Athena
"Hello, I am here to deliver this order for room 237," I told the receptionist, showing her the card for our bakery.
"Can I get the name?"
"Uhm..."After quite an amount of struggle, I fetched the paper from my jeans pockets and looked at the info, "Oh, it's for Miss...Cora."
"Give me a second," She checked the entries, "Sorry, but there's no entry in the name of Miss Cora. Room number 237 is booked for Mr Val--"
"Could you please check with the guest if someone else they know has ordered this for them? The location given to us was this one and we received the order around 2.00 PM. The payment has already been made," I requested, "It'd be unfortunate if we can't deliver this order."
"Sure, I can do that for you."
She soon dialled the number and called the individual staying in the room, "Hello, Sir. Sorry to bother you, but we have got a small issue over here. It appears that someone named 'Cora, has placed an order for you," She spoke, "Would mind confirming if you are aware of this order or if not, would you like to receive it?"
The response from the other side seemed positive as the Receptionist put down the telephone and flashed me a smile.
"Well it turns out that Cora's JUST A FRIEND ," She chuckled, "You can take the order there, the room's at the end of the second floor."
Her emphasis on 'Just a friend' made me laugh, the earlier conversation with Remi flashed in front of my eyes for a second.
What is going on with this term? Everyone seems to find it the perfect way to get away from the tag of being a couple and sometimes, partners for benefits.
"Thank you." With that, I walked away and took the lift.
The hotel was indeed fancy because I had seen a fair share of hotels in this town but this one, by far, was the one that impressed me the most. It practically looked like a five-star hotel in a big city like London.
I was actually thankful that I agreed on helping Remi. At least, in this way, I was able to keep things out of my mind for a bit even though the peace was short lasting because the moment I'd step into my apartment, it'll all be the same story of crippling misery and the same old terrific nightmares with memories that always tangled me deep within it.
By keeping myself busy I could actually find relief. It was the only way out for me for now. The more I'd sit alone, my loneliness would bring the worst of darkness to me and I did not wish to drown when I'd an ocean to swim.
The clicking sound of the elevator door opening broke my chain of thoughts.
Releasing a small sigh, I walked out and began searching for the room.
It astonished me, how easily I could zone out. Not that I had never been stuck with this habit, it was always with me but nowadays it worsened.
After walking through the long corridor, I finally found the room I'd been looking for. With profound joy, I rang the doorbell.
It took less time than expected for the door to be opened and similar to my expectation, a lady opened the door.
"Hey, pretty," She flashed me a smile, her breathing heavy, really heavy in a way that wouldn't stop giving me some scandalous assumptions, "Are you here to deliver the cake?"
And of course, how could I miss her messy hair? Although it was not messy in the way it was supposed to be, given the certain chances of an identical encounter according to my imagination.
It wasn't the case that I considered myself the most perspicacious person in this world. But, I saw what I saw and believed what came to my mind first. That was it.
"Yes, mam. I assume you are Miss Cora?"
"Yeah, you got my name right," She responded, her tone was playful but it was seemingly hard for her to keep up with that tone when she was partially panting, "You see, I and my friend over here were having a pillow fight and my bad luck, neither was he interested to play nor did he played well. He doesn't know how to play."
Okay. I was genuinely confused about what meaning I should pick because her state was taking me a whole different route.
"Bad player— A very bad one," She yelled into the room, perhaps trying to let the other individual know about his...failure maybe?
"Okay, mam," Slightly uncomfortable, I handed her the bag, "Here's your order. We have customised it just the way you wanted and the reference picture you sent. I hope you'd like it and order from us again."
I was about to make a move to get out of there but she stopped me, "Wait!"
"Sorry, mam?"
"Do you wanna have a pillow fight?"
What the–
"Sorry?"
"I asked, do you wanna have a pillow fight?" She asked, there was a weird kind of excitement gleaming in her eyes.
"No, mam. I don't think that'd be appro--"
"Wait, have you ever had a pillow fight?"
