: “P’Pope. I’m ok”.
Pope: “Ana, please” he is pulling her in closer..
Ana: “What are you doing, P’Pope?” She is trying to push him away.
Pope: “Ana, you know how I feel about you?” and he leans in as to kiss her…
Ana: “No, P’Pope. Stop. No”. Her stomach is twisted in knots. She is ready to throw up.
A voice came out from the dark corner.
Christian: “I think the lady said no”.
Pope looked up. Christian is furious. You can see it in his eyes.
Ana’s stomach turns and she then threw up on the floor.
Pope: “Arrrrgh, Ana”… he walks back in to the bar.
Christian: “If you are going to throw up, here. Do it in here by the corner by the drain. I’ll hold you”.
Ana tried to push him away but she just threw up and up until there was nothing left to threw up. He pushed her up by the wall and handed her a handkerchief. It was initial CNK. She wondered what “N” stands for.
Ana finally found her voice.
Ana: “I am sorry”.
Christian: “What are you sorry for?”
Ana: “Calling you. Being sick. Many things”. She wished she can disappear in thin air right now.
Christian: “We’ve all been there. It’s all about knowing your limits”. He gave her a hard stare. “Do you do this often?”
Ana: Horrified. “No. I’ve never been drunk before. I don’t think I will do it again”.
Christian: “Come, I’ll take you home”.
Ana: “I need to tell Mint”.
Christian: “My brother can tell her”
Ana: “What?”
Christian: “My brother Mark is talking with her in the bar”.
Ana: “oh”.
Christian: “He was with me when you phoned”.
Ana: “How did you find me?”
Christian: “I tracked your cell phone, Anastasia”.
Ana is annoyed. Of course he did. He can do anything…
Before she finished her thought, her eyes blanked and she fell into darkness.
---
Mint: “Ana, what’s wrong?” Her roommate asked as she walked in their apartment. Her welcoming smile faded.
Mint: “You’ve been crying!” She is staring at Ana’s face. “WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?”
Ana: “Nothing”. THAT was the problem.
Mint: “Then why are you crying? You never cry.”
Ana: “I was almost hit by a bike today”.
Mint: “Oh, are you ok?”
Ana: “Christian saved me”.
Mint: “How was coffee? I think he likes you.”
Ana: “Not anymore. I won’t be seeing him again.”
Mint: “why?”
Ana: “he is a little out of my league Mint”
Mint: “Stop right there. I’ve told you many times that you are gorgeous. Stop putting yourself down.”
Ana: “Let’s stop talking about it. I am going to my room. Need to study”….
The next coming week Ana concentrated on her finals. When she finished her last exam, she finally smiled for the first time that week. It’s time to celebrate! She is done with collage!
When Ana got home, Mint handed her a package. She is dancing around the apartment thinking what to wear to go out tonight.
Mint: “Here, a package for you.”
Ana: “oh”
Mint: “Open it”
Ana opened and box and found a leather box with three old books in mint condition. White card falls out with a small note.
“Why didn’t you tell me there was danger? Why didn’t you warn me?
Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them off these tricks…”
It was a quote from one of the books.
Mint: “Wow. From Kugimiya?”
Ana: “Can’t think of anyone else”.
Mint: “What does this card mean?”
Ana: “No idea. I think it’s a warning….and I have no idea why”. She is confused by the warnings.
Mint: “I know you don’t want to talk about him but he is seriously into you”.
Ana: “I can’t accept these books. It’s too much”. She is going to send them back.
Vertigo, Banyan Tree Hotel. Sathorn Road. Bangkok
Vertigo is one of the top rated bars and very close to Chula. It's in Sathorn and it's just a few minutes away in traffic... big deal for Bangkok.
People always consider traffic when picking a spot to meet and eat.
All the soon-to-be graduates are out in forces to celebrate their freedom from the education system. The bar is hopping with loud music and flowing drinks. Ana and Mint are celebrating in style. Pope joined the girls.
Pope: “What's next for you Ana?”
