At The Hotel

"Are you done ordering, sweetie? What did you get?" Maia asked her children.

"Sorry for taking so long, Mom. We ordered steak and fries for you, but we didn't get you a drink," they replied.

"What would you like to drink, Mom?" Helena asked.

"No need, dear. I still have this mineral water," Maia answered.

Soon after, their order arrived—steak with mushroom chicken sauce and fries. As usual, they said a prayer before eating. After praying, they eagerly started eating the hot steak. They blew on their food to cool it down and ate slowly at first because it was still hot.

They ate with great appetite since they were starving, and it was already late. They had stayed out late shopping for their necessities. They cleaned their plates, not leaving a trace of food. They quickly devoured the fries, which were topped with melted cheese and looked delicious.

Their stomachs were full, and they leaned back in their chairs, a sign of their satisfaction. They sipped on their sweet boba drinks, which were filled with ice. Helena and Hector patted their stomachs, indicating how full they were.

"Hmmmm, I'm so full..."

"Let's go down, kids," Maia said to her children.

A few moments later, they left the food court. As they headed down several floors to the parking lot, Maia saw an elevator ahead.

"There's an elevator here. Let's take it, kids," Maia suggested while pushing the shopping cart.

They hurried to the elevator and pressed the down button. Moments later, the elevator opened, and two people were inside. Maia pushed the cart into the elevator and held the door open for her children to enter.

The elevator doors closed, and Maia pressed the button for "UG," the lowest floor where the car park was located. The elevator descended quickly, and soon, they arrived at the parking level.

They looked around for Maia's black car. It took them a while to find it in the dimly lit parking area.

"That's our car, Mom. I remember the license plate. Isn't that it?" Helena said, pointing to the right.

The parking lot was dark, with only a few lights illuminating the area, making it hard to identify the car from a distance. Hector ran ahead to confirm.

"Mom, this is our car," Hector called, pointing to the black car. Excited, he ran back to his mother.

They hurried to the car. Maia unlocked it with the remote key. Helena opened the trunk, and Hector helped his mother load the shopping bags one by one. After finishing, Maia closed the trunk and got into the car. She started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.

At the exit, the parking attendant asked for their ticket and checked it. After returning the ticket, they were allowed to leave.

Maia drove while looking for an excellent hotel to stay in for the night.

"What time is it now, dear?" Maia asked Hector.

"It's eleven o'clock, Mom," Hector answered, showing his watch to Maia as she drove.

They had left the mall around ten twenty-five, and now it was eleven. Time flew by in this city. The nighttime atmosphere was bustling, as the town seemed never to sleep. Young couples hung out on the streets of Tijuana, meeting and chatting to relieve stress and socialize with friends.

Tijuana indeed came alive at night. The night market at the city square attracted locals and tourists alike, adding to the city's vibrant night scene. The bright lights made the city look beautiful and lively at night.

The sedan stopped in front of a three-star hotel not far from the Tijuana mall. It took about seven minutes to drive from the mall to the city square. Helena and Hector were fascinated by the hotel's location, which is right across from the square.

"Wow, the hotel looks nice, and the view is amazing. I love it!" Rico exclaimed excitedly.

After parking, Maia turned off the engine and opened the trunk to take out their suitcase with clothes and other essentials. She had prepared the suitcase in advance, anticipating any sudden trips like this.

The three of them entered the hotel lobby and approached the reception desk.

"Good evening. How can I help you, ma'am?" the receptionist asked Maia.

They wanted to book a room with the most enormous bed available to accommodate the three of them. Maia planned to stay for two nights but kept this a surprise from Helena and Hector. She wanted to give them a treat.

She instructed her children to sit and wait on the lobby sofa.

"Good evening. I'd like to book a room with a king-size bed for the three of us. Do you have any available?" Maia asked.

Maia chose one room to be practical and economical. She needed to save money due to unexpected expenses like today.

"Yes, we have a room available. May I have your ID for the registration, please?" the receptionist replied.

Fortunately, Maia had her ID and enough cash in her wallet, so she didn't need to find an ATM. Maia was disciplined and always prepared everything needed for a trip. She had a checklist of all the essentials before leaving.

After completing the booking and payment, they took the elevator to their room on the fifth floor.