REFLECTION

A tired girl is looking straight at me. Her eyes now a dull blue but was once bright. There was some hint of tiredness in the depths of her eyes. Her hair was once healthy, but now looks like dried seaweed from lack of bath and a good night’s sleep.

I can’t believe I look like a rag doll after a day misfortunes. Yes you heard me right, the girl looking at me was just me.

In just 24 hours, I lost my job. My rented apartment was taken by my landlady because I couldn’t pay her on time. My car broke in the middle of the traffic. And I only have a 20 dollar bill in my wallet. Sure I can use my credit card, but I can’t afford to loan right now.

I sat at the curb near where my car broke. Heels thrown out of the way, looking at my reflection in the small pool of water forming from where I sat. The rain finally stopped and I got the chance to breathe the after-rain air, clearing my thoughts. And now I can finally tick off my misfortune list.

Job? I can find a new one. I’m strong, confident and intelligent and very hardworking. I was just fired because the boss thinks I’m flirting with her husband, which clearly I did not. I am way prettier than her, so maybe she’s just insecure.

Apartment? I can’t do anything about it. I just need to find a new one, with a landlady much more considerate. I just missed a day and she’s livid in letting me out of the building. She hates me too because she thinks I am flirting with her husband. I know I’m pretty but women suspecting me about adultery is something I hate. I don’t want to do that because I have seen firsthand what it does to a family. As for where I’m staying, my friend has offered me her place.

Car? I called the repair company and they are coming to take the car as soon as they get out of traffic. Now I’m waiting for my best friend to take me out of here.

Money? As soon as my friend comes, we’re going to the nearest bank and withdraw some of my savings.

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I am now sitting in front of my friend in her dining area, her face showing pity.

“Alora, I can’t believe you are so damn unlucky. The fates are against you!” she said, a hint of humor in her voice.

I rolled my eyes and slumped my face in the table.

She laughed, “I just know what you really need.”

I looked up at her in alarm, “No! Not drinks, I can’t afford to have a headache tomorrow. Don’t want to add that in my problem list.”

She chuckled, “I’m not talking about drinks silly.”

“Then what?” I looked at her pointedly.

“Here,” she gave me a brochure. “My coworker offered this to me awhile back.”

I looked at it and my mind blanked out for a minute and then, “Vacation?!”

“Yes darling. You have to relax your mind before going back again to face reality. You need a reset.”

“But Karrie, I can’t afford to lose more money. I need to buy or rent a new place, remember?”

“Silly, you can come live with me for the meantime. I’m begging for some company.”

I laughed. “Okay fine, but you have to let me at least pay you.”

She sighed, “Alright fine, just to make that moral compass of yours happy.”

“Yey!” I squealed. So vacation, I looked down at the brochure and my eyes nearly popped out of my sockets, “50 dollars?!”

“Yep!” she exclaimed. “I could have gone there, but I gathered you needed it more than me.”

I stood up and hugged my dearest friend, “Thank you so much Karrie, for everything.”

She rubbed my back and laughed, “All for you. You have helped me so much before, now I’m just repaying it.”

“Of course I’d help you, you’re my best friend.”

“And that’s why I’m helping you too.”

We both laughed at our silly antics, finally getting back to the most important part of the day, dinner.

I woke up the next day getting excited of my tropical getaway. Karrie helped me book and pack. We slept late due to me fitting and deciding my attire for the 5-day vacation.

“Call me when you get there, okay?” Karrie said, teary-eyed.

I slapped her butt, “What are you crying for? I’m just having a vacation for 5 days! I’ll be back in no time.”

She shrugged, “Just happy.”

I sighed, “I’ll call you. Bye!”

“Bye!”

The travel to an island somewhere in the Caribbean was uneventful. Sure the view and the air and the wind are mesmerizing and relaxing as it is, but my mind is preoccupied on the things I’d do once I get back to the city.

After a 20-hour journey, I finally arrived. It was a good thing that the resort where I booked that cheap getaway arranged for my transportation also.

