OBLIVIOUS HEARTS

6: Familiar strangers.

AUTHOR POV

Have you ever wondered how specific situations would turn out if we hadn't known of them?

And even if we knew, we had the ability to excused our minds from it and just stayed peaceful in the midst of so much calamity in our lives, even if it's just temporary peace of mind.

That was the case for the two familiar strangers, cozying up in each other's arms like they belonged only there, two people who've needed affection and care more than they know to the extent that their hearts cooperate even when their minds are switched off.

One knowing the disaster she'll wake up to and the other just loved the way he was feeling ...... unfeeling.

a moment of peace where the world just goes away......it was only them but they didn't know.

let's just hope their heart knows and one day ............it remembers.

The business party had been successful without any drama, everyone was happy, they met clients, got ideas, caught-up with old friends, burried the hatchets and the journalists had so much to write about.

All in all, what is to be expected from a business party this large was achieved in totality.

Many people had made reservations to spend the night in hotel Moriah since it was known that the party would end late, some who travelled from a far had even been here before the party so they all went to their rooms and others to their respective homes.

No one disturbed the two strangers as they enjoyed the tenderness and warmth they got from their unbelonging peace.

The next day, life kept going on, there was so much news about the business party, the internet was filled with so many pictures and promotional content about the business party.

Generally, the world had woken up to embrace the bright sun like they always do after a dark night.

almost everyone.

In the late morning when the hotel room service started their work, one of the few house keepers who are allowed to work at the last floor stumbled upon the most unimaginable site.

This is a hotel so sights like this aren't new, infact, it's so common, the shocking thing is the people in question.

No one could ever imagine this, it's absolutely unbelievable.

Could it be a coincidence that this specific housekeeper has a secret side job as an informant to the largest media company in the country? Or that she is best friends with an employee of this media company? Or that her best friend is currently in this hotel right now and that the most secure room in the largest hotel had no security at all this particular day?

This is the most guarded suite in this hotel, it didn't matter whether the owner was in or out, only a few trusted workers were allowed here.

The house keeper couldn't believe what she was seeing, a man of power known to loathe any female who isn't his fiancee and the a beautiful young girl who has stayed unknown till yesterday.

Two people curled up in sheets like lost lovers lost in love again.

Her friend would be thrilled to lay her hands on news like this.

The hotel had very strict policies regarding privacy of their clients, the hotel's status attracted so many influential visitors and media companies know it's a point of enormous information.

She didn't reject her friends offer to secretly spy on some clients, the media company got her a job in this hotel just for that.

She has been a spy for years and managed to keep herself out of trouble.

It won't be hard to suspect her, just a slight background check can link her to her best so she always took precautions.

What the house keeper didn't know was that she had been discovered a long time ago but someone asked the hotel management to keep her for a while.

The house keeper quickly got out her phone, took several pictures of the scene and rushed out of the hotel room.

Everything fell into place and absolutely out of place from there, how it was perceived depended on the conniver and the victims.

It wasn't long before the photo fell in the hands of Timothy White, the guy who has been patiently watching and waiting for years just for a moment like this, he had thought that all hope was lost but now, it was all worth waiting.

How the photo got in the hands of all the right people in just a few minutes is a mystery.

Sebastian was the fast one to actually burst in the room, he was already at his office when the photo was sent to him from an unknown source, the hotel room number was sent too.

He couldn't believe his eyes, Gilberto of all people in bed with Lolita in an intimate way.

This is unbelievable, it's something that would never even come to mind, Gilberto, the rigid man they all know with a very innocent girl.

The suite wasn't locked so Sebastian easily got in, he wanted to lock the door but the key card was no where to be seen.

The plan was to rush to the bedroom and shake the alleged couple if their still lost in each other's arms but he couldn't even bring himself to wake them up once he saw the scene for himself.

The photo did nothing in portraying the longing in them.

Sebastian heard some sounds outside and walked out of the room.

It was Gilberto's parents, they never had any plans to spend the night in the hotel but Gilberto's grandparents who'd reserved a private suite offered it to them since they decided to take a vacation with some friends they met at the party.

Mathew and Nora took the offer and decided to make use of the expensive suite, the place was already reserved for a week anyways.

Mathew and Nora rushed out of their suite immediately after seeing the picture, It was unbelievable but he chose to see it for himself and they were awestruck.

