A NIGHT TOGETHER

        It was almost dark when Ethan returned, looking defeated. Faith had obediently waited for him by the car. She stood up when she saw him coming, her face curious. Ethan came back sighed and leaned on the car. 

       "What's the problem?" 

       "I'm afraid, we will have to spend the night here." 

      "What?!" Faith exclaimed, her eyes wide. 

Ethan glanced at her.  "Why do you sound so surprised?" 

        "Because I'm surprised. Why are we spending the night here?" 

       "Because I really want us to spend a night together cuddling each other," Ethan said sarcastically. 

      Faith spanked his shoulder.  "What are you talking about right now?" 

        Ethan held his shoulder, yelped and shot her a death look.  "Is it that you don't understand sarcasm or you chose to ignore it?" 

        "Whatever! I'm not spending the night here." 

   Ethan straightened up.  "Good riddance. You can go on your own. But I heard that those pecan groves are not exactly safe at night. People encounter either snakes, other wild animals or even ghosts…"

       "Stop! Stop talking about ghosts!" 

   He peered at her.  "Are you afraid of ghosts?" 

  She glanced towards the entrance and back at him. Her face was already flushed.  "Have you booked the rooms?" 

     He smirked.  "That's exactly what I'm talking about. Let's go book those rooms together." He grabbed her hand and started going back towards the building. 

      She sighed.  "Why do we have to spend a night here, really?" 

        "Because our car broke down and we can't get help around here unless we get to town and we can't move on those dangerous roads." 

      She sighed.  "They should have said they wanted customers to rent their rooms, can't they call a mechanic to come down here?"

        "Their mechanic is out of town, they don't patronize others,  so they can't call them on phone to come over." 

     Faith looked away. Ethan still grabbed her hand until they went into the building. They went to the counter, a plump man with a ruddy face and bald head smiled at them from the counter as they approached. 

       "Good day my friend, we want rooms," Ethan said. 

     "Alright," the man said and looked at the desktop.  "You and your wife are so lucky. Our rooms are finished but we have only one for the honeymoon couple and judging from the look of things you are newly married, even if you have gone for your honeymoon, you can go for a second one here..." 

        "Stop talking!" they chorused. 

    The man stopped for a while, stared at them and smiled.  "It's even more beautiful that you can think of one thing at the same time and say it together." His face fell and he looked away from them, staring at something imaginary. "While others get true love, all I get is unrequited love." He looked at them.  "I have been lonely for a long time." He lowered his voice.  "I don't usually say this to people, but because you appeal to me." He gestured to their locked fingers. "Oh, look at the way you are even holding hands. I feel like crying already." He fanned his face with his hands. 

         "Are you done rattling?" Ethan asked. 

     The man stared at him. "Rattling?" 

   Faith stepped in. "I'm sorry, but what he was trying to say is that we need the room urgently." 

       "Your wife seems to be a peaceful person." 

       "We are not married," Faith blurted. 

    The man stared at them in bewilderment and stared at their hands that were clasps together.  "Oh, so sorry. You should have said that from the onset. But, you are still lucky since you are together. We have one room available." 

        "No, you don't get it, we are not together, we need different rooms," Faith said. 

        "In that case, I don't know what else to do, all our rooms are filled up and I don't usually give the honeymoon room out to ordinary people, I give it to couples who are in love or on honeymoon. But because you appealed to me, I wanted to give it to you but since you are not interested, I'll advise you to look somewhere else. Next couple please!"

      Faith and Ethan looked back, there was no one standing behind them. They wondered who the next couple he was calling was. 

        "We will take the room," Ethan said. 

    Faith looked sharply at him.  "What?!" 

         "What do you rather we do then? We can't go out of here. The other guesthouses are not around here." 

          "Exactly," the ruddy face man said. 

           "No one's talking to you," Ethan snapped.

            "Alright," said the man. 

    Ethan looked back at Faith.  "Would you rather we sleep in the car or this shop or start walking to town this night? Can you not be uptight for once. Nothing's gonna happen," he whispered. 

       "Why did you bring me here at first?" she whispered. 

         "Don't start with the blame game right now, don't be ungrateful." 

