Chapter 2: Regrets
South Korea cleaned himself up frantically while Thailand pulled Vietnam's hair back as she threw up into the toilet bowl.
"Is she okay?" The Korean glanced back at the woman giving Thailand a questioning look.
"Still drunk, but she seemed to have gotten most of the beer out of her system," He sighed in exasperation.
"Vietnam…We need to keep a better eye on you every time we go out clubbing! I didn't think she would have such a strong penchant for alcohol…"
South Korea chuckled.
"Like me then except I can hold my liquor way better."
He looked at Thailand and spoke.
"You go on ahead and find the rest. I'll take care of her."
"Are you sure?" Thailand looked surprised, but then it wasn't unlike South Korea's character to look after others.
"Okay then. I'll leave her to you. I trust you so don't you dare try anything funny."
He gave him a warning look before leaving the restroom.
Upstairs where the rooms were, South Korea carried an unconscious Vietnam on his back. Suddenly remembering that he doesn't have the key card to Taiwan and Vietnam's suite, he dialed Taiwan's number rapidly with one hand.
Many rings later, Taiwan still had not picked up her mobile and he cursed under his breath. That woman was having way too much fun. Did she already forget about her female friend back in the karaoke room?
Carefully scrutinizing the Vietnamese woman, he frowned a little. For someone rather feisty, she sure was quite reckless putting herself out there. After all, he and many people were technically a strangers to her. She looked like someone who had been through a lot though similar to himself.
Luckily, she was quite safe with him. South Korea had his own code of ethics and morals…Kind of. He smirked to himself.
Looks like there was only one thing to do and that was to let her sleep in his own hotel room.
Just this once, he'll go downstairs to the lobby and make do with the couch there for the night.
Laying her on the freshly made bed, South Korea felt a little tug at his collar. Looking down, he saw her hooded brown eyes looking at him; her small hand grasping his shirt.
"Vietnam…?"
She didn't appear to have heard him and was clearly still affected by the alcohol. Her arms encircled around him, pressing her face to nuzzle against the warmth of his neck. His body shuddered slightly in response. South Korea's eyes widened, staring at the Vietnamese and willing his body to not get turned on.
Taking her hands away, he put her back down on the bed once again.
"No, Vietnam. Sleep," He said firmly. Interestingly enough, she replied with an adorable whine and to his utter shock, reversed their position. Even after years of martial arts training, South Korea found himself lying on his back with Vietnam on top of him in a compromising position.
He stared up at her in awe. Her mussed up hair, lustful looking eyes, flushed face and her loose shirt dipping down for him to have an eyeful of her cleavage made her quite beautiful…And so tempting at this moment. Odd because she did not live up to his country's harsh beauty standards in the slightest.
"What are you doing, Vietnam? Are you always like this when drunk?" He asked peeved, but he could not hide both his amusement and arousal.
South Korea's had his fair share of desirous one-night stands in the past with both parties understanding where they stood although some women and female nations would be disappointed or beg for something more out of the relationship, they always ended up leaving his door in dismay.
Whilst Vietnam was certainly attractive, and he was beginning to see her as an appealing woman, romantic ties was something he did not really understand yet himself. Hell, they had just met each other yet she was already conjuring up all these reactions from him which was already alarming.
He did not want to take advantage of the situation considering her intoxication. In fact, she probably didn't even know what she's currently doing to him or who she's trying to seduce. She would surely regret this in the morning. In fact, both of them might.
Her mind was not clear. All she knew was that her body was begging to be fulfilled at this very moment. The bigger form currently holding her smelled of pure masculine. He smelled like a man and although she could not see his face that well and a rational voice in the back of her head is screaming at her that this is a bad idea, she did not care.
She was just not sober enough to care. She was so turned on…What the hell was in that beer?
Annoyed that the man was trying to softly push her away, she harrumphed and considered throwing a tantrum. But her already jello-like body decided to give up and just lay down flat on the comfy bed, her limbs sprawling all over the place inappropriately.
Vietnam opened her eyes to see the figure of the larger body still there. He seemed to be hesitant before nodding his head as if he decided on something.
