III. Looking For A Place To Stay

Ava immediately panicked the moment she heard what the lady in the reception just said. She could not believe what is happening, she's confused and started overthinking what might happen to her. How can she easily find another place to stay, knowing that she's not familiar with the whole place.

She started talking again to the receptionist. "This can't be happening, I am sure that I was able to book a room here. Please double-check it in your system, please."

But the receptionist told her already that she has nothing else to do as they are fully booked and there is no room available for her. "I already did, Madame. But it seems that your booking didn't push through, I am very sorry."

"No, don't be sorry. I need a place to stay, please help me find a place to stay."

"I'm very sorry too, but we can't do anything about that."

"How about you try to book me into another lodging house. I am sure there's a place you know where I can stay, an alternative, perhaps?" Ava desperately pleaded for the receptionist to help her but like what she said earlier, she can no longer help her as the lodging house is packed with tourists and other guests need assistance too.

She began to worry if there is still a place she could go to, she's new here in fact it's her first day, and all she wanted to do is to take a rest.

Ava was about to lose hope of finding a place where she can stay. She was thinking of asking again the receptionist to help her but worries that she plead would just fall on deaf ears.

She began to panic, she can think of any other way to get through this until she hears someone talk to her. "Hi,"

She was stunned for a moment when she recognizes who is it. "You?"

It was him, the man he met at the airport.

The Luggage man.

"Yeah, it's me, what a small world. Who would've thought that of all places, we'll be seeing each other here? I didn't know that this is also where you'll be staying."

Ava just smiles at him, then she remembers her problem and started to worry about what will happen to her now that she has no place to stay.

"You seemed worried, is there a problem? Maybe I can help." his eyes are full of sincerity as he speaks to her and asks her what's her problem.

She wanted to tell him everything but Ava hesitated as she remembers what happened in the airport earlier today. The way she treated him and the things that she said to him.

She suddenly felt ashamed, thinking about what he might be thinking about her after their encounter at the airport.

But he was all smiles as if he's there to help her and that made her feel better.

"C-can you help me ask her again if she can find me a room to stay here? I'm desperate and I don't know what to do anymore."

And so he did as he was told, the man approached the receptionist and began talking to her. After a few minutes, he came back shaking his head, and from then on, Ava realizes that she is doomed.

There's no place for her to stay tonight. "The receptionist said that they are fully booked already. She even showed me their guest lists for the following days and saw it too."

Ava can't help but be sad about what's happening to her, she thought that if only Edward's here, she never have to worry.

Unlike her, Edward knows exactly what to do in situations like this. He would have resolved her problem in no time, but he's not here.

She's all alone.

"Do you know any place here where I can go to? I have no idea what to do or where to go to since this trip was planned and booked by my husband- by another person for me."

He then smiled at her in assurance as he nods in agreement with what she said. "I can show you around, we can look at other lodging houses nearby, in fact, we can even search around here in Tromso just so we can find you a place to stay." And then he looked at what he was carrying. "But first, we have to settle those. We can't go around Tromso carrying all of your stuff, you know." he even pointed at her luggage and her hand-carry backpack.

Ava was a little hesitant about the help he is extending, she doesn't want to be too obvious of her doubts but it seems as if he notices it.

That's when he speaks again and assured her that all he wanted to do was to help her. "Miss, you can trust me. I can assure you that, I will never take advantage of you or even exploit you if that's what you're thinking. Honestly, I still feel sorry about what happened at the airport this morning."

Ava listens as he assures him that he's there to help her, no more and no less.

" And besides, I don't wanna leave a fellow countryman in a foreign place like this."

Ava falls into a deep silence after hearing his explanation and when he felt that she's still not convinced, he talks to her again and this time with his sweetest tone of voice. "Look, I mean no harm, I just wanted to help you."

Then she nods as she was convinced of everything he said. "Thank you." She smiles as she thanks him.

"Awesome, but you carry too much so if you want, we can leave your stuff in my room. Just so we can safe keep them."

"There is no need for that. You can just tell me where to go and I can take it from here. I don't wanna bother you or your errands for today."

"Don't worry, I am all free today. So you don't have to worry about bothering me and besides, I also wanted to make sure you'll be able to find a good place to stay."

"But I don-" Ava was not able to finish her sentence, he cuts her off as he told her that he's coming with her. "I insist, let us put those stuff of yours to my room so we can start our lodging-house haunting."

Eventually, he was able to convince her to leave her stuff in his room.

"You can rest for a bit, we'll leave in fifteen minutes. I bet you haven't taken any rest coming from the airport this morning and you must've been exhausted with what's happening to you so I suggest you rest for a while."

Ava shook her head as he enters the room. She immediately saw that there are two single beds in the room, that confused her because she has seen him all alone at the airport this morning. She was also sure that the luggage that was sitting at the corner is for one person only, so why there are two beds in his room?

"I'm alone if you're thinking about why I have two beds that were a mistake. The management must have forgotten that I will come alone."

"Huh?" Ava was suddenly dumbfounded when he read what's on her mind.

"It's okay, you can ask. I don't mind at all." he even said as he settled her things on the floor beside the other bed.

He then went to the mini-refrigerator that was sitting at the very corner of the room to get her something to drink.

