The One

Hi Bye Filtiarn

For the umpteenth time, the hotel phone rang loudly, breaking the morning silence. Groggy and irritated, Karol picked up the phone. "Hello?"

A cheerful voice burst through the line. "Wake up, sleepyhead! Breakfast is waiting!"

Karol's annoyance peaked. "No thanks, goodnight." She yanked the phone's cable from the socket and settled back into her pillow.

Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang incessantly, jolting her from a moment's peace. She groaned, pulling the covers over her head. "Urghh...let me sleep!"

"Don't worry, I got it." Sharon's voice came from the door, shaking her head, as she opened it to reveal their parents standing on the threshold.

"Karol, why are you still asleep? We need to eat breakfast before we head out!" William said, plopping down onto the bed, oblivious to her curled-up form.

Feeling like an overcooked shrimp, Karol ignored him, snuggling deeper into the blankets.

Recognising her need for sleep, Sharon interjected quickly. "Mummy, Daddy, just leave her alone. She only slept for about four hours after working on her school assignment."

"I thought she finished everything before our trip?" William asked, confusion crossing his face.

"She did," Sharon explained, frustration creeping into her tone. "But the system crashed as she uploaded it, deleting everything. She had to fight with it for ages until it finally went through. She's been exhausted for two days!"

William looked pityingly at Karol, shaking his head in sympathy. "Let her rest today; we'll manage without her. Besides, I've heard that Filtiarn is more about relaxing than sightseeing. This place is basically about finding peace."

"Told ya, Daddy!" Sharon exclaimed, applying her lipstick. "I think we might be heading back to Theodulf earlier than we thought."

She paused, her eyes lighting up. "And we can go shopping! Right, Mummy?" Anna nodded enthusiastically, clearly loving the idea, while Karol's muffled protests echoed from under the blankets.

"God! Keep your voice down! I'm trying to get some sleep here!"

Karol's grumpy outburst pierced through the morning air, but it was too late—Sharon had already launched into her high-pitched happiness, which filled the room like an overzealous air horn.

"Okay, let's go! I'm done with my make-up!"

"Thank Heavens! Go and have fun. BYE!" she managed to plop her head from the cocoon of blankets, giving a small wave that was more of a half-hearted flap. But not before she added with a mock-serious tone, "Close the curtains!"

"Okay, okay! Geez, you're such a monster before your tea," Sharon huffed, rolling her eyes while tsk-ing in jest. She dutifully scurried over to close the curtains, as her sister settled back into her duvet fortress.

"Urghh, finally some peace..." she mumbled, her voice trailing off as she drifted into a blissful slumber.

Meanwhile, the trio bounced towards the breakfast section like over-caffeinated kangaroos, their stomachs growling with the promise of food while discussing the day's plans.

"Breakfast first, then we'll go and look around at the local attractions, shops, and—oh! Souvenirs too!" Sharon rattled out excitedly as they entered the breakfast hall, her enthusiasm noticeable even amongst the stacks of croissants.

A few hours—and a considerable amount of breakfast—later, the trio found themselves bored to their bones, staring at the serene yet painfully uneventful landscape of Filtiarn.

"Seriously, I could watch paint dry back in the city, and it would be more thrilling than this," Karol remarked dryly, eyeing the endless fields with their monotonous charm. "Who knew rich folks preferred staring at fields to, like, films or something?"

"True to its name, Filtiarn is a haven for those wishing to escape the concrete jungle," William deadpanned, his expression fighting off a chuckle. "Where they can buy land and build their dreams—or their very own woodsy napping zone!"

By the time the trio returned to the hotel for dinner, the lack of action outside felt more like a collective snooze-fest.

"I'm back!" Sharon chirped as she stepped into the dimly lit room, only to be met with an eerie silence that suggested no one else was having nearly as much fun. Cursing under her breath, she switched on the lights and spotted her sister still cocooned in comforter snugness.

"The hell, Karol... Karol! Wake up! It's 7 pm! Stop sleeping! Wake up, you sleepyhead!" Sharon shook her sister gently, the gentle nudging quickly escalating into an enthusiastic shake before she cheekily smacked her head, earning a groan in return.

In a disoriented mumble, Karol finally stirred, blinking at her sister. "I'm awake! Give me a sec."

"Did you eat your brunch?" Sharon pressed, a hint of urgency creeping into her voice.

"No."

"Then your late lunch?"

"No."

"Did you even wake up at all to eat?"

"Actually... No."

"So you've been asleep this whole time?!"

"Yes!"

With a yawn that echoed through the room, she untangled herself, her hair slipping into a haphazard ponytail as she stared down at her toes with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What time is it now?"

Her question baffled Sharon. She stared at her sister, hardly believing her eyes. "It's 7.10 pm! You've slept for 12 hours without food! Are you hibernating or something?!"

"Hmm, sorry! Didn't note I was out that long. I think my body just needed its beauty sleep—I went full hibernation mode!" she replied with a chuckle, attempting to downplay the absurdity of her extended nap, which earned her a stern glare from Sharon.

"Don't mess with me right now. Get up and go shower," Sharon commanded, dramatically handing over a towel as she shuffled lazily towards the bathroom.

"Be quick, I need to shower too; after all, we need to head out for our late dinner. You know what, I'll join you in the shower!"

Both sisters emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed like true tourists, ready to sample a meal praised by locals.

As they delved into their dinner, William casually dropped, "Oh yes! Tomorrow at 2 pm, we'll check out and head to Theodulf City!"

"Hold on! I thought we were meant to be here for 3 days?" Karol blinked, still chewing her food as if she didn't know that the time hadn't suddenly stopped in the land of tranquillity.

"We've already roamed and explored this place, and let's face it—there's not a whole lot to see. I mean, this place is really for healing!"

"Yes, the healing... and for old folks rich enough to live out their golden years in blissful solitude!" she replied with a smirk, waving her fork around like a seasoned critic.

"Ohhh, okay then! Let's head out tomorrow," William smiled, ready to survive another day in the great boredom of Filtiarn.