His frame leaned forward closer to her until his hot lips descended her own. She groaned against him. Their lips moved together in such a way that was both tantalizing and just felt…Right.
"Only tonight; let me indulge in his wrongful act. Forget this tomorrow."
Was the last of what she heard his deep and captivating voice say.
His lips trailed down to suck on her collarbone. He let his hands trail up her thighs and whatever happened next, Vietnam could not remember.
She only vaguely recalled fiery passion that made her body writhe and her mouth moan.
The sun scorching through the window hitting Vietnam directly on her face woke her up. Brown eyes opened, but then a wave of pain breezed through her head making her body curl over not wanting to get out of bed. Hangovers were no joke.
She slowly stood up to go to the bathroom in case she doubled over to vomit everything out from last night.
Standing up, however, made her realize her whole body was sore especially between her legs, but the feeling was not completely bad. In fact, she felt good and energized…And incredibly naked.
Looking down at her bare body that was adorned with marks of last night's sensual assault, Vietnam did the only thing she could think to do at the moment.
She screamed and looked around the unfamiliar hotel room in panic. It was empty.
What had she done? Who had she committed this uncharacteristic act of hers with? She had never had a one-night stand before! As a traditional romanticist, she would prefer to fall in love and officially date first for god's sake!
Still, as bits and pieces of memories flood her brain, she recalled how passionate last night was. In fact, it was probably the best night she ever had even if drunk.
Who did she have sex with? And how was she going to confront him? What should she say?
Hey, sorry last night was a mistake! Let's pretend it never happened?
The sound of the shower running in the bathroom caught her attention. Was that him? Please don't let it be Thailand…That would be so awkward for the both of them. Their relationship was not like that. If it was Japan, Taiwan would slaughter her.
If it was Indonesia, well that wouldn't be too bad. They'll be okay with just continuing on as simply friends.
Now if it was that bastard…Nah it couldn't be.
It was probably some random tourist that was as drunk as her. Hopefully they'll simply forget the whole thing she should.
Tip-toeing to the bathroom and quietly peering inside through the unlocked door, she saw the tall form turn the faucet off and the room became silent.
The curtain's were conveniently out of the way.
She indulgently noted how beautifully sculpted the man's body was; his side profile was perfect. His back muscles rippled as he stretched, cracking a bone here and there. Both slender yet muscular, she could not stop staring blatantly at how well-shaped and tight his buttocks were while pointedly trying not to let her eyes drift over to his front center. The droplets of water gleaming all over his body only heightened the sexual appeal to her annoyance.
Her body throbbed again, remembering last night. She remembered how she had lain underneath him, how his large hands had explored her body thoroughly missing nothing…
Slowly looking up to the face looking staring back at her in surprise, her heart stopped.
Oh no. No, no…Oh god NO.
And with those last thoughts in her head, she bolted out of the hotel room completely red as a tomato.
Turning off the shower, South Korea heard movements from behind. Was Vietnam finally awake? Turning around, he came face to face with her gawking unabashedly at his body.
Shocked, he was about to say something, but her ears and face flared a lovely shade of crimson. She then fled the room scouring to take her clothes with her.
Not having enough time to wrap a towel around his waist to take after her, he looked down at his body. Did she remember? Now that she was sober and alert, did Vietnam not like what she saw?
Looking sadly at the large and long scar that stretched from his torso all the way to his thigh, he felt both angered, hurt…And disappointed.
All of them reacted the same when they saw the mutilation. Not to worry. He returned the same favor with equal measures for his North Korean brother.
He smiled grimly and got changed.
After saying quick and abrupt goodbyes to Thailand and company, she took whatever was the quickest flight she could find at the time to return back to Vietnam.
During the whole plane ride, she prayed to buddha this would not go on the news and that South Korea had enough sense to not reveal their dirty…Hot little secret.
She was supposed to take an innocent vacation here. Not sleep with a stranger and run away!
How would she go about her dealings with him from now on? They did not have the nicest or friendliest first impressions of each other and yet they ended up in bed together. How did something like that even happen? Was she too old-fashioned and stiff for this day and age?
