9: Naked Chest
794 Words
Chris didn't say anything. He reached under the table to grab a bottle of water for her.
As he handed it to her, he bumped her arm and looked accidentally.
She didn't pay much attention. She still felt a little dazed from his words before.
But she couldn't even unscrew the bottle cap. Chris took it back and opened it before handing it to her again.
"Anything else you want to know?" he asked.
"No, that's all," Daicy took a sip of water, trying to clear her mind.
"Well..." Chris whispered.
"Well, I should go now. Have a good rest," Daicy stood up and bid him goodbye.
Chris got up to walk her out while exchanging some pleasantries - thanking her for bringing him back and suggesting they catch up over a meal sometime to chat about the old days.
As they reached the door of her room, Daicy nodded and replied, "I often think of our school days."
It suddenly swung open again just as the door was about to close.
He looked down while smiling and asked her, "Really?" as if trying to discern the truth from her eyes.
Daicy found it a bit strange but still confirmed, "Yes."
Chris smiled again. He slowly closed the door and said, "Goodbye. Goodnight."
Afterward, Daicy sat in the elevator downstairs, feeling a bit dazed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Andy being in a relationship.
After sitting in the hotel lobby for a while, she decided to call a cab and go home.
But when she searched her pockets, she couldn't find her phone no matter how hard she tried.
She remembered that her phone was still with her at the moment they got out of the car earlier. So it must have been left behind in Chris' room by accident.
She slapped her forehead in annoyance and took the elevator back up to look for her phone.
She knocked on his door, but there was no response. He might be asleep, she thought.
So she leaned against the door trying to listen for any sounds from inside.
It seemed like there was some noise. So she stubbornly knocked for a while longer. But still no response.
Suddenly, the elevator behind her opened - it was the receptionist from earlier. She didn't seem surprised to see Daicy. She was holding the access card and asked if she wanted to go in politely.
Daicy nodded blankly.
The receptionist swiped the card for her.
The door was quickly unlocked.
Daicy caught a whiff of a fragrance mixed with dampness through the door crack.
The receptionist left immediately after she opened the door. Daicy didn't have time to ask her how she knew that she was at Chris' door.
Did she disturb the neighboring guests? Or did the receptionist see her through monitoring cameras? Any answer would make her feel embarrassed.
Well, she decided not to worry about it.
The light inside was still on. She stood at the door and called out his name. Standing there for several seconds without a response, she thought he must be asleep and couldn't hear her.
So she walked into the living room.
Originally, she planned to find her phone on the couch quickly and leave without making a sound.
But now, as she stood in the living room, she couldn't see it anywhere.
She tiptoed to the bedroom. The bed was empty, without a single crease on the sheets.
He wasn't in the bedroom. She looked around and then noticed the bathroom light was on.
The bathroom door was closed. Steam seeped through the crack. Mist climbed up the door, creating a foggy atmosphere.
It dawned on her that he was taking a shower.
She hesitated. Then she walked towards the bathroom door carefully, about to speak to him through it.
Suddenly, the door was opened widely at that moment. Fragrant mist rushed out eagerly and enveloped her like a cloud. Her vision became hazy.
Blinking, she escaped from the mist and realized he was standing right in front of her - bare-chested with a towel wrapped around his waist only.
His wet hair hung in front of his eyes, still dripping with water. A droplet rolled down, landing on his nose, then tracing a path down his clean skin.
The redness on his face had mostly faded, with only his ears still slightly flushed, indicating that he was fully awake now.
His thick eyelashes trembled as he stared at her, furrowing his brows lightly, seemingly puzzled by her presence.
But Daicy couldn't stop from looking at him.
Her gaze traveled down his face, sliding over his nude chest, shoulders, and arms, all adorned with droplets of water.
She dared not look any lower. Quickly diverting her gaze.
- Writer
