Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

The man who had initially approached Esther with different intentions now found himself sharing his own heartache with her.

A few minutes later…

"Listen, I've been through hell. The person I love went on a blind date with someone else. I don't understand what he sees in her. He even showed her to me…"

The man tapped Esther's shoulder, a serious expression on his face. "Men are scum. Don't fall for their tricks!"

Esther nodded, feeling a strange camaraderie with this stranger. "Great minds think alike. Let's drink!"

"We women need to stand up for ourselves. There are plenty of good men out there, sis. Don't waste your time on someone like that!" the man declared, and they both raised their glasses.

As the drinks flowed, they became increasingly intoxicated, even calling each other "sister" in their drunken state.

Their conversation eventually came to an end as Esther couldn't handle any more alcohol. She leaned over the table, feeling nauseous, and the man suddenly questioned his actions. What was he doing, confiding in a stranger?

Despite some internal struggle, he couldn't leave her like that. Before leaving, he even draped his coat over her shoulders.

Esther, with her petite frame, nearly disappeared under the man's coat. James almost missed her.

He heard Esther say she was going to Dark Bar and still wasn't back after an hour. Recalling her low alcohol tolerance, he decided to check on her.

Finding her asleep at the table, even the blaring music failing to rouse her, James removed the coat and gently woke her up.

"Whose coat is this?" he questioned, noting the scent of men's cologne lingering on it. He was blinded by anger.

Esther, still groggy from sleep and intoxication, could only mumble incoherently. "I... I think it's my bestie's coat..."

James helped her to her feet and guided her outside, where she protested about the cold pavement.

"It's cold. My butt is freezing!" Esther complained, but James paid no heed. He firmly held her down, demanding answers about the coat.

"Tell me where you got this coat." Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Struggling to recall, Esther placed her hands on his to steady herself. "I really can't remember. I'm sure someone in the bar lent it to me."

"Why are you here?" James sounded angry and was quite scary.

Esther suddenly had a moment of clarity, and she looked into his face and murmured, "Weren't you on a blind date? Why does it matter to you? I thought you didn't want to see me anymore…"

Her voice grew increasingly somber before she turned her face away, not wanting him to witness her pitiful state. She thought to herself, 'Keep it together, Esther! How could you break down after just a few words?'