Sebastian heard gone back to the bedroom with Gilberto's parents but they could hear number of people piling in the suite, he knew it had to be done so he rushed to shake Gilberto in hopes of waking him up but this only caused Gilberto to tighten his hold on the little girl in his arms, they all saw it.

The hotel suite was designed like a complete apartment, anyone who walked in would first enter the living room, there was an open kitchen and a beautiful balcony with an excellent view.

Arabella burst in through the main door and quickly spotted the bedroom door, some people tried to stop her but it was too late, she had already seen the man she has loved her whole life, the same one she has been so busy planning her marriage to holding someone else in ways he's never held her.

Arabella completely broke down, she cried her heart out painfully, she had gotten up early this morning despite being so tired and decided to surprise Gilberto with home made breakfast even though they could just order from the hotel.

She wasn't able to go visit Gilberto in the hotel room she booked for him last night, because she decided it'd be better to let him rest and she'd come over in the morning so she left with her parents.

She was so mad this morning when her brother calmly called her fiance a cheat when he found her making breakfast for him.

Arabella knew that her brother and her fiance didn' t see eye to eye so she thought it was just one of his usual methods of breaking them apart, even his parents were angry at him for bringing such a thing up.

Adrian being a generally quite person didn't insist much on it knowing the truth would come out somehow and he was right, in just a few minutes, Arabella's friends called her and asked her to rush to the hotel to see it for herself.

Adrian was already heading out of the house when he saw his parents trying to pacify his sister and he guessed it right.

He decided to give them a ride and maybe teach that kid a lesson while at it.

Arabella was so shaken that she almost collapsed but her brother quickly held her, the sounds of people trying to comfort her and all the noise made about strange discussions

filled the room.

the two people on the bed didn't even move, they retained their peace and cuddled even more.

Adrian pulled Arabella to the living room where others were, it was embarrassing that the louder her sister wailed the more Gilberto's hold on Loli increased, others might have not noticed but he did.

Everyone had so many questions but they kept it to themselves, Arabella sat down and frantically looked around her eyes filled with uncertainty.

Understanding her dilemma, everyone decided to keep quiet and let her calm down.

Arabella looked at a very confused Sebastian and broke down, he was the closest person to Gilberto in this room.

"what I just saw in there isn't true right?" she croaked.

Sebastian didn't know what to tell her, he is just as confused.

"answer me, your his friend right? you must know" she accused as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Bella you need to stop crying, your wedding is in two weeks, we have to find a way to keep this out of the media because as we speak, the photos are circulating all over....."

Adrian couldn't believe the audacity of his mother, at a moment like this, she only thinks about the wedding?

"are you kidding mom, you're still talking about a wedding, after all this?"

Mrs White didn't like what her son was hinting at,

"they love each other, the wedding is already planned" she reminded.

"your daughter is crying her eyes out right now and the groom is behind that door, sleeping with someone else"

Timothy argued pointing at the bedroom door.

"there has to be some explanation for it" she reasoned.

"that's right Arabella, Gilberto wouldn't do something like this, everyone knows of his love for you, just let him explain himself first"

Sebastian tried to defend his friend, he knew there was no way Gilberto would do this, at least not willingly.

Mr Evans was stuck, on the other hand was the daughter of his good friend and on the other was the daughter of a man you wouldn't want as an enemy and his son just messed with the most precious thing to him.

Thinking about it, he looked around and Stephano Mora was shockingly no where to be seen. Nora understood her husband's dilemma "it won't be long, his going to show up soon" she whispered.

She had met Loli for the first time just last night and that girl was simply an angle.

Although her stepson has been nothing but rude to her, she knew he wouldn't ever do anything like this.

"explain what? that all we saw is a lie?"Adrian wasn't going to let Gilberto escape this.

" she could have seduced boss?"

Larissa mentioned and this got everyone's attention.

Larissa is a close friend of Arabella's, she even got her job as Gilberto's personal assistant with Arabella's help.

"Larisa, we don't know that, please don't be so judgemental without any proof" Mrs Evans reprimanded.

The general image of that innocent soul doing anything devious is just unbelievable.

Gilberto cheating on Arabella is impossible too, he hasn't ever been with any other woman in his entire life, he doesn't allow anyone in his personal space, everyone who has seen Gilberto on his own and when his with Arabella could see the apparent difference in his personality, a difference they define as love.

