The drive up to the resort was challenging. William had to drive up a mountain on a windy and narrow road. Halfway there, he almost felt like he was scammed by his editor and felt that his editor was probably sending him off to die. But when he actually reached the resort, the view was all worth it.
Nestled among the lush green hills, the resort was a hidden oasis of tranquillity and luxury. The only sounds were the gentle breeze, the chirping of birds, and the occasional splash of water from a lake nearby that overlooked a valley. There are wooden cabins around which blend in with the natural scenery, creating a rustic charm.
He checked in at the main cabin. The staff were very friendly and helpful. In fact, the person in charge of the front desk was overly friendly towards him that it made him feel quite uncomfortable. He was taken to one of the cabins. Each cabin catered to two guests. There are two rooms for each cabin. William’s room number was 301. His next door neighbour was number 303. He wasn’t sure if the room next to his was occupied or not. He hardly saw anyone at the resort other than the staff even when he got here in the afternoon. He remembered asking the staff how many guests were there at the moment in the resort and he was informed that there should only be five guests including him. This resort is quite deserted.
That’s better. Perhaps he can concentrate more on his writing due to this seclusion.
The room of his cabin was a spacious and elegant space, decorated with natural materials and earthy tones. The king-sized bed was covered with soft pillows and a fluffy duvet, inviting guests to relax and sleep. The wooden floor was adorned with a plush rug, adding a touch of warmth and comfort. The room also featured a desk, a sofa, a coffee table, and a flat-screen TV, providing entertainment and convenience. The bathroom was a modern and luxurious affair, with a large bathtub, a rain shower, and a double sink. The room also had large windows where guests could enjoy the fresh air and the scenic views of the lake overlooking the green valley. The fireplace crackled in the room, creating a warm and cosy ambiance. William can’t help but think that this place must be very lively the next few months during the summer season. Right now, it is still quite chilly, especially since this place was at the top of a mountain and deep in a forest.
William fished out his handphone out of his pocket to contact Miss Gretchen and tell her that he had reached the resort only to find that there was no signal.
Great, he thought to himself sarcastically.
But it’s better that way as well. Or else, his ex, Nick, would definitely send him tons of messages again. At some point, he no longer read them and sent them to the archive folder. He had moved from his previous apartment to a new one, changed his number, and blocked most people connected to Nick. But Nick somehow always finds ways to get his number again and know where he lives. He even waited in front of his publishing company just to test his luck of meeting William. By this point, William no longer bothers to change to a new number again or move again. He wished that one day, Nick would just get over him. Of course there are times when he got down to the lobby of his apartment building and found Nick waiting for him. But he ignored him and Nick didn’t try to touch him as well since the last time he did so, he was punched in the face real hard by William. But it’s annoying that he’s always there. He was like a mosquito that lingers around but you can’t swat it dead.
Feeling inspired, William set down his work station at the desk by the bed. His mind always went back to the one night stand he had. That innocent-looking tall boy who turned into a beast in bed really fascinated him. Everytime he thinks of him, his ideas flow better. Deep down, William had to admit that he felt a strong attraction and connection to that boy. It was something he never felt with anyone before. He felt a little regretful that they didn’t exchange any contact information. But his fear of feeling attached to someone overwhelmed this regret. So he should not continue to bother himself with such regret.
The day got darker and William's stomach started to growl. He knew that it's time for him to take a break. Bang! There was a sound coming from the outside of his cabin. It wasn’t loud enough to be worrying but it sounds like it really hurts as it was accompanied by someone muttering “Ouch~~!” in a very pitiful tone. William quickly went to open the door of his cabin to see his neighbour was crouching on the ground. It appears that he had hit head on something. William looked up. What did he hit? The ceiling? The lamp? The partition?
He suppressed the laughter that was about to come out of his mouth by asking a question worriedly; “Are you okay?”
The guy turned around as he answered; “Y-yeah.” But both of them were stunned for a few seconds when they faced each other. “Huh? Mr. Victim?” The other guy looked as surprised as William. It was such an unexpected encounter!
“Mr. Rap-....” William was about to blurt out ‘rapist’ but stopped in his tracks. “It’s you!” He acknowledged.
“You’re in the room next to mine?” The tall guy asked.
“You’re staying in number 303?” William answered him with a question instead.
The guy had a wide smile on his face as he answered; “Yes! Wow! We must be fated…”
The smile struck straight through William’s heart. It was so beautiful that it could break so many hearts. “Well, what a coincidence,” William agreed with him as he looked away awkwardly. He didn’t notice it when the beautiful smile on the face of the other party turned into a cunning one.
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Next update: 2023.08.25
