Just a fresh stop

Chapter 05

Stella

Del Valle.

That is the first word I saw as we entered the city. Rhea told us that, there are plenty of places we can explore if we choose to go here. We arrived here at exactly six in the morning, we traveled for almost ten hours from, we made a lot of stops over that’s why.

“Let’s check in first after that I’ll make a delivery for us. I’m starving.” I do not know if it’s the season or what. The cool breeze of the air is certainly present. Damn, I should’ve brought my jacket.

Oh-midnight Hotel

“I think this is the Hotel?” Tristan made his way to park our car and shit, I told you it seems like a mini frozen place! I felt cold!

“You didn’t bring Jacket?” that’s Tristan, he’s at my right side while we are walking towards the entrance of the Hotel.

“I forgot, I didn’t know that I can literally felt cold in here.” I responded quickly.

“Oh, I’m sorry Stell. I forgot to check the season, my bad.” Rhea just continuously surfing her net maybe to find some places to travel with.

“Love, I’ll just get my extra jacket in our car, we don’t know maybe after ten minutes she’ll probably be frozen ice.” Rhea laughed at her boyfriend’s remark.

“That’s too harsh love, Stell is a survivor, she can definitely overcome this.”

Knowing the situation, I also smiled a little. “Let’s go.” she doesn’t seem to notice us, she keeps on staring at her phone.  “I’ll chat you the room number love.” Tristan looked at me and nodded, wait… Me? But… He patted Rhea’s head afterwards.

“Alright.” he then turned his back at us. That’s odd, why did he look at me? Or did I misinterpret it? Maybe, he’s not directly looking at me? Yes, that’s the truth, my vision just got weird, right?

“Are you fine with this? You’ll be alone, I’ll try to talk to Tr--.” I immediately cut her off. “I’m fine, you guys can share the room together. Don’t worry about me.”

“Fine, just beep me up okay? Here’s your key.” she handled me the key of my room, just a few blocks from them. “I already ordered food, just wait for it and sleep for a while. I’ll wake you up, maybe later at 3? Let’s have a dip at their pool. Sounds good?” I smiled at her, “Sure.” 

After I unlocked our door, I put down my baggage near the couch. It seems simple, just a typical hotel room. The only difference is that, when you looked down at the window you’ll probably see the pool area. I turned on the heater, it was my fault for not bringing a jacket but what can I do? I was used to it, I rarely felt cold even if it’s rainy season, but the fees I mean the breeze is totally different here. I wonder why.

 I was supposed to jump on my bed when I heard a knock. Maybe the room boy? I instantly opened it, but it wasn’t the room boy, it was Tristan holding a blue jacket in his right hand. “Here, I didn’t wash that for two day but please bear with that for a while.” he gave it right away after he finished talking.  

“Oh, thank you so much! Sorry, I made you run without notice.”  I bowed my head and apologize. He just simply tapped my back, “It’s fine, I don’t want to see you freezing in ice.” his dimple showed the moment he started laughing. I made a half-smile. “But seriously, thank you. It means a lot.”

“So, let’s see each other later? I will be looking forward to seeing you on your bikini.”

He jokingly grinned and instantly turned his back at me. Okay? That’s a joke right? But why I feel… Ah, this is nothing! It is normal Stella, don’t be confused. Because of that, I cannot find my will to sleep, that thought keeps on haunting me. I know that it sounds like a joke but why I do I feel like it’s not? Or he’s just teasing me? But why would he tease me? Ah! This is pissing me off, let’s take a look what had happened earlier, he looked at me before patting Rhea’s head who seems to not giving us attention for she is busy searching and now this? As much as possible, I don’t want to involve myself in their relationship, but why do I feel like I was really included in the very first place? I felt asleep with that thought.

“Hey, come on! It’s not cold anymore, let’s have fun here for a while!” I heard Rhea’s voice around my door, she’s probably waiting for me. “Hey! Are you going to let yourself sleep forever? As in forever and ever? I’ll wait here until you’re out, faster!” the knocks in my door repeatedly occur. I sighed. What a great way to wake me up!

“I am coming!” I shouted, enough for her to hear. “I am not going unless you’re out.” she’s really persistent, I started to stand. I still feel dizzy.  “I told you, I am coming I’ll just change first.” I answered honestly.

“Wear the bikini I told you yesterday, it fits you well!” she suggested.  

Of course, I know that too and obviously I always felt proud towards my body, I acknowledge it because there’s nothing to be ashamed of, really. That’s the thing about us, women, that should be kept in touch. Yes, we’re not the same at all, some have pale white skin and some is born with a dark color, some are thin and others are somehow chubby, but after all we are all woman. Body differences is not a competition, it does not matter how thin or fat you are, what matters most is how you accept yourself and how you felt proud toward it.

