Chapter 7: An unexpected encounter
The hotel lobby hummed with activity as guests checked in and out, their luggage wheels clicking against the gleaming marble floors. The sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, emanating from a cozy cafe tucked away in one corner. Plush chairs and couches were thoughtfully placed throughout the space, offering respite to weary travelers seeking refuge from their travels.
In one corner stood two men - Yohan and Landon
Yohan and Landon engaged in a friendly argument at the hotel lobby as they discussed where Yohan could stay. Their voices rose slightly, causing the receptionist and other guests to look over curiously.
Feeling guilty that every place he recommended was either full or too expensive for Yohan's budget, Landon insisted on paying for his new friend's accommodation.
"Let me pay for it, I have plenty of money." he said generously.
Yohan refused politely but firmly, "Even if you have a lot of money, I'll still pay for it myself!"
"You're my new friend, of course I should help you!" Landon countered quickly.
Yohan felt grateful that Landon offered to pay for his hotel, but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a bit uncomfortable. After all, they had just met each other - how could Yohan let Landon bear such an expense?
Despite feeling surprised by Landon's kindness towards someone he barely knew, Yohan couldn't help but feel an unexplainable sense of trust in him. He couldn't deny the strange feeling in his gut that made him trust Landon wholeheartedly - even though he couldn't quite explain why.
Eventually, they reached a stalemate, with neither side willing to back down from their position. It was then that Landon realized how guilty he felt for not being able to secure Yohan a place to stay in this unfamiliar city.
"There's only one option left..." he said thoughtfully after a moment of silence. "You can stay at my house!"
Yohan looked hesitant, unsure if it was appropriate for him to impose on his new friend like that. "But Landon..." he protested gently. "Didn't you say you were living with your boyfriend? I wouldn't want to cause any trouble or make him uncomfortable."
Throughout their journey searching for a place for Yohan to call home, Landon had shared a few personal details with him, from his age of 23 years old, having a boyfriend and living together. It made sense that he didn't want to cause any tension or conflicts for the couple.
Actually, Yohan was surprised by how open Landon could be with him but appreciated his honesty nonetheless. Not everyone could accept same-sex relationships, but Landon confided in Yohan confidently without hesitation. It made Yohan like his new friend even more.
Landon let out a resigned sigh, his expression suddenly clouded with frustration. "My boyfriend is... temperamental..." he admitted reluctantly. "I don't think he would agree to it easily."
"It's okay, Landon. I appreciate your kindness, but I can manage to stay at this hotel for a few more days." Yohan said with a warm smile. "Just because I don't have much money doesn't mean that I cannot afford it."
"Sigh... Alright.. I'll ask my friends if they know any good places with reasonable fees," Landon said confidently. "Trust me, I'll find an excellent place for you soon!"
Yohan couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer force of Landon's personality. Despite their lack of success so far in finding suitable accommodation within Yohan's budget, he appreciated Landon's willingness to help him out. In Yohan's life, genuine kindness was rare, so he felt lucky to have met someone like Landon and had opened up more because of it.
As Landon bid him farewell and headed home, Yohan strolled towards the elevator where the doors were already open. He stepped inside and punched in his floor number, his thoughts then racing with memories of a past life. Although he had been married in that previous existence, he still knew very little about life outside, including staying in hotels as everything was always taken care of by his husband and his assistant.
Fortunately Yohan had observed them curiously out of interest, if this were before his marriage, he might not have known how to navigate staying in a hotel room.
Even when married, leaving the house was rare for him, outings were limited only to accompanying his husband. His life then had been restricted to being confined within the house. It felt no different from when he lived with his uncle for seventeen years, except slightly better. A wave of bitterness washed over him at the memory. He shook it off with a sigh, he didn't want to dwell on that first life anymore.
As he stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway towards his room, Yohan's focus remained on searching for the correct number among doors lining both sides. However, inattentiveness caused him to bump into someone standing right in front of him, someone tall and broad-shouldered. He stumbled backward slightly before quickly regaining his balance.
"I'm so sorry!"
Yohan apologized immediately while bowing in apology. He raised his head and felt a sudden stop in his heart, even his blood run cold as soon as he saw who stood before him. It was one of the people he had been avoiding in this second life - the handsome man standing before him.
The recognition hit Yohan like a ton of bricks, sending chills down his spine as he tried to gather himself. He felt trapped under the weight of the man's gaze as they stared at each other in silence for a moment too long.
Trying to regain his composure, Yohan cleared his throat nervously and took a step back from him.
"I apologize for bumping into you..." he said curtly, avoiding eye contact as he tried to make his escape without arousing suspicion.
But before he could move any further away, Yohan's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he heard the cold, familiar voice of the man before him. His feet seemed to have frozen to the spot, preventing him from moving any further away. Especially when Yohan heard the word that came out of that cold voice.
"Yohan."