When I got to the resort, I was very much surprised. The feel of it was so relaxing, lights swaying to and fro from the strong winds. People were dining on the other side, candles burning, and a romantic atmosphere.

I walked to the front desk, where a pretty brunette was smiling and talking to a tall, broad man. When the man walked out, I showed her the screenshot of my booking to her. She smiled and gave me a golden key. “Enjoy your stay Ma’am!”

I beamed at her and looked at the key. There were numbers inscribed, 404.

I asked her, “Is this my room number?”

“Yes,” she said and gestured towards the golden elevator, beside the silver one. “That elevator leads you straight to your penthouse suite room.”

I looked at her, my jaw probably hitting the floor, my mind reeling from the shock. Penthouse?! Good gracious.

I walked to the elevator, noticing the lack of buttons but a single keyhole. I inserted the key and it fits! The elevator slid to open and I went inside smiling from ear to ear. Finally, my luck is getting better.

When the elevator opened with a ding, I was face to face with the broad back man I saw downstairs.

“This is my room!” we both said in unison.

I stormed inside, not bothering if I hit the man in the process. I deposited my bags on the couch and whirled to look at him again.

“I’m warning you, if you don’t go out, I’m calling security.”

“Sorry to tell you, bossy lady, I am not going anywhere. I was shown that this is my room.”

“Show me your key!”

He took out his key and sure it is, he also has the golden key with the number 404 inscribed on it.

“Okay this is a misunderstanding,” I said. “Maybe the girl in the front desk gave one of us the wrong key.”

The man strode inside towards the telephone and dialed the front desk number. H set it on loudspeaker so that I can hear it too.

“Hello, Lumiere Hotel and Resort Front Desk. What can I do?”

“HI, I think there’s some mistake when you gave us the key. We have the same room but we don’t know each other.” I spoke immediately which earned a glare from the handsome man. I rolled my eyes at him.

“Oh the penthouse suite? There is no mistake. You both just booked the romantic getaway package. If you both read the terms and conditions on the back of the brochure, it says clearly there that if you book for only one person, the hotel would be inclined to let one person in.”

“But that’s against human rights!”

“I’m sorry. You can check the terms and conditions you signed during the booking. Now, if there’s nothing else, have fun on your stay!”

And the line went dead. We both took out our phones and read the terms and conditions. Sure enough, there was a clause there that I find it hard to believe that I missed. I looked at the man standing stoically in front of me.

He sighed. “Do you want to leave? As much as I hate this, I got no choice. I really need this vacation.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I much need this too. Would you mind if I ask you to transfer rooms?”

We called the front desk again and was soon to be dejected as once again, it wouldn’t be possible. She said that if anyone transfers, he/she should pay triple the price of the room as they said they prioritized our stay here rather than the ones paying for the right price of the suite.

“I don’t have the money to pay for that. Do you?” I said to him.

He shook his head, “I guess we need to learn how to cohabitate.”

I shrugged. “But we should set house rules. No touching of each other and things. No minding of each other’s businesses.”

“No problem with that. But there’s only one bed here.”

I looked at the king-sized bed. It is huge enough for the both of us and six more to fit in and sleep. I eyed it menacingly before providing a solution, “We both paid for the room so we get to have equal chance of lying on that magnificent bed. I say we put some barrier in the middle.”

He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair, making it disheveled looking. I gulped. That was one sexy motion.

“Fine.”

We arranged the bed. In my plans, I could have slept naked. But with someone in the room, a stranger at that, I doubt I can do that. I hope this guy is not a maniac or something.

We both lied down finally after settling down, the silence deafening around us.

“What’s your name?” he said breaking the silence.

“Why should you know?” I snapped.

“Nothing in particular. Just that if there’s something I wanted to impose, I can call you by name.”

I sighed, realizing he is right. If we have to live together, albeit not so close, maybe the naming is important. “Alora.”

“Xian.” (pronounced as see-yan)

“Goodnight Alora.”

I smiled, “Goodnight too, Xian.”