          "I'm not being ungrateful, I'm just frustrated." 

            "Why?" 

            "If something happens between us again, I won't be able to forgive myself." 

       Ethan huffed.  "Don't flatter yourself, nothing is gonna happen." 

        "Get the room then." 

     They faced the ruddy face man who was staring at them. 

        "We would get the room," Ethan said and stretched out his hand. 

         "What is your name?" 

          "Ethan Floyd." He dropped his debit card n the counter.

          "Ethan... Floyd," the man repeated, keying it into the system. After some minutes, he looked up cheerfully at them.  "Your room is all set now, please go that way." He pointed to a door by the left.  "Someone will attend to you there." He handed them a card and a bunch of keys. 

         "Alright," Ethan grabbed Faith's hand again as they went towards the door. 

       The man looked at their hands.  "Why are they always holding hands then?" 

      Ethan and Faith went in through the door and found themselves in a hallway. It was antique but clean and had a lavender smell in the air. The wallpapers were quite old and were almost peeling, the rugs, although brushed looked stained, and the lights were not dimmed but bright lights from mini chandeliers. 

     A middle-aged woman in a maiden gown and apron came over to them, a broad smile on her face.  "Welcome, how may I help you?" 

     "We were asked to come here," Ethan said and handed her the card. 

      "Please, follow me," the woman said and gestured with her hand for them to follow her. 

     They followed her down the hallway to the end. She stopped at the last room which had a big heart plaque on it. 

      "This is our special room. Enjoy your honeymoon," she said and opened the room for them to go in. 

     Faith and Ethan exchanged glances. 

      "I don't feel right about this," Faith said exhaling. 

     Ethan tightened his grip on her hand and they went into the room. The woman gently closed the door. They stood there looking at the decor of the room. The room was dimly lit with antique wallpapers, an enormous chandelier at the centre of the ceiling and a well-polished hardwood floor with rose petals scattered around, an antique table of two set with lit candles, drinks, foods, tea service of antique kettles, mugs and jugs, a large window adorned with festive drapes billowing in the wind overlooked the city, different portraits and drawings of lovers hung all over the walls, a four-poster bed with transparent curtains, well dressed and rose petals arranged in the shape of a heart, stood in the middle of the room, the air smelled of lilies. 

      Antique dresser, mirror, sofas and nightstands also adorned the room. They stood there dumbfounded. The door opened and the staff that brought them in poked in her head, that broad smile still on her face. 

        "The food and drinks are on the house, it's our little gift to you. Congratulations." 

         "You don't get it, we..." Faith started to say but the woman had already left the room and gently close the door.

         "What is wrong with these people?" Faith asked exasperated and looked at Ethan. 

       He wore that mischievous smirk of his, looking at her. 

       She scoffed.  "What is wrong with this one?"

        "Fate always has a way of making us stick together."

      She broke away from his grip and took a few steps away from him.  "What fate? Don't come close to me if you are having dirty thoughts in your head." 

     He smiled and moved close to her and she moved away quickly. 

       "Hey! What are you doing? What do you want from me?" 

      "I want you to be my wife for tonight." 

       "What? Somebody help! I told these people it was a bad idea putting us in the same room." 

        "Wifey, why are you doing this to your husband?" 

        "Oh, my God! What do you mean wifey?!" 

   Faith ran towards the bed and ran around, Ethan pursued her, threatening to climb the bed and catch her, asking her to be his wife for the night. The door opened again and they stopped and looked at the door. The staff came in again, smiling at them.

      "I see you are already getting down to it. Sorry for the disturbance, I promise this would be the last time. Do you want some music? We forgot to take out the player from the closet, do well to use it if you want. Congratulations once again…"

       "We are not marri…!" Faith started to yell but Ethan lunged at her and grabbed her.  "Hey!" she yelled. But they fell on the bed. 

       The staff smiled and threw her hands in the air, cheering them, then she left the room and closed the door gently. 

      Dear readers, I hope you are enjoying the story so far? If yes, please leave me a five-star review, I will appreciate it and feel motivated. 

      Pardon my writing style and character attitude. I'm a K-drama fan and K-drama has taken over me hence my style. 

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    Thank you for choosing to read My Room Hate!