Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

86. Travel - Worn

The journey came to an end as we finally arrived at the station. While we walked along the bustling platform, with people hurrying past us, I turned to Sarah, trying to fill the silence between us.

"Did you finish a series during the trip?" I asked, glancing at her as she kept her eyes ahead.

With a confident nod, she replied, "Yeah, I finished Doctor Slump. It's really good. You should watch it sometime."

Her voice held a note of enthusiasm, and as she started talking about the show, explaining its quirks and humor, I found myself picking up my pace. Not that I wasn't interested, but maybe I was trying to avoid getting too deep into the conversation. Sarah didn't seem to notice as she continued talking, her excitement palpable.

We made our way through the station, and soon enough, we spotted Krystal waiting for us. The moment she saw us, she waved with a smile.

Krystal dropped us off at the hotel, exchanging a few pleasantries. Before she left, she promised, "I'll catch up with you later. There's something I need to take care of first."

As we checked into the hotel, I turned to Sarah. "Do you want to come with us to the conference building? Might be a good distraction," I offered, hoping she might want to tag along.

But she shook her head. "No, I'm good. I'd rather stay here," she said, her tone flat but not unkind.

I nodded, though part of me felt a little disappointed. Still, I couldn't force her. As we left for the conference, a sense of guilt started to creep in. Leaving Sarah alone in an unfamiliar hotel, in a city she didn't know, didn't sit right with me. Even though she seemed indifferent, I couldn't shake off the worry. During the meeting, I kept losing focus, my mind wandering back to the thought of her sitting alone in the hotel room.

The conference dragged on, with Nitya and I both taking part, but my heart wasn't in it. I kept checking my watch, waiting for it to be over. The second the meeting ended, I hurried back to the hotel, my thoughts consumed with whether Sarah was okay.

When I entered the room, I found her fast asleep, curled up under the covers. Her face was peaceful, like all the stress and frustration had melted away, leaving her looking almost childlike in her slumber. Seeing her like that eased the tension I'd been carrying.

Before I could sit down and unwind, my phone buzzed. It was Nitya calling.

"Hey, are you coming for the presentation?" she asked.

I hesitated, "Is it mandatory? I'm really tired and just want to rest."

There was a pause on the other end, before she answered, understanding clear in her voice. "No, it's not compulsory. Take a break. I'll fill you in on the highlights later."

"Thanks, Nitya," I said, relieved.

After the long day, I dropped my coat, stripped off my shirt, and headed straight for the shower. The hot water felt like a soothing balm, washing away the fatigue from both the journey and the conference. Once I finished, I changed into the most comfortable clothes I had, collapsed onto the couch, and sleep claimed me faster than I expected.

When I finally stirred, the room was dark, except for the faint glow from the TV. Sarah was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, watching something with the volume turned down so low that it was barely audible. The air felt warmer, and I noticed the AC was off. Groggily rubbing my eyes, I walked over to her.

"Can you even hear anything at that volume?" I asked, still half-asleep.

She turned her head slightly, giving me a small smile. "Oh, you're awake. I didn't want to disturb you," she said, reaching for the remote and turning up the volume to a more normal level. "You're sensitive to noise. I was afraid you'd wake up if it was too loud."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "You turned off the AC too?" I asked, noticing she was slightly sweaty. "Why? Because I can't sleep with it on? You're sweating."

"You were shivering earlier," she said simply, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.

I bit my lip, a little surprised she had noticed. My gaze shifted from her to the TV. "What are you watching now? Another series?"

"Nope," she replied, her eyes still fixed on the screen. "Horror movie. Polaroid."

I chuckled softly, feeling more awake now. "A horror movie, huh?"

I got up and walked to the mini-fridge, grabbing some snacks and drinks. Returning to the bed, I placed everything down and sat beside her. "Let's watch it together," I said, offering her some snacks.

She didn't respond, but her slight nod and the way she reached for the chips was enough.