Despite all that, saying Gilberto cheated on Arabella was so much more believable than Loli seducing him, no bone in that girl links with evil, she's just the kind of person who builds a clear first impression.

Arabella kept crying painfully, Adrian wanted her to feel this pain, he hated it that she had to go through it but he wanted her to eventually forget Gilberto, she'll hopefully be herself again.

Mr White was also in similar dilemma to that of Mr Evans, he'd been prepared to walk his daughter down the aisle in just two weeks then this happens.

What would he tell his daughter? Who would they blame? His best friends son or the daughter of Mr Mora, a very powerful figure?

Stephano Mora, is difficult to describe, he is known as a very kind, friendly and generous man, but there was that unspoken fear he instilled, he is like a man who buried his true self somewhere.

He is just the kind of man you'd rarely see angry but just an imagination of his anger would creep anyone out.

In other words, what people saw him for, is what he wants them to see him for and he can change it.

GILBERTO'S POV

I felt my self slowly regain consciousness, it normally doesn't take me this long, my entire body was so weak, I couldn't even move my eyelids, my brain was yet adapting to real life so it hadn't got my body in action.

One thing was for sure, I was so warm and comfortable, It's like something is holding me down in a nice way, my nostrils were filled with the best fragrance I've ever sniffed, it's devine and so homey, I couldn't describe the scent, for now I'll say it's like.........this feeling right now.

I felt strange and it's a strange feeling because I felt so good.

this is indeed strange.

As my senses kept coming to me, I felt yet another strange thing.

I felt slow warm rhythmic breaths on my chest and I heard soft snores that matched the rhythm.

My mind easily registered that I have company but as curious as I was, I still couldn't move.

The only people I've ever shared a bed with are my brother and mother, who could it be?

I remember being at the party yesterday, Arabella gave me a key card, could this be her, maybe she joined me after the party.

that doesn't add up though.

Arabella is a woman with so much dignity, she is principled and has so much self respect, she would never climb onto any man's bed before marriage, not even mine especially just a few days to our wedding.

Wait, it's not Arabella???

Once I made sense of my own thoughts, I got a burst of strength and opened my heavy eyelids and gazed upon the strange high ceiling, I've never been here before, the intricate design is so distinctive, a ceiling is most the last thing I see before sleeping and the first thing I lay my eyes on when I wake up, it doesn't matter where I am, I don't think a hotel room can be designed this peculiarly.

I came up with this fact in just a few seconds but decided to handle the biggest issue at hand. Sprawled out on the bed was long thick and beautiful brown hair and a noticeable head on my chest, and a body protectively secured by my own arms.

Arabella is blonde.

I heard conversational sounds just outside the room, they sounded more like arguments and someone was crying.

what is going on?

In a normal cases, If I had found a complete stranger cozied up in my bed and practically on top of me, I'd have shook them up and kicked them out of my room with a promise to ruin their life, I was still very confused and honestly, I felt a little protective of this particular stranger for reasons unknown to, my arm was clearly still wrapped around them.

you've never found a stranger in your bed before Gilberto so you wouldn't know right??

besides, is this even your bed??

I slowly raised my free hand and tried to brush the thick brown hair sprawled all over the place, using the soft breaths on my chest as a guide, I grabbed the stranger's soft chin and raised it to reveal their face.

I couldn't believe my eyes, a small beautiful face, long lashes, perky cheeks, straight nose, full lips with drool slowly flowing out, there was some on my chest and now in my hands, she was sleeping so peaceful.

A very familiar stranger.

I was even more confused now, how is this even possible?

She is the last person I'd have imagined it to be, I was still trying to decipher the situation when the sounds outside got louder distracting me, the cry got louder and clearer too.

Arabella?

I slowly plucked the little girl off me and eased out, I only did this because I don't want her to wake up to this scene too.

I then got up and started rushing to the door, just as I got there, I realized I was wearing nothing but my boxers.

Arabella was still crying, I couldn't go out like this, I have a good idea why she's in that state, this will just worsen it.

My clothes were neatly placed a couch besides the bed so I quickly wore them ignoring how weird it is.

I glanced at the person on the bed one last time before finally heading out.

I walked into the living room and everyone immediately looked at me, a side from Adrian who fixedly glared me down, everyone else had a very confused expression but they didn't say anything.

Arabella hadn't seen me, she was sobbing painfully in her brother's arms.

