Conflicted Affection

The clock struck 10:00 in the morning, and the room filled with the familiar sound of a ringing phone.

"RING! RING!"

Anna, still half-asleep, reached for her phone. She answered with a groggy voice, "Hello, Taylor."

Taylor, sounding rushed and impatient, responded, "Anna, you need to hurry. Get ready quickly and come down. We're running late."

Anna, now wide awake and surprised, asked, "What? Are we going somewhere?"

Taylor explained, "Yes, today we're going to the Gondola. Everyone else is already on the bus. We're the only ones who are running late."

With a sense of urgency, Anna hung up the phone and rushed to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day's adventure.

Anna rushed to the ground floor, where Taylor had been waiting impatiently. They both hurried towards the bus depot, hoping to catch up with the group.

Upon arriving at the depot, they were met with an unsettling sight—no buses were in sight. It seemed that everyone had already left, leaving them stranded behind.

Both Anna and Taylor stood there in shock, unsure of what to do next. Just when they were starting to panic, Porsche and Ken appeared, also running to catch up to the group.

Taylor, who recognized Porsche, was taken aback.

He muttered, "Oh, you're that guy," and then turned to Anna with a surprised expression.

Porsche exchanged a glance with Ken, and Ken nonchalantly remarked, "What a coincidence."

Anna, feeling awkward and unsure of how to react, stayed quiet in the corner.

Meanwhile, Taylor decided to call his friend to inquire about the buses and figure out their next steps.

While Taylor engaged in conversation with his travel agent friend and Ken went into the hotel to inquire about private transport, Porsche and Ken remained outside, standing silently.

As Porsche slowly approached Anna, she began to feel increasingly anxious. Her eyes locked with his as he moved closer.

Sensing Anna's unease, Porsche suddenly reached out and plucked a flower growing nearby.

Anna's heart began to race, unsure of what to make of Porsche's unexpected action. The gesture took her by surprise, momentarily alleviating her anxiety.

Taylor approached Anna and informed her about the situation, saying, "The travel agent mentioned that they strictly follow their schedule, and they can't wait for us only.

So we'll have to make our own way to meet the group."

Confused, Anna questioned, "What do you mean?"

Porsche, standing behind her, couldn't help but give a sarcastic chuckle and muttered, "So dumb."

His comment was audible to Anna, who chose to ignore it.

Taylor continued, "We'll need to hire a private car or arrange our own transportation to reach the destination. Once there, we can join the rest of the group."

Ken emerged from the hotel and walked over to Taylor, announcing, "I've booked a Wrangler for the four of us. Will that work for you two?"

Anna, hesitant to ride with Porsche, started to say, "No, we will book our own--"

Interrupting her, Taylor quickly interjected, "Thank you, that will be great."

Ken then added, "It'll be here in 15 minutes, and I'll be the one driving."

Taylor sought further information, asking, "Do you know the way to Gondola?"

Ken confidently replied, "Bro, we'll use a map, obviously."

"Okay, then I'll help you with that," Taylor responded.

Ken suggested, "Let's wait for it in the lounge."

Anna approached Taylor and expressed, "I guess I am hungry, so I am going to the sundry shop to buy some snacks."

Taylor gently rubbed her shoulder and nodded with a smile.

The sight of their closeness irked Porsche, prompting him to rush inside the hotel. Ken, sensing the tension, remained understanding.

Taylor, however, remained completely oblivious to the underlying dynamics.

As Anna made her way to the sundry shop, the three boys sat in the lounge.

Taylor attempted to engage in conversation with Porsche, but Porsche responded brusquely.

Taylor ordered three cappuccinos, and Porsche declared, "Ken, I'll be back in 5 minutes."

Ken inquired, "Where are you going? It will be here in a few minutes."

Taylor added, "I need to use the washroom," and then made his way out of the lounge toward the courtyard restrooms.

Ken and Taylor sat together in the lounge, with Taylor expressing his confusion, "Why is Porsche like that? I mean, I have seen him two or three times, and he always seems angry and annoyed. What's up with that?"

Ken chuckled and explained, "Well, that child had an accident a few months ago, and since then, he has always acted like that." He added, "He's just like an arrogant child who is very dear to me."

They both shared a laugh. Taylor then added, "You guys are so cool. I would love to be friends with you."

Ken laughed along, and they both noticed the arrival of their Wrangler.

Ken called out to Porsche, "Hey, our car has arrived. Come quickly." Meanwhile, Taylor had the intention of checking on Anna.

Porsche, who had gone to the washroom with ulterior motives, wanted to catch a glimpse of Anna. 

