Days After You's

Chapter 20 - Two Red Faces

More than two weeks passed.

I turned the steering wheel of the car down the connecting road between City A and City D while hearing Stella chattering from the seat next to me nonstop. We are currently on our way to City D to attend the wedding of Stella's cousin, Kat, and he—saking enthusiastically—t can't help but share stories about his past memories with his cousin from the time I just caught gas from home. Just a story that would help this trip so it is not as lonely as it should be.

The reason I chose to drive alone rather than take a plane that was certainly faster and more practical was because I needed a new atmosphere from the urban landscape. The beautiful expanse of nature seen along the way from City A to City D it seems to help me to refresh my mind a little. Fortunately Stella was fine with this, because although she had never traveled overland before she seemed to have fun and did not show symptoms of land sickness from here.

"Kat is very lucky to have a supportive father for all his decisions. Though he had wanted to be made a successor to their family law firm by his father, but once he said he wanted to stop for the sake of being a travel blogger and influencer, his father immediately allowed and released him from that responsibility," Stella, who was wearing a light blue shirt and jeans, spoke while looking out the window.

"Is travel blogger or influencer that good until he's willing to give up his family's law firm for it?" I asked because I was seriously curious. If it were me, I would probably never have considered taking off a more certain job like working at a law firm.

Stella turned towards me, "Of course. He can do what he likes and travel to different parts of the world almost every week rather than having to be stuck in the office from morning to night."

I glanced a moment to the side, "Is working in the office a bad thing?"

"Ah?...Oho! No," Stella flicked her hand repeatedly, "That's not what I mean. Just for someone like Kat, the working environment of such an office is too tight and monotonous."

"Oh..."

"Luiz, I don't mean to offend you, '" Stella smiled, "You always look cool with what you're doing, especially when you get to show up on television because of that."

"Tvs?"

Stella nodded, "Yes, a few days ago there was a show talking about young businessmen on tv and you were one of their lists. They talk a lot about your achievements."

Oh...I don't know about that.

A smile that had just stopped on Stella's face immediately widened as she continued her words again, "The point is that all work is good as long as the person who did it is also happy with what he did right? Luiz looks cool when she works at the company and Kat looks cool when she goes traveling and writes for her magazine or blog. So there's nothing to lose with each other's choices."

I smiled thinly, a little bit like to joke with her, "And you look cool when you cook?"

Stella chuckled, "I hope so."

The rest of the trip Stella and I went through with similar small talk, while occasionally she also played the radio or watched television in it. There was a total of nearly sixteen hours of travel we spent before finally reaching the entrance gate of City D. At that time the sun had long set, but like the urban atmosphere, the traffic of Kota D was increasingly jammed at night. This is even beyond the night atmosphere of City A when I used to go home from work after overtime.

Kota D, which is famous for its beach tourism, looks vibrant with various entertainment centers that are open at night. It's been a long time since I last came here on business, so I almost forgot about the hustle and bustle of this town.

I turned my head as soon as I heard the movement from next to me and found that Stella who had been asleep for the past few hours had now woken up and looked out the window.

"The Ritz Carlton Hotel, right?" My toot. Before leaving Stella said that her cousin had booked several rooms for her invited guests at one of the hotels near the beach.

Stella nodded, "Yes."

"If you're still sleepy, you're sleeping again, the hotel's still a little far away and it's stuck."

Stella shook her head then leaned over and rounded her eyes at me, "No need. I'm fresh again, Luiz. Look." Look."

He didn't have to do that, but I didn't want to comment on it either, so I just answered slowly, "...Okay." Okay."

Thank goodness the trip to the hotel wasn't as long as I expected. Stella and I arrived at one of the hotel— which surprised her— was not so big but the closest of beach locations and other shopping areas. I would probably never book a room here if I looked at it from the building but maybe Stella's cousin would like to book a close one from her wedding location. I gave the car keys to the parking valet, pulled the suitcase and walked into the lobby with Stella who somehow seemed so enthusiastic about something.

"Hopefully Kat did not forget to book a room that faces directly to the beach" said Stella.

Ah, so that's what makes him so enthusiastic. Why am I not surprised?

"I'll book another room if he forgets."

I told the front desk about the room that had been booked on behalf of Katrina Miryam and the woman who was on duty there immediately gave the cardlock for room 458.

"Come on," I told Stella as a bellboy pulled our suitcase into the elevator. The strange thing was that the originally excited Stella was staring straight at the entrance with a blank look that I did not understand. He just snapped when he heard my voice.

"Oh, come on Luiz."

"What's wrong? You see anything?"

Stella shook her head quickly, chuckling, "No Luiz. There's only people dressed weird."