Ana: “Mint and I are moving to her condo that her parents bought for her as graduation present in Sathorn, not too far from here...and I am going to look for a job in downtown Bangkok”. A few drinks made her speak so fast.
Pope: “Another magarita?”
Ana: “Are you trying to get me drunk? I better stick to white wine. I’ll go get another glass”.
Mint: “One more for me too”… she shouts from the couches.
As she was moving towards the bar, her head spins. She needed to get away from the noise. She tried the bathroom and as always the ladies room had a long wait. To ease her boredom she took her phone out and started to play with the names she had called. She saw the number… Kugimiya’s. Small smile formed her face and her fingers pressed the call button.
Christian: “Anastasia?” He sounded surprised. Wait, how did he know it’s her number?
Ana: “Why did you send me the books?” She slurs.
Christian: “Are you ok? You sound strange?”
Ana: “I am not the strange one. YOU are”. There she told him. So brave with alcohol in her veins.
Christian: “Anastasia, have you been drinking?”
Ana: “What’s it to you?”
Christian: “Where are you?”
Ana: “In a bar”
Christian: “Which bar”
Ana: “In Bangkok”
Christian: “How are you getting home”
Ana: “I’ll find a way”.
Christian: “Which bar are you in?”
Ana: “Why did you send me the books Christian?”
Christian: “Anastasia, where are you? Tell me now!” his tone is stronger now…. So dictorial.
Ana: “You’re so …. domineering” she giggled. She is amused by his tone.
Christian: “Ana, so help me, where the heck are you?”
Ana: “Somewhere in Bangkok." She smirks. "Goodnight Christian.”
Christian: “Ana!”
She hung up the phone. Her head still spinning. Still not knowing why he sent her the books. Within the minute, her phone rings and she jumped.
Ana: “Hello”
Christian: “I am coming to get you” and he hangs up.
Ana went back to the group’s sitting area and told Mint that she needed to step away because she needed fresh air.
Mint: “Ana, you are such a light weight” and she smiles "and we are at a roof-top bar Ana. You mean, you need to get away from the noise?"
Ana nodded.
Pope: “I’ll go with her”.
As they walked towards the balcony, he puts his arms around her to steady her. He had a little too much to drink tonight too.
Ana: “P’Pope. I’m ok”.
Pope: “Ana, please” he is pulling her in closer..
Ana: “What are you doing, P’Pope?” She is trying to push him away.
Pope: “Ana, you know how I feel about you?” and he leans in as to kiss her…
Ana: “No, P’Pope. Stop. No”. Her stomach is twisted in knots. She is ready to throw up.
A voice came out from the dark corner.
Christian: “I think the lady said no”.
Pope looked up. Christian is furious. You can see it in his eyes.
Ana’s stomach turns and she then threw up on the floor.
Pope: “Arrrrgh, Ana”… he walks back in to the bar.
Christian: “If you are going to throw up, here. Do it in here by the corner by the drain. I’ll hold you”.
Ana tried to push him away but she just threw up and up until there was nothing left to threw up. He pushed her up by the wall and handed her a handkerchief. It was initial CNK. She wondered what “N” stands for.
Ana finally found her voice.
Ana: “I am sorry”.
Christian: “What are you sorry for?”
Ana: “Calling you. Being sick. Many things”. She wished she can disappear in thin air right now.
Christian: “We’ve all been there. It’s all about knowing your limits”. He gave her a hard stare. “Do you do this often?”
Ana: Horrified. “No. I’ve never been drunk before. I don’t think I will do it again”.
Christian: “Come, I’ll take you home”.
Ana: “I need to tell Mint”.
Christian: “My brother can tell her”
Ana: “What?”
Christian: “My brother Mark is talking with her in the bar”.
Ana: “oh”.
Christian: “He was with me when you phoned”.
Ana: “How did you find me?”
Christian: “I tracked your cell phone, Anastasia”.
Ana is annoyed. Of course he did. He can do anything…
Before she finished her thought, her eyes blanked and she fell into darkness.
---
