Boy. 17. Lost.
Aaron is at his last year in high school when he sees his reflection in the mirror and cries. His whole life is a mess, with him always fighting with his thoughts. Depression has always been in his bloodstream, with dark clouds circl...
Their flight lands an hour after that raffle draw, and Mr. Betton leads them to the airport terminal. They are all going in a line just as Shae goes past Aaron, their shoulders colliding. In every way possible, he is avoiding Aaron's eye contact while still being in the mood for holidays. Aaron realizes; senses the volcano that erupted inside Shae when he heard about Irina and Aaron's partnership. The lava flows through Shae's body and eventually will surge out of his mouth and spill into Aaron's body, turning him and his heart into stone in due course.
They are a few meters away from the hotel when Neha looks back at Ashley and screams, causing others to jump on their seats.
'' You btch. You took FOUR rooms in FOUR SEASONS HOTEL? Do you realize it costs almost $475 per night for EACH room?''.
Ashley lowers her butterfly sunglasses and slowly removes her earbuds. She blinks like she just woke up from a good dream. She stretches her arm, and says, '' Chillzzz. My Uncle too was a mayor, in San Francisco. After his retirement he bought 66% share of the hotel. The rest is history''. She tucks his earbuds deeps into her ears and sleeps, again; making the whole car, including the driver, stare in awe.
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As they enter the hotel , they step into utopia. Everything is gold: the sound of luggage trolleys, the chitchat in the lobby, the grand million-dollar chandelier above them, the shine of the pine-coated walls and the 'executive' sound of the oxford shoes in the hall as business travelers walk around. While everyone is busy dropping their jaws, Ashley heads to the front desk with the inspector to deal with the formalities.
They soon reach the 5th floor as their luggage is being carried. Aaron swallows heavily as they reach their designated rooms. Shae and Zack take 504, Ashley and Neha take 505 while Mr. Betton settles in 506. Aaron is standing still, facing the number plate that says 507, and he looks at that '7' as if he's pleading for luck. Finally, Irina ahems from behind, causing Aaron to flinch and move away. As she opens the door, they enter together, and the first horrifying thing Aaron sees is the bed.
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Aarons heart beats furious than ever but he manages to stay calm and composed. He rubs his face with a napkin and keeps the luggage beside the bed. Without saying a word , Irina keeps hers and goes to the bathroom as Aaron stares at her.
He ghastly whispers to himself, ''Do I have to share the bathroom, too?'' .
Within a minute, Neha barges into the room , without knocking, then bites her tongue as an apology.
She shouts so Irina could also hear from the bathroom, '' Guys. Rendezvous at Shae's room. Now''.
Neha smiles at Aaron but it does not go reciprocated, as Aaron narrows his eyes, thinking why she called Shae's name only.
Irina returns from her bathroom, combing and runs her fingers through her hair just as Aaron keeps staring at them. When she catches him, she raises her head as a '...what?' , as Aaron looks away, blushing.
They go into Shae's room together as both Ashley and Zack wink at them, reddening Aaron's cheeks further.
''Okay so guys...'' Ashley gets up from the bed to make an announcement just as Shae interrupts.
'' Guys...you continue...I'll be around with Aaron Reeves''. The whole room looks at Shae, partly annoyed, mostly horrified. Shae wraps an arm around Aaron and leads him out of the room. Aaron's red cheeks disappear, his face now burning ; the soothing corridor music indifferent to his mood. Before entering the lift, Aaron steps aside from Shae.
''Shae....I'm sorry I didn't know they'd pick me with Irina I really didn't---'' .
''Chillll, will you? I already said that I trust you, and I meant it. Besides, I picked the room with sofas for you guys so I'm free of all worries. I didn't call you for that''. Saying that, Shae puts his arm around Aaron again, and as he feels Aaron's shoulders get lighter, pulls him closer.
The elevator door opens to the exterior of the hotel, and even though the view is breath-taking, Aaron holds his breath, not letting his guard down for anything Shae might say.
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Shae sits, brushing his long hair back and sniffing. He takes the menu and orders the first drink that he sees, while Aaron simply orders a Blue Ocean without looking at the menu. By Shae's behavior, it seemed that he wanted to cut all the crap and get into the real thing.
He leans forward, hands crossed on the table.
'' So Aaron..'' , he sniffs, '' I am a man of straight-cut words, and I felt you should know that''.
Aaron opens the napkin and lays it on his lap. He pulls his chair forward and listens.
'' Listen....about the thing that happened at the airport, I think it's a bit personal for you, but you know...this gang is like a family and we don't keep secrets from family.''
Where Shae couldn't see, Aaron clenches the napkin tightly, so tightly that his hand trembles and almost hits the table.
The drinks arrive after a minute and he continues.
''So...I have seen you panic and act awkward but never like this'' he says before sipping his passion fruit, '' That girl was just too hot to be your ex and too old to be your girlfriend. Who was she?''
He looks deep into his Blue Ocean, and then his eyes match Shae's.
Shae is sipping her passion fruit slow, respecting Aaron's silence and his need to getting things together, and Aaron admires it.
'' Her name is Marzia. She is...was... my cousin'', Aaron says.
''Whoa wait.. how can someone just un-cousin themselves?'', Shae grins as his lips touch the glass, and with the realization of it, chokes some passion fruit into Aaron's hoodie.