The first day living together was uneventful. He was out when I woke up. I spent my day lying in the sand under the shade of a huge umbrella. Waiters serving me tropical juice, sipping while inhaling the fresh air. It is really good to just think about nothing and spend my time with nature.

I hopped on different shops and tried different foods. Included in the package was an eat all you can where you can. Honestly, it was still the best vacation I had, even if I live with someone in the suite. I danced the night away.

When I got back in the suite, he was sleeping soundly. I tiptoed to the bathroom and washed myself before changing to my sleeping attire.

The next day, I went swimming. Scuba diving was a no go. Even if I told them I am a trained diver, their policy strictly states that scuba diving should go in pairs. I just have to be strong and ask him out to dive tomorrow.

I went, kayaking, jet skiing and all the water activities they offer for single person. At night, I decided to try out their bar, even if probably alcohol would incapacitate me. I am never good in holding in my alcohol.

I sat and ordered a margarita. Never knew what that tasted but immediately said yes on whatever the bartender suggested.

I accepted the drink and immediately scrunched my face because of the taste.

“First time?” a husky voice said beside me.

“Xian?”

“Alora,” he said raising his glass to me. I raised mine to him in answer.

“I’m really not good with alcohol. But for once, I wanted to try getting drunk.”

“Alone?” he said, one brow raised at me.

My cheeks flushed, maybe because of the alcohol.

“That’s not good. Good thing I’m here,” he winked as he drank once more from his glass.

I swallowed. The way he drinks gets me hot all over. This is really from the alcohol.

I stood up, rather wobbly. He looked at me in wonder.

I giggled and said, “Dance?”

He scooped my glass with his and together we danced our way into the night.

I groaned, feeling sore all over, the sunlight peeking from the closed windows hurting my eyes. When my eyes adjusted, I finally saw an arm draped on my stomach – a muscular, yummy arm.

My eyes widened in realization as I looked at myself and I found I am naked. I pushed the arm away and glared at the man sleeping soundly beside me.

He woke with a start and as soon as he saw me, he backed away from the bed, arms raised in surrender.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

I glared at him, “You don’t know?”

“Yes. The last one I remembered was we were dancing.”

“Me too. Oh god, I am not really good with alcohol.”

He sighed. “I’m really sorry.”

I raised my hand to stop him. “I know. Can we just forget about it?”

He nodded, raking once more his fingers through his hair. I looked away. This man is pure sin alright.

“What can I do to make it up to you?”

“I said – “ I stopped abruptly, remembering my itinerary for today.

I looked back at him, his brows raised in question.

“Would you go scuba diving with me?”

He smiled, “My pleasure.”

We went out and I continued my second day of water activities, now with a partner. I don’t know what got into me but with him, I feel so happy and safe.

Maybe in all my life I was craving for someone to take care of me and show me affection, just like what is Xian doing to me.

Our pictures speak volumes of our deepening bond with each other. I know it’s rather quick but I can’t deny that I liked being with him. On our fourth night, we made love once again, now with no alcohol in our system but with pure desire.

The next day we sat along the coast sipping some juice while savoring the strong wind coming from the sea.

“Alora,” he said breathlessly.

I looked at him.

“I’m not sure if it’s right to say this, but this vacation turned out really good with you.”

I smiled and nodded at him. “Likewise, handsome.” And I kissed him and we made out at the beach.

He pulled away, “We can’t do it in here.”

“Why not?” I asked him with a challenge.

He chuckled, “I don’t want anybody seeing you naked.”

My eyes turned to huge circles, “Oh, jealous, aren’t we?”

He rubbed his face on my neck, sending me tingling all over.

He smiled, “I’ll go get something to eat. Be right back.”

I nodded and once again looked at my reflection in the clear glass of water I was holding.

What looked back at me was a radiant and happy woman. Her eyes shining with happiness, hair looking soft as it was before. She was getting a little bit plumper, more on the healthy side. There was a glow in her features that speaks volume of how her heart has lightened, not plagued by problems anymore.

Sure this is some one time affair, but she wished that it would last. So that the girl now facing her would forever live and share happiness to the world.