Body shaming should not have any space in your mind, accept who you truly are and feel proud afterwards, that’s how you should be and that’s how you should show the world, how beautiful you can be.

“See?! If fits you, damn you’re a hottie!” she pulled the strokes of my hair, maybe to tease me. “Whatever you say.”  I just shrugged my shoulder, I scanned the whole area, Why is Tristan nowhere to be found? And, what the heck? Why I am even thinking about him? Get a grip of yourself Stella, you’re already crossing some boundaries in here!

“You’re searching for some— O My God! I know what you’re thinking.” she looks at me with disbelief in her eyes… Don’t tell m--.  “Your eyes looks like you’re looking for some abs out there!” she jokingly touched my boob, I was startled. 

“I never saw this side of yours, this is the new you Stella!” as always, her chinky eyes got bigger, kindly imagine this. A little cute eyes slowly widening and that’s her. But at the second thought, I was thankful that she doesn’t seem to realize that I was looking for her boyfriend. I should let him out of my mind immediately, this is not healthy for me!

 “You’re talking nonsense Rhea, I was just looking for…” I never had the chance to continue to what I am saying because of a sudden voice behind me.

“Love, look I bought three shakes for us. This is for you, of course the mango favor because I know that this is your favorite.” the moist on the glass of the shake is visible, she looked at her and get it after.

“Thank you, Love, you’re the best.” she sipped a little and nodded her head as if it passed her taste. “How was it?” he asked. “It’s sweet! The blending goes smoothly, a thumbs up for me.” she made a thumbs up sign.

After that, Tristan looked at me. Why? And why do I felt a sudden disturbance? I mean, I felt something strange about me, was it nervousness? “Here’s yours, I do not know your preferred flavor, Vanilla, is that okay with you?” he smiled widely as he asked me, I nodded instantly. “I-its fine.”

“Let’s go Stell, the pool is waiting for us.” she extended her arms.

“Let’s go.” before we go she waved her hands to Tristan, and he just smiled, showing his perfect set of teeth. I came to think of it, is he a good kisser?

Stella, I told you to stop thinking about it, why are you so stubborn? That’s what my minds say but my actions is far different, I am really out of my mind, my brain seems not functioning at all, or is it my heart? Damn.

“So, how’s the Tinder app? Did you find someone in there?”

My feet are already at the pool, I was playing with the water. In the morning, you can literally feel the cold breeze, however if it’s in the afternoon the heat is also can be felt on your skin. “I did not install it.” I shook my head.

“I told you it’s legit, some hot oppa’s like Park Seo Joon is in there.”

My eyes widen, “You’re mentioning my husband again, don’t you ever lay a finger on him!” I rolled my eyes, well PSJ is a South Korean actor, you know the drop-dead gorgeous set of man in the world? He’s one of those.

“How I wished I could literally hug him in this part.” I touched her waist, down to h—“You’re molesting me!” I laughed, I didn’t mean it!

“You’re overreacting, that’s teasing or what you call seducing, you’re not that innocent aren’t you? Among the two of us, you’re the first one to expe— she covered my mouth,“Stop, what you are about to say.” she giggled.

“But, seriously Stell. Don’t you need someone? Well, except for me of course. You know that I am always at your side.”

Do I really need someone? I am comfortable being alone though.

“You know, we’re already at our twenty’s and it is okay to let yourself love someone, I do understand the part of your mother’s case but trust me, having a partner will somehow make you feel at ease, like Tristan.” Tristan again.

“What if I get hurt?” she flipped my forehead. “Ya! That’s pretty normal, when you love someone you’ll probably get hurt in any way, just a coping up mechanism will do. After the break-up? Glow yourself up, make him regret and then done!”

Is it really that easy? But why do people feel a sudden death inside them when they let go of someone?

 “You talk as if you never cried Rhea, remember J— she cut me off, again.

“Yes, I wouldn’t deny that one! But that’s already in the past, we’re done. The thing about the past is that, you can never get the chance to do it again no matter how you want it to happen, what you can do is to remember it, that once in your life, you’ve experienced it and that’s what important. Moving on, is indeed a long process, there are times you need to stop, pause a little. There are times, you doubt yourself and asked yourself over and over again. You’ll probably get tired and you’ll probably lose yourself for a while but at the end of the day, it was yourself whom you can trust onto.” she’s talking while her hands are swaying back and forth, left and right that seems like discussing an issue.

Well, is love really that hard? I mean, how does love makes people happy today and cry tomorrow?