At this point, I really thought a few nerves in her brain did not work at all.
"No?" I awkwardly responded.
"Then you should join us. You, me and my friend— It'd be fun," She insisted, seeming invested in the idea of convincing me.
"Sorry mam, but I would very much prefer to leave."
"Come on, it'd be fun. Besides, we are celebrating the very very happy four months of--"
"Cora, how many times do I have to tell you to not pull stunts like this?" A familiar voice spoke from inside the room and I heard footsteps getting close.
My heart began to beat rapidly, his scent hit my nose causing my knees to fall weak and finally, the sight of him unfolded as he walked to the doorway, his eyes remained focused on his phone for just a few seconds as he approached before they shot at me.
I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. The world around me was ready to crash against me and wipe off my existence.
What a cruel game fate played on me! I had to praise the one who wrote my destiny.
Our eyes were locked. Mine refused to move away and his, they only looked at me as if it'd been forever since they'd gotten the chance to see my sight.
"Handsome, isn't he?" Cora, judging by the given circumstances, most probably Sebastian's new woman, asked me, "Most of the women often can't take their eyes off of him and here, my guy, can't seem to take his eyes off of you." She glanced at us, a chuckle slipped past her lips.
As bewildering the situation was, it hurt me to think that he'd moved on so easily while I'd suffered all by myself.
The man who'd said that he can't live without me was actually doing more than just simply living without me. He was enjoying his life, having a beautiful woman beside him, celebrations and stuff— Unlike mine, his life was going great.
Of course, how could it not? He ruined mine but allowed none to ruin his.
I finally gathered the strength to tear my gaze away from him but his one didn't budge. He was stilled in his place, nearly frozen as ice, the only thing that seemed responsive that
"Well, he should be focusing on you, shouldn't he?" I forced a smile on my face, pretending that I didn't know my mate at all.
"Not really. Besides, I'd be happy to set him up with someone and get rid of my duty to reduce his loneliness for good," She snickered, "And, don't worry, I'm always in for a threesome."
"Cora, stop it." Sebastian decided to interrupt not wanting his girlfriend to spill more of his secrets than she'd always done.
"Calm down, Sebastian. Not everyone freaks out even over the tiniest little things and this beautiful lady over here, seems like the perfect match for you and I saw the way you looked at her," She cheekily nudged his arm, "She is hot, isn't she?"
"Shut up, Cora. Just shut up for now," This time his voice dropped a few octaves, he sounded pissed and there was some sort of tension that I could get a hint of by the lines of his forehead.
"Why? She's beautiful. Bewilderment spoke through her voice, "You seemed to like her too. And guess what? If I get to play the role of matchmaker, how good would it be!"
"Go inside the room now."
"That's no way to talk to your doc—"
"Go inside, Cora!"
"Fine jackass!" She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him as she walked inside muttering on her own, "What a world, can't even talk to someone as if it's a crime."
As she left, Sebastian's eyes fixated on me, "Athena...it's not how it—"
"Sorry, Sir. But I don't think you owe me any explanation," A smile stretched on my lips when my insides were burning for him, my heart and soul, every cell of my body was in immense agony and it was the pain of seeing him with someone else that engulfed me in a suffocating manner, "Now, if you allow me, I'd like to leave."
I turned on my heels and made a move to walk out.
It was a struggle for me to bear the sight of him. Especially after what I had seen.
"Please, listen to me once," His request made my feet halt and I sucked in a breath, gaining as much control as I could get over myself and putting a boundary around my overflowing emotions.
"My apologies if it hurts your sentiments, but I don't talk to strangers. I hope you and your girlfriend would like the Cake, though. I made it with my own hands," I managed to utter, but I didn't look back because I knew, if I did, I might end up agreeing to his request, "Looking forward to getting more orders from you. We have a couple of good designs for couples' anniversary cakes— Maybe, next time, they'd come to your help."
With that, I walked away.