Exes' Baggage And More

Chapter Thirty Five

Andrew doesn't know how he ended up in Macy's apartment, sitting at the table in her kitchen eating the black bean noodles and dumplings he bought while the owner of the apartment was changing clothes.

He only remembers a few words from their conversation a few minutes ago in the elevator.

Among them are dinner, soju and an apartment. He does not know the correlation of all those words from their entire conversation. Honestly, Andrew wasn't even hungry anymore.

"You haven't finished it yet," said Macy, who suddenly appeared with a bag to make it bigger. She put it on the chair next to Andrew then went to the refrigerator and took out two bottles of soju.

Andrew glanced at the bag and realized that it was the clothes that the woman wore yesterday. Then he turned to Macy who took two small glasses. The woman looks fresh. Maybe because of her wet hair and casual clothes. But he still saw traces of fatigue under her eyes – behind her glasses.

He then put away the bowl filled with jjajangmyeon. "Looks like the hunger just disappeared."

Macy put two bottles of soju and two glasses on the table. She looked at the man confusedly but didn't say anything. She then took a seat in the chair opposite to Andrew and took a bottle of soju, shook it before opening the lid.

Andrew was still watching Macy who poured soju into two glasses and one of them was thrust at him. Macy then downed it in one gulp and filled her glass again.

"I remembered something," Macy said, followed by another gulp.

Andrew glanced at the glass of soju that he had not touched, while the woman had already filled her third glass. "About what?"

Macy then looked at him closely. "Your novel launch event. Hotel or café? Most of the VIP writers of St. Haven chose a café or a small auditorium at the university – because not all bookstores could hold such an event. They reasoned to be closer to the reader. But given your situation, I don't think that's possible, right? So, hotels?"

Andrew leaned back. "The event is not so luxurious. It's just a book launch. I don't think the café will be a problem. Or maybe St. Havens?"

Macy was silent. She gulped down her fourth glass of soju. "St. Haven? We've never done that before. But I think that's a good idea. I'll talk to the board of directors."

Andrew watched Macy who poured soju again. For the fifth glass. He thought that the woman couldn't drink at a time like this. But he remembered the previous incident when he tried to ban her. He doesn't want to make the same mistake again.

"Macy, I think you've had enough to drink."

Macy mumbled softly. "I had enough? It's not even a bottle yet, Andrew. And you don't touch your glass." Then she gulped down her sixth glass.

One bottle is up.

"Is it because of your ex-husband?"

Macy, who opened the second bottle, looked at him. "What?"

"The reason you are drinking now, especially tomorrow morning you still have to work. Is it because your ex-husband came?"

Macy snorted as she poured soju into her empty glass. "He's one of them. But I don't think that's the biggest reason," she then took a gulp of soju. "Perhaps it's because of the reason you said earlier."

Andrew's brow furrowed. The thing he said? About what? There were many things they talked about all this time and not all of them were remembered by him.

"The thing I said? About what?"

Macy took a deep breath and looked at the man closely. "About sexual frustration?"

"Eh?"

Macy again drank the soju out of her glass. Now the second bottle of soju is only half full. "You said that before, didn't you? When I ask about how a writer does research. I admit it."

Andrew didn't say anything. Heck, somehow, he had to comment on that. He remembers about their conversation last week. But it was only a few days apart and the woman admitted that she was in that situation?

"And... you're trying to..."

Macy shrugged her shoulders. "Better with alcohol?"

Andrew sighed. He never would have thought that they would have a conversation quite vulgar like this. Oh, he didn't even think that the woman could openly talk about things like this with him.

"When last time you had sex, Andrew?"

"What?!" he shouted loudly.

Macy looked calm and also unimpressed by his reaction to her question. Maybe the woman was a little drunk. "You heard it, Andrew."

"B-but..."

"You said about your sexuality. But I'm sure you've done it, haven't you? So..."

Andrew gave up. Macy will probably keep asking. And with her current half-drunk state, she will be even more stubborn. Maybe tomorrow morning, the editor will either regret or forget what happened tonight.

"Fifteen years ago."

"And since then, you've never..."

Andrew took the glass of soju in front of him and gulped it down. Oh, fuck it! "Maybe a couple of blows or something. But never sex."

"With your girlfriend?"

"With whoever I met in the club."

This time it was the woman who frowned. "No girlfriend."

Andrew shook his head. He took a deep breath and looked at Macy who seemed to still look curious. Hell, why did the woman ask about his sex life and why did he answer it so easily?

"And you are currently in Manila. Are you..."

He smiled faintly. "With all the obsessive fans following, can I go to the club easily?"

"Oh..."

"But I already said it, didn't I? Sex is not a necessity for me."

Macy poured soju into Andrew's and her own empty glasses. "Last question. Why?"

"Uhm?"

"Asexual. There must be something going on, right? Or something happened. I mean..."

"Because someone died."

Macy becomes silent. She looked at Andrew intently. The man took his glass and drank his soju slowly. Andrew then looked at her closely. "And I can't find a replacement."

"Sorry."

Shit, maybe Andrew should go home now before he opens all his past stories to the woman. He really can't understand how he can answer all the questions asked by Macy so easily and with honesty. Even when David asked, he mostly ignored him.

"Macy..."

But Macy then stood up and moved in front of him. He looked up slightly to look at the woman then he also stood up. He shifted his chair to make more room.

Andrew looked at Macy awkwardly. Because the woman just stared at him intently without saying anything. And he took advantage of the quiet situation to pay closer attention to Macy.

How that woman looks so charming with her black hair, and those brown doll eyes that are so soothing.

He usually never shows interest in anyone. But Macy is so different. Since the very first time they met.

"Andrew, would you kiss me?"

*****