𝚃𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙵𝙴𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙷𝙴𝙽 [𝙴𝙽- 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙼]

Chapter 104

We were waiting at the baggage drop-off to get our bags. Once everyone got theirs, they asked me to book a cab to the hotel. I asked for the address and when they gave it to me, I wasn't sure if I should be skeptical that mine is the same.

My college booked a five-star hotel? Plainly impossible. My suspicion was rising through the roof. The only thing holding me down was the official email and my teacher's phone call. It was definitely her voice. I have been listening to it for the past two years.

And my suspicion was kind of confirmed when I saw I had an individual room to myself that too right between the rest of the boys. Heeseung put my bag in the room and gave me a chaste kiss before leaving.

I locked the door after him and examined the room. A huge king-sized bed in the middle of the room, two ivory nightstands on each side, and a writing table in one corner. A giant TV rested on the table in front of the bed. The whole room was in the shade of white and wood. It screamed classic royalty. But at the end of the room, a whole wall was draped with curtains. I furrowed my brows and went to check it. And for a second I almost forgot how to breathe.

There was a huge balcony outside. Big enough for all eight of us to stand in a horizontal line and still have room. I could see the vast ocean beyond the little Mumbai traffic. This was on the top floor. Sixth.

Hotel Taj Mahal Palace.

God, I don't want to die. Please protect all of us. I thought to myself.

I knew I was being unreasonable. But if the only thing you remember about a place is something bad, you can't help it. 

I had a little hope that my parents were right and the address was for some other hotel and not The Taj Hotel. But the way my jaw had touched the ground when we got out of the cab must've been hilarious to everyone.

Jay stuck close to me the whole time before I entered this room. He pointed at all the beautiful chandeliers and glass artwork that was decorated throughout the main lobby. And in turn, I pointed out the traditional art that complimented so well with the modern setup.

I sat down on the cushioned chair on the balcony. From this angle, I could see the Taj Mahal towers beside this building.

I opened my phone and called my mother to tell her that I'd reached. For the most part, she asked me about my flight. I had to cough a little to drive those memories away. My first flight had been particularly adventurous. But when she asked about the hotel and my supposed roommates, I started breaking into a cold sweat.

"Ha mamma, there are three more people with me in the room...yeah all from different states...a picture? A-alright. I'll send it in later. They're all changing right now...yeah...okay bye."

I put the phone down and sighed. What was I supposed to tell her? I opened the email and read it over and over again. This was the official mail. And then I checked the number from which my father had got the call. This was actually my teacher's number. I had it saved even in my phone too. This was all so frustrating. There was a knock on the door. I got up and answered it. Jungwon stood there in his casuals.

"You didn't change yet?" He asked.

"Uh yeah. Just seeing the room." I said.

A huge grin spread on his face. "Yeah? Do you like it?"

"I do." I said with a forced smile.

"Freshen up quickly. We're going downstairs for lunch. My room is right beside you. Come in when you're done." He patted my hair and left.

For the time being, I opened my bag and rummaged through what I had to wear. Jungwon was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. But did I have the same confidence to wear casuals in this place? Because fuck this hotel was much more high-rated than their hotel in Hyderabad.