She finally looked up and saw me, she looked so miserable, she clearly had her doubts about me, I don't blame her, I'd probably feel worst if our roles changed.

Her opinion is the only one that matters to me, her eyes were so emotionless, the pain was still so fresh, I don't want her to torture herself with this.

"Arabella, I can explain" I said surprisingly confidently.

perfect, I just had to use the usual guilty man's statement and guess what, I actually can't explain at all.

"What can you explain? The obvious fact? How are you going to twist the truth this time?"

Adrian barked, he finally had a reason to turn everyone against me but that wasn't my worry right now.

"No, let him explain Adrian, I so badly want to know what be could possibly say about this"

Arabella stood up and walked over to me with unsteady steps.

I kept a stoic look, what else could I do, I promised to explain but I didn't know what I'd possibly explain, I don't even know where I am.

I decided to talk to her privately and when she's calmed down, Arabella clearly isn't in the right state of mind to understand anything.

This isn't the best place nor time to talk to her, there's so many people here and her pain is obviously still fresh.

"sweetheart, please relax and let him explain, come on Adrian and everyone else, letthem talk privately" her mother suggested.

"We aren't going anywhere, you say whatever you want to say to Arabella right here, we deserve an explanation too" Adrian objected firmly.

Mr White also demanded an explanation, I couldn't remember much about that night, all I recalled is feeling dizzy and searching for my room, whether I found it or not and how I ended up here are unknown to me.

This place's decor doesn't look like a hotel at all, I can at least say what I remember.

" I don't remember much about last night, all I know is I felt really dizzy and decided to rest, I don't remember what happened after that" I said pointedly, it sounded so unbelievable even to me.

"I reserved the room myself I gave you the key card, you said you could find it on your own even when I offered to help you"

She emphasized brokenly, pointing at at me, I hated having to see her like this.

" I know" I whispered.

" then how?" she screamed in my face,

"how did you end up, on the last floor when the room I got for you is on the 30th floor? How are you in bed with someone else? Why didn't you answer any of my text messages and calls?" she bawled.

"I was so stupid, I thought you were resting, I told myself I should let you rest and surprise you in the morning and maybe spend the whole day with you, what a twist, I got the surprise of my life" she laughed sarcastically.

This is probably the biggest disagreement Arabella and I have ever had, most definitely the only significant one, I don't even know how to handle it.

What does she mean, I hadn't read the room number on the card, I took it out once I got in the elevator but someone bumped into me making it fall down, I was so dizzy by then, the guy I bumped into got it and handed it over to me.

It wasn't the 30th floor at all.

"The card you gave me was for the 72th floor, suite 200" I said thoughtfully.

"Isn't this the card?" Adrian said picking up a key card from the table and handing it over to Arabella.

She studied it and looked at me suspiciously.

"this is the card I gave you yesterday and it's not a suite, room 801" she whispered.

" did you hear that, not even a single confusing word, I thought you said you didn't remember how you got here, how comes you remember the suite number so clearly?" Adrian asked suspiciously.

His right, how come I remember it so vividly, a couple of seconds ago, I didn't even know where I was.

" how long have you been cheating on me?" She suddenly asked and I looked at her in bewildered.

"Are you really asking me that?" I asked now feeling offended, I know she's hurt but I didn't expect that from her.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me back in the bedroom, I didn't have anything to hide so I just let her.

I've never seen Arabella this angry, there are times she'd be made at me but the worst I got was silent treatment, I just let her cool off.

Her parents tried to stop her but she was adamant, they just followed us as well.

" how about we ask the sleeping angle" she said pointing at the girl peacefully sleeping under the sheets, honestly, she did look angelic.

I wonder how it might have looked when I was there as well, holding her protectively.

It most definitely looked so intimate, no wonder Arabella is so angry, she and I have never been in a position like that.

Even with all the sounds in the room, she didn't flinch at all, she just remained calm and serene.

"she must be really tired from last night" Arabella hinted.

"why don't you go wake her up and maybe she can help you explain everything"

she croaked out with tears flowing down her cheeks showing how pained she is.

It looks like this situation is bigger than how am perceiving it, one thing is for sure, I was played by someone but I know I didn't cheat on Arabella, the only thing am guilty about is feeling so good when I woke up with that stranger in my arms, It has been so long since I felt that satisfied about something.

I didn't even know it was possible for me, I thought a better feeling only comes when you're feeling bad and seeking better, I don't have any problems yet I felt so...........needy.