I'm a little suspicious, but I don't want to go after my questions. Stella might have been right to see that. Imagine how strange that person would be if he could make a Stella express herself like that.

Arriving at the room, a good news especially for Stella, her cousin really booked a room overlooking the beach. Stella ran straight to the balcony while I tipped the bellboy. I was not aware of what was the problem with this room until I walked through the living room to the bedroom and saw a large mattress in it.

What do I think, of course, Stella's cousin will book a room with one mattress for a married couple right?

I rubbed my face, "Gosh. I'm so stupid."

Without wasting any time, I immediately called the front desk and asked about another empty room with two beds still available, but nil. There aren't. Everything was filled with other tourists. While I could not book two different rooms, because if one of his relatives knew that we did not sleep in the same room, it would definitely trigger gossip.

Worriedly, I walked towards the balcony. The night wind instantly swept across my face as soon as it passed through the confining frame of the glass door.

"His mother is only one Stella."

Stella blinked for a moment and processed my speech.

"Oh.I just remember that we don't sleep as a bed," he said, leaning on the iron handle of the balcony, the wind blew his long wavy hair into a wild, "Are there no extra beds or other rooms that are empty?"

I shook my head, leaned back and grumbled in my heart at the hotel's unwillingness, "Nothing. It seems like everyone is thinking of staying here tonight."

A crisp laugh rang out from next to me and a soft clap landed on my arm.

"Luiz, I promise I won't move much while sleeping, okay? If I move too much, just wake me up and I'll move to the couch."

"There's no way I'm telling you that, Stella. I'll sleep on the couch."

"Oh no, Luiz. You must be sore from a long trip. Let me just be on the couch."

"It's just me, Stella."

"No, just me, Luiz."

This debate will never be finished if this continues. I sighed and rubbed my nape, "You know how else do we sleep in the bed alone then. You have to be patient with me for this."

As long as Stella and I stay on each other's side of the bed, there shouldn't be any problems.

"OK," Stella nodded, she then turned and pointed forward, "Luiz, look at the light from the island in the middle of the sea. That's what is it?"

My eyes follow the direction that his hands point to, "Oh that's the new resort to be built. I put an investment there."

"really? That's what New Land Resort is, right? I've seen the commercial but I forgot it's in town. It seems like a very big project."

"Yes, the construction is still unfinished but the prospects they present are quite good."

"Well, I hope it works then. Don't let you lose, Luiz."

"Your father invested in it, too, you know."

"Eh dad too?" Stella's eyes are round. She looked cute for a while so I allowed a small smile to cross my mouth.

"Talking about your father, didn't he and your mother come here?"

Not long ago—maybe about two weeks ago—I got the news that the condition of Stella's mother who is often sickly it suddenly decreased again, and, so I naturally thought her parents weren't willing to travel out of town yet.

Stella turned her head, "Oh they're coming, but it'll be tomorrow morning."

My eyebrows shot up, "Don't your mother still have to rest?"

"should. But he also wanted to come here. He said he was bored at home. If it's forbidden, it will only make him more stressed, so there you have it," Stella chuckled, but her eyes dimmed for a moment, "Luiz, what about your work during your time here?"

I didn't fail to realize that Stella was switching the conversation but I also didn't like to force the topic on my opponent especially if it was something sensitive, so I just followed the flow.

"There's no problem. I've already finished some important documents and given some to Rio's care. The rest just check this out by email."

"Oh good."

The wind that was blowing felt increasingly strong. I was worried that Stella would catch a cold if she stayed on the balcony any longer, so I wanted to have her come in when suddenly the sound of laughter and ******* a woman went into my earpiece.

I spontaneously turned to the sound coming from the balcony of the next room which was about ten feet from my room and Stella's. And what I saw there really made me want to wash my eyes many times. A pair of men and women who are now half-unclad are cool bers*mbu on the back of the balcony without a care.

"Ck. What's the point of the room doing it outside?" I grumbled and turned. Beside me, Stella was still watching the couple with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

Tarnished already innocence of his eyes.

I quickly cleared my throat and raised my hand to cover Stella's eyes. I led him back inside and shifted the glass door hard. Hope the voice can reach the couple who clearly do not have the ethics so that they realize that their vulgar behavior has made other guests uncomfortable.

"Eh...Luiz..."

"Let's just say you never saw one before."

"O-okay."

A red tint of coloring from both cheeks to Stella's ears as soon as I lower my hands from her face and if the heat on my face and body is any indication, this is an indication, then I knew he wasn't the only one with that face.

Real nice. When Stella and I had to share a bed tonight, it happened.