Anna was returning from the shop and tried to walk past Porsche, but something stopped her in her tracks.

She saw Porsche disposing the wallet she had given him in a dustbin, intentionally. As their eyes met, Anna could see the pain in Porsche's eyes as well.

Porsche then turned and walked away, leaving Anna with tears in her eyes.

On his way,Taylor saw Porsche and asked, "Did you see Anna?" Porsche ignored him and continued walking.

Taylor felt a bit unsettled, but as he walked further, he spotted Anna standing at a distance.

Hurrying towards her, he informed her that the car had arrived. Anna, trying to hide her tears, mentioned that something had gone into her eyes.

Taylor suggested rinsing her eyes with water, but Anna declined, insisting that she was fine.

Though Taylor sensed something amiss after seeing Porsche and Anna in that state, he decided to ignore it and guided Anna towards the car.

Taylor sat in the front seat with Ken, while Porsche and Anna took the back.

Throughout the journey, both of them avoided looking at each other, and a palpable tension filled the car.

Ken glanced at the rear-view mirror, noticing Anna and Porsche's avoidance. He could sense the strain between them.

Upon reaching Gondola, their group was already there, taking pictures.

As they got out of the car, Wennes, who had been waiting, hurried over and scolded them, "Why are you late? Do you have any idea how long I've been standing here alone?"

Ken attempted to soothe her, while Porsche tried to explain the situation.

When Wennes noticed Anna, she warmly hugged her and greeted her. Taylor was surprised to learn that Wennes was Ken's sister.

He greeted her warmly, expressing his delight at meeting her. Ken and Porsche stood there at a loss for words, exchanging glances. Ken then asked, "Wen, how do you know Anna and Taylor?"

Wennes smiled, placing her arm around Anna and replied, "Well, that's a long story. Just know that we are good friends, so you must be very good to them especially Anna," looking directly at Porsche as she spoke.

Porsche rolled his eyes, whispering, "Always playing the victim card," audible enough for Ken to hear.

Ken stood there quietly, looking at Porsche with concern. Wennes engaged in conversation with Taylor, expressing her gratitude for his help in carrying her bags.

Meanwhile, Porsche left the scene, followed by Ken. Anna noticed Ken's departure.

Wennes noticed too and said, "Let me go and see what he needs now." 

Anna and Taylor then headed towards the hill's edge to take in the breathtaking view of the scenery.

Anna, mesmerized by the landscape, closed her eyes and took deep breaths.

Suddenly, she heard Wennes calling out, "Hey, come on, you guys, we need to get the tickets for the ride." Anna anxiously responded, "What? No, actually, I am scared of heights, so I won't go."

Taylor insisted, "Anna, that's the main point of coming here. It's not dangerous, and we will sit together."

Anna responded, "It's not about sitting with anyone; I just can't..." Wennes interrupted, saying, "Okay, don't worry. If she's saying she doesn't want to, don't force her."

Wennes then rubbed Anna's shoulder and said, "It's okay, my dear, you can stay here and see us off." Anna nodded.

Wennes then went towards Ken and Porsche, who were waiting in line to get the tickets, and said, "Guys, just get four tickets." Ken asked, "Aren't you going?" Wennes replied, "I am, but Anna isn't."

Ken then gazed at Porsche and proceeded to get the tickets. Before Ken spoke, Porsche interrupted, "Only get three tickets." Ken exclaimed, "What the hell."

Porsche went to the back, and Ken was about to follow him, but Wennes stopped him and said, "Let him be and sometimes try to understand things."

Ken quietly stood there and proceeded to get the three tickets. Wennes then called Taylor to follow her.

As they reached the station where the chairlifts arrived, Wennes said, "Let's wait for Ken." Taylor asked, "What about Porsche?"

Wennes responded, "He isn't interested. Also, where did you leave Anna?" Taylor replied, "She is sitting at the bench right beside the ticket booth." Wennes nodded.

Ken then came, and they were all ready to ride, but just as he was giving the tickets, he realized that there were only two tickets. Ken exclaimed, "What the hell. You guys go, I'll bring one more ticket."

Taylor added, "No, you guys go, I will bring one more ticket." Ken didn't listen and went away.

Wennes sadly said, "What a mess. Now he will ride alone. This is so annoying." "Let's get out for now, and we can sit in another chairlift," said Taylor.

Just as they were proceeding to get out, the ride started, and they had no option but to ride without Ken. Taylor then added, "First Anna, then Porsche, and now Ken." Wennes then tried to cheer him up.