LATRICE's P.O.V.
HE is used to my 'recollections' and did not bother to interrupt my thoughts until we reached the hotel.
"Back to earth, my dear! We're here," he amusingly uttered and gleefully smiled at me.
I laughed at myself and smiled at him in return.
He collected our luggage and passed the car keys to the valet. I was trying to reach for my bag from him yet he obligingly volunteered to carry it all. Undeniably, he is a perfect gentleman.
Once we got into the hotel, I was once again captivated with the picturesque view of the lobby. I could smell the soothingly waft of woods on the air.
The grandfather clock spoke of the time, 9:30PM.
We took the stairs in going up to our room. I wouldn't mind climbing up long stairs as stylish as this one. I also threw a glance on the paintings that were hanging on the wall. They were all exquisite.
"Here we are," he declared as he stopped on a door of one of the suites.
"Calming!" I commented once I saw the interior view of the room.
"I don't feel like going to school tomorrow," I said for a laugh and threw myself on one of the two mattresses covered with white smooth bedding.
"Now is not the right time to be financially incapacitated."
I decided to occupy the bed nearer to the French windows, so he was occupying the one nearer to the door. He switched on the television and was choosing a program when I requested for Star Movies. Sweet flicks are always viewed on the network every Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 PM. He knew very well that I always go for romantic comedies. My ever-patient best friend conceded.
A moment later, not a fan of my choice of genre, Manuel went into the bathroom and took a shower.
He had finished taking a shower when the movie ended, so I took my turn to freshen up. I stayed under the cold sprinkle of the shower for few minutes. When I got back to the bedroom, Manuel was already tucked in his bed and has tuned in to a documentary program. That was his type of programs. I joined him in watching but decided to turn to bed quarter to midnight. I am being selfish tonight for I wan to delight in the softness of the bed and the warmth of the comforter.
"Good night, Manuel."
"Are you feeling sleepy now?"
"I want to cherish the moment with my bed that's why."
"And remember that I have to go to work tomorrow. We cannot afford to be financially incapacitated in times like this, Manuel." I teased.
I was ready for my slumber when he won over my attention in watching one more movie. He never stopped convincing me until I gave in to his request.
I was into the storyline when I had to voice out a judgment on a certain scene when I realized that he had been inaudible for quite some time. I turned my gaze on the corner of his bed only to find out that he was already asleep.
I wanted to wake him up and yell at him, yet I became conscious that he only asked me to watch that movie so that I would not go to sleep before he could. I had figured it out. He doesn't like being slept on; he always wanted to sleep ahead of anybody.
Well I also put into consideration the thought that he drove for four hours early this morning. Tonight, he is excused.
In all fairness, the movie was actually nice. It was about two sisters who treated each other as rivals since they were kids. The feud between them worsened when they happened to fall for the same guy. The older sister insisted that she was the original girlfriend, while the younger one claimed that the guy loved her more. In the end, the guy left both of them, and this situation made them held onto each other. They got closer with each other until both of them finally found their own Mr. Right.
Once more, I threw a glance on him and turned off the lights.
__*__*__*__*__*__*__
AS I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw him standing in front of the mirror while he was fixing his polo shirt.
The nerve, he had already taken a bath!
"You slept on me!"
Those were the first words I roared. I only heard his chuckle; he never responded. After a while he went and sat on my bedside.
"Rise up sleepyhead! It's already 7:30. Now you have to hurry for us not to be ----"
I cut him from there for I was astounded of the time he mentioned.
"WHAT TIME IS IT???" I asked horrifyingly.
"You heard me right. And I strongly believe that no matter how much you speed up, you could never make it to school until 8:30. Just imagine the distance to your school from here on your mighty bed. Well unless you would want to come into your school late. Wow! That's for the record!"
"So? Get up and dress up! Don't worry. I am willing to drop you off to school as soon as you're set." He mockingly continued.
"My! Thank you for waking me up, Manuel. You're not only considerate; you could also be the most thoughtful friend in the whole wide wild world." I said sarcastically.
"You are most welcome, Latrice."
He mumbled as he was looking at me with unexplainable delightfulness in his eyes. That was how his eyes would usually look like whenever something happened on his favor. And those were the exact eyes, the pair of eyes that was undeniably his, which I would gladly remove behind his eyelids in times similar to this one.
I got out from the bed, sat on the sofa and demanded him my bag. He went to the dresser and got my bag from one of the closets. As soon as he had handed it to me, I brought out my phone and sent a message to the principal that I could not make it to school today.
I accounted my absence to flu. White lie!
The Principal advised me to rest so that I could get well the soonest possible time.
"Happy Holiday, Latrice!"
I am no longer pissed. Ironically, I found myself smiling about the fact that 'Manuels' and I would be together the whole day. The moment I turned my gaze on him, we both giggled. Some could find us strange, but we would always find humor in almost everything that happens
"Thank you for giving me the freedom to sleep until 7:30. You're the best!"
I winked at him, and headed to the bathroom.
While I was on the shower, he was speaking to me. So we were like yelling to each other.
"Latrice! Where are we going to have breakfast?"
"The Pancake House. I want the nearest one to the school." I teased.
"Somebody from your school might see you there." I sensed in his voice that he was confused.
"Ha-ha! They won't. Believe me. Besides if they'd see me, I would tell them that The Pancake House menu makes me feel better."
"Silly! It's your call."
__*__*__*__*__*__*__
"HURRY up! It's almost 9AM. Latrice! It's no longer breakfast."
I stayed inside the bathroom for almost an hour then dried up my hair using the blower mounted in the dresser. Finally, I am set!
"I am sorry if I had kept you waiting."
"It's nothing. It's worth the wait. You'll treat me."
"Loan me some money so I could treat you."
I dragged him out of the suite and headed to the stairs. The valet was already informed of our leaving, so Manuel's car, Kia Sportage, was already parked in front of the hotel.