And worst of all, he saw her shamelessly ogling his body! She blushed again. One thing that could not be denied though was that it was a great night and South Korea was admittedly, a very attractive and fine partner to share the night with.
Still, this could not happen again. Did he often sleep with whatever women he meets? He certainly had the charisma and looks for that kind of hobby.
Was she just another collection? Her blood boiled.
One thing's for sure though, summer vacation was over.
Two months later
"And make sure you do not forget to smile and greet your guests properly every time they step through the door," Vietnam reminded the cosmetics specialist ladies as they all carefully put on the pink uniforms to get ready to open the store.
It was the fifth Korean influenced makeup store down the streets in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A few months passed and Vietnam checked on all the comings and goings of what was happening within her country from her national airlines to trade partnerships with foreign direct investment to military training all the way to something as frivolous and girly as beauty products.
As she was beginning to really notice her surroundings, it was only now that she saw the 100th group of young Vietnamese girls and boys do another public stunt of dancing to K-pop songs…A little too skillfully at that.
She checked on her national football team recognizing the Korean football coach, Park Hang Seo, who led the Vietnamese U23 team to greater heights than they had ever achieved.
Running all the way to the top office to check who had the closest ties with her as well as put their efforts to invest the most in her country, only one nation's name was in bold in front of her face.
Why had she never noticed it before until now? She had never paid attention. For a developed, prideful, a little arrogant and wealthy nation like South Korea to pay so much attention to her…What was he planning? What was his purpose exactly?
She shuddered at the thought of anything drastic or shady. She had already chosen to forgive him for what happened with his troops during the Vietnam war even when she didn't know what he looked like then, but still…
And to complicate matters, she had slept with him just two months ago! Ever since that incident, she fortunately did not have any social interactions with the man. She would not know how to face him after enjoying such sensuous and heated touches during a drunken fling.
The only countries she was currently in touch with were Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and annoyingly China.
Just then, one of her ambassadors barged in to notify her that she was expected in Japan at this time for their big launch of Joah's cosmetics.
Vietnam was to work with Miss Japan on this project.
Upon seeing the Japanese woman, there were many changes like last time. Miss Japan liked to constantly switch her outfits and fashion tastes to match her country's trends specifically from Shibuya, Tokyo and Kyoto.
Today, her hair was bleached into a glossy cotton-candy pink; carefully curled into waves. Her face was meticulously made up to give her a porcelain, doll-like effect and her clothes as usual were on point.
And as always, Miss Japan gave Vietnam a sugary, polite smile that concealed many contradicting thoughts that were definitely not in her favor.
Looking at the Southeast Asian woman up and down in a patronizing manner, Miss Japan waved a manicured hand to her own country's officials and said something in her native language.
Vietnam hazarded it wasn't complimentary.
She was quite bold to say this within earshot and Vietnam knew it was because they were not in public yet, but in one of Shibuya's famous malls private rooms away from the crowded tourists Japan always took pride in.
Vietnam's head was getting hot and her face was heating up as she tried to keep her temper in check. Sneaky devil…
If Miss Japan wanted to make a scene, this place would be it because there would be no proof for her to lose her reputation.
"People wanted me to collaborate on this little project with you simply because you're rising up…For a Southeast Asian nation that is. Are you tired of constantly trying to climb up using us precious few Northeast Asian countries to reach gold digger – trophy wife status, yet?"
Female Japan's lips formed a cute smile, but her eyes covered with light brown colored contacts were provocative.
Vietnam could not take it anymore.
"Outsiders should keep their noses where it doesn't belong," She began, her hands curling into a shaky fist.
"Stop thinking you know anything!"
And with that, she raised up a hand fully intending to claw out Japan's pretty face out and the latter woman looked both alert and ready to retaliate…
Only for an iron grip to hold Vietnam's arm back.
"What the-!? Let me go!"
Vietnam whipped her head back in outrage only to stop short at the sight of Mr. South Korea's unamused gaze.
End note:
K-drama tropes continued!
Catty main antagonist female character check
Obligatory shower scene check
Just dramatic problems in general check
Male lead continuing to show off check