What?

**"WHAT?"** I almost choked on the sip of coffee I had just taken, the hot liquid burning my throat as it shot down my windpipe. I coughed, my eyes watering, trying to regain my composure as the Liya looked over with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked again, her hand reaching out to gently pat my back as I coughed into my fist.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I managed to choke out, setting the coffee down on the table. "But what's your deal?" I repeated, my voice hoarse from the near choking incident. "A hotel?"

Liya's cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, and she nodded shyly. "We are in a secret relationship," she murmured, her eyes darting around the café as if looking for prying eyes. "We can't be seen in public, can we?"

"But Hotel?" I whispered, the words barely making it past my lips as I leaned closer to Liya. "Do you know what you're saying?"