Detour

6: Stranger's Apologies

I woke up late, so late, and hungry. Man, I forgot to eat last night. As soon as I finished cleaning and dressing myself up with a yellow top and jeans, I hurriedly locked my door and made my way to the elevator. Still got my hair wet, I brushed it using my fingers and before I push the button down to the lobby, a guy came in.

"Hey." He said as he pushed the button where he's heading to. "Lobby?" He asked but I didn't say a thing. Sorry, not a fan of random talk with strangers. He's also going to there or he works here in the elevator?

I put on my earphones and watched how the elevator close its doors. It moved and we were left seeing our reflections in front of us. He looks familiar until last night's preview came flashing in a split of second.

Ah, the guy from last night.

It took me two minutes to tear my eyes from him. It is a little awkward and I kinda wanna beat myself for that as I can also sense he's looking back at me.

Not gonna lie, it's not creepy. He seems hot.

Jess, are you drunk? Are you seriously complementing the guy who thought you're one of the thieves in Amsterdam?

"So it's you." Not looking at his way, I replied.

"Yeah, I'm kinda hoping you won't remember." The elevator stopped, and opened.

I went out and he went out too.

I don't want to be rude even if majority of my mind is eager to pummel him right in this corner of the elevator and prove him nobody called me a thief in this lifetime.

"Have you eaten yet?" He walk beside me. I saw his hand behind his head, scratching, a little nervous and hesitant to speak to a thief.

Now I called myself a thief. Applause.

I forced to keep my composure cool and my face unsurprised of what did he just asked after what happened last night. "No. Not yet." And I thank God the snakes in my stomach didn't react when I said those words. "Why'd you ask?" My voice came flat, maintaining my eyes to one direction.

And to all things better to say, why ask a stranger if she hadn't eaten yet? I don't like how easy can a stranger ask someone like that. It's a little creepy, he could've just said "Sorry about last night, I was drunk", which is obvious, or a "you haven't called your lawyer last night, right?", which is probably connected to what happened last night.

He looked a bit surprised of my last harsh reply, and just shrug. "Well, I just thought I might at least have a conversation with you—"

"And why is that?" I looked at him plainly. I'm not being rude! Trust me! But I can't be nice to strangers who assumed that I'm a thief, can I? Because that's really unfair.

"Nothing. I'm just...being friendly." He followed me to a dining hall, "And I'm apologizing, maybe we can sort it out through breakfast or something." Now he's being cool. He put both of his hands in his pockets. I never noticed he wears a bracelet until he combed his hair and put his hand back inside his pocket.

Is it me drooling or he's too cool for a stranger?

God, why am I staring at him?

"Do you always say that to strangers?" I stopped walking.

"No. Look," He came up to face me, "I thought maybe I can apologize by buying you something, a breakfast or—God, I don't know why I said those things to you last night. I felt guilty I called you something when I haven't seen your luggage by your side. I thought you're breaking in because the last time someone came inside room nineteen wasn't you—and maybe I apologize for being rude last night. I wasn't that drunk—but this is embarassing." He covered his face with one hand after explaining without having a pause.

And that made me laugh hard. I don't know, it's kinda cute to some stranger like him confessing and getting himself embarassed by his own reasons.

We're attracting people now so I calmed myself down. I just don't want to embarrassed myself too, you know. "I'm glad you remembered everything."

He laughed too, taking off his hands away from his face. "I do, I really thought you're some kind of..., because the last woman who came right from your room had dark hair and—shit. Is she your mother?"

I just shrug. "Are you a stalker?"

"No, no." He defended. "Sorry for not noticing some things, like your luggage, or your hair, and I blurted words just like that." He rolled his eyes, "And I asked you earlier if you have already eaten yet we don't even know each other. I guess that creeps you out." He scratched the back of his neck.

I smiled a bit, "It kinda creeps me out, yeah." I shrug, "But no worries, I'm not calling my lawyer." I chuckled.

He laughed, "Well, thank God for that." He cleared his throat, "So umm, I just want you to know my intentions are all clear. I never meant what I said and if you want, I can prove it over a..." He glanced at his phone, "lunch. If you're  not convinced enough, you can come and attack me in room eighteen." He had this boyish grin all over his face.

"Okay. Got it, room eighteen it is." I smiled. "I'm..." Instead of telling him I need to go and get myself a breakfast now because I'm starving but at the same time I don't want to be rude, I introduce myself instead. This is weird. "Jess. I'm Jess. Nice to meet you." I extended my arm.

He kinda look a little surprised with my first move.

Face slap. Way to go Jess. You look stunned and crazy at the same time. I mean, hey, are you drooling right now?

I forced to plaster a smile when in my mind, I'm banging my head in the wall right now. This is so weird of me, introducing myself first to a stranger like I was strucked love at first fucking sight.

But nevertheless, he took my hand and shake it, smiling like he's the gorgeous meal I could eat and damn I'm so hungry right now.

"Cole."