"Rest for a while. We'll leave after fifteen minutes."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. I am sure you are still tired of what's been happening to you. Just relax, we'll find you a place to stay, I promise you that."

"T-thank you."

"You're welcome."

He was sitting at the other bed, fixing his stuff when Ava began to introduce herself.

"It's Savana," she said as she drinks the water that he gave her.

"Huh?"

"Savana Martinez, t-that's my name."

"Ah," then he extended his hands for a handshake while smiling. "Nice to meet you Savana, I'm Jet, Jet Castillo."

"Hi Jet ... Castillo."

"Hi," Jet continued what he's doing, then started talking again telling her his address in Manila. "I'm from Manila, Sta. Ana near the church first corner on the right, the blue gate near the barangay hall."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am giving you my address in Manila. Just so you know where to find me after all of this or when you feel like I took advantage of you."

Ava started laughing at Jet. She became comfortable with him maybe because he's the only one she can trust right now.

Ava and Jet decided to leave after fifteen minutes, They went to all the lodging-houses nearby and visited them one by one to see if there are any vacant rooms where she can stay. But just like the first one, all of them are fully booked already.

After about three hours of searching, they decided to take a break. They are both exhausted and that is why they decided to take some time to rest and find something to eat too.

Ava on the other hand could not help but be discouraged by what happened and as soon as they got seated, Jet noticed that.

He held her hand and patted it. "Don't worry, we'll find someplace where you can stay."

He looked up at the sky and saw that it was almost dark even if it's still five o'clock in the afternoon. He looked at her again as he said to her... "It will be harder for us when it gets dark. Also, it looks like there are no vacancies these days. But don't worry, we'll find your place soon."

"Thank you, Jet." Ava gave him a nod.

"Don't mention it, we will not stop until we find you a place to stay, okay?"

She smiled at him, his positivity and kindness seem to have taken away all her worries. And if it wasn't for him, she might be out there until now. In despair and cold outside. "If you want and this is just a suggestion. You can stay in my room tonight."

She suddenly looked at him in shock, as if something came up to her making her feel uncomfortable with him.

He then noticed the look in her eyes as he immediately explained to her what he's trying to say. "Wait, don't get me wrong. I was just thinking that we might not see any vacant rooms today and I don't want you to sleep on the sidewalk or in the lobby of the lodging house waiting for someone to leave. It is also cold outside especially at night so I am offering my room."

Jet made his point and he made her trust him enough to doubt his intention of helping her. Ava knows that he's been exhausted too, she thought of it carefully, thinking where would she stay if she declines his offer. Given the circumstances, she agrees to it.

"All right, b-but only for tonight. Tomorrow, I will look for a place to stay."

"We will look for it tom-" he interrupted him giving him no time to finish what he was saying.

"No, I don't want to bother you anymore. You have done me a tremendous favor today, and I don't want to bother you anymore."

"But I was-"

"Don't worry, I might find a place to stay tomorrow. You have been a great help and I appreciate that."

"All right, I won't force you anymore. But just in case you can't find any, my room is still open."

"T-thank you."

After eating, they went around Tromso one more time, hoping that they would find at least one vacant room she could stay in but there was still no vacancy. If it is not full, the others are not for rent.

Eventually, she had no other choice but to accept Jet's offer. Ava and Jet went back to the lodging house where he is staying and decided to spend the night with him... in separate beds of course.

Jet has been an angel to her throughout the day and she felt relief that she accepted his offer. She pitied herself already thinking that she's in a foreign country with no one else besides her while having so much trouble.

She asks herself how is she going to be able to get through this? She then thought about Edward again, in times like this he's the one she can turn to.

The thought of him made her missed him more and the more she thinks of him, Ava's tears started falling too. She feels helpless and the idea that she can no longer have Edward beside her makes her heartbreak in pieces.

She spent about twenty minutes in the bathroom, her eyes still slightly red and puffy from crying when she came out but he had no intention of showing it to Jet.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

She answers and tries her best to sound okay. "Y-yes, I'm fine. I just felt tired from earlier."

"You can rest now if you want, we can just order a room service when you got hungry."

"O-okay."

Jet went straight to the bathroom while Ava took advantage of it to look around the room again. Jet has fixed his stuff already as his clothes were neatly folded in the cabinet. She also saw a picture frame that sits on the side table beside his bed. She stared at it intently, it was Jet's picture with a beautiful woman.

They looked happy, she is also very beautiful, she looks like an angel and her eyes suit her perfectly.

After staring at the picture he went back to her bed and decided to lie down.

Ava was already asleep when Jet came out of the bathroom, he immediately saw that Ava seemed to be sleeping so he tried his best to never make a sound.

He was pleased and thankful that she accepted his help though he, himself doesn't know where his urge to heling her is coming from. All he knows is that the moment he saw her this morning at the airport, there is something in her that drove him in.

She needed help and he will be there to give it to her.

Jet can read through Ava's eyes the sadness and pain she's feeling. Just like what he's been through.

After that faithful day.

He thought that they both needed help and so far that is all he knows.

After seeing Ava sleeping soundly, he turned his gaze to the picture at his side table. How he wishes he's in a different situation right now.

The picture reminded him of why he's in Tromso, he was reminded of the reason why he came here and that is because of her.

Because of Lilly.