No body has to know about that, Arabella will be fine with time, she'll most definitely forget about all of this.

She'll always believe me, that's just how it is, she'll stand by me no matter what, it has always been that way.

I just chose to keep quiet, this is a set up, the peaceful girl on the bed and I are most definitely victims, I don't think she knows anything about this, if am this unaware, she maybe in an even worse state.

After a moment of complete silence, a woman who appears to be in her 60s walked in, she was dressed in high class braded clothes, all her actions were posh like that of woman who was raised in a royal house.

Her grey eyes were fixed on the bed and she walked right past all of us, it was like she didn't see any of us which is impossible.

Mr Mora also walked in shortly after the lady walked in, he had a very stoic face, he was fully dressed in his business suit, Stephano just stood at the entrance and observed everything saying absolutely nothing and avoiding everyone' s eyes.

He looked calm but it was like an unspoken threat, his face gave nothing off.

The old woman sat on the bed and slowly started to tap on the dead sleep occupant, she aided the little girl up in a sitting up position and cupped her cheeks, Mr Mora just kept looking at his daughter who seemed to be very weak, I could see the obvious fear in my father's eyes.

Do they think I did something to her?

The girl slowly started to open her eyes, and as lady kept on calling her name.

"I'd appreciate it if am left alone with my daughter" Stephano said with a blank face, his voice was low yet sent a firm message.

Arabella was the first person to hurriedly walk out of the room slamming the door so loudly startling the sleepy girl.

My father came and pulled me out of the room and eventually out of the suite, as we walked out, I realized there was no way I got there on my own.

The whole place is unfamiliar, the suite it's self is located in a hidden angle, it has its own corridor unlike normal hotel rooms.

My father led me to a suite not so far away from the other, this one looked very normal, the design wasn't homey like the other one's though.

I wasn't least bit interested in hotel decor, my father and his wife were making a big deal out of this, much as I have no idea what happened, I know it's not what they're all thinking.

I am not in a hurry, I'd made sure to create to clear out my schedule before this, the plan was to spend the remaining days with Arabella, looks like that won't be happening.

Father was on a phone call with someone and he looked stressed, his wife was trying to calm him down.

Surprisingly my phone was in my jacket and it wasn't even off, Arabella's text's were indeed there, there is nothing different about them, just the usual things she normally texts.

I was about to read them through when I got distracted by a very unfamiliar notification, it looks like it's a picture.

I instinctively opened it and I was flabbergasted, you'd think with all the things that have happened to me this morning, I couldn't be more shocked.

It wasn't just a single picture, there were so many of them, the phone was filled with so various pictures of two people in bed.

You could clearly tell who the occupants were, if I hadn't witnessed it for my self this morning, I wouldn't have agreed that it's actually me in there.

The vunerable man holding a familiar stranger like his life depended on it is actually me, no one can argue that.

The one that caught my attention most is a very intimate one that was capture at a closer angle, she and I were practically breathing the same air.

My head is flexed and her's is extended, our noses were connected and our lips just an inch away from each other's, the..........

"Gilberto!!"

I was jerked out of my reverie by Sebastian's firm voice, I closed the pictures and pocketed my phone in a reflex all the while maintaining a calm composure.

"why do you look unconcerned Gilberto, do you even understand how serious this is?" he said desperately, "leave alone being found in bed with another woman just days to your wedding or the photos of this finding circulating God knows where but Loli Mora? Do you think Stephano will take this lightly? he exasperated.

"wait, photos?" I asked since that felt more familiar.

"Gil, I just said that isn't the most pressing issue" she said shaking his head in disbelief.

"Do you have this said picture?" I persisted making him sigh and take out his phone, I immediately grabbed it to take a closer look.

"I received it from an unknown source this morning, as you can see, there's an address to where we found you, your parents and the rest got the same photos" he explained.

I now realize that I was most definitely played, someone made a fool out of me and I fell right into their trap.

Sebastian only has a single photo, his phone wasn't filled to the brim like mine and the photo isn't among the ones I have my phone.

This one was probably taken in the morning, we were in the same position I woke up to.

Someone sinister is clearly after me, they were in that room before Sebastian even got there and they were standing right infront me, they were right in my face yet I didn't wake up.

Gilberto Evans, the light sleeper snored right through a plot against him.

peaceably...... in the arms of a familiar stranger.