Checking In with a Woman

Andrea didn’t know why the man knew her name, but if he could move, then… maybe, she wouldn’t have to stay here longer than necessary. At this, she rubbed her nose to calm her sniffing and gestured toward the passenger’s seat. She had no choice but to let him in; perhaps, his presence would help her get a grip on her situation better.

The man went to open the door and got in as she disengaged the locks. She then spoke as soon as he sat down, “Sorry, I’m not really in the mood to talk. I’ll just drive you to a hospital for your arm.”

“Where are you going in this storm? You even looked like you’re heading out for a date.” Gryphon didn’t care about the supposed silence. He huffed before taking a look at the backseat. “You don’t even have a coat or a companion. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

He noticed how the woman was dressed up, only to be left with a pitiful ending. More than that, the vulnerable woman might get in trouble if she continued going around in just that dress that showed too much. He could even tell that she was not wearing a bra from the open back.

Was this Andrea Archer trying to die? Shouldn’t she just drive into a lake than drive around and attract monsters within men?

“What are you doing out there, walking across the street, then? Normal humans don’t take a stroll under a storm.” Andrea heard the man scold her, so she tried to fight the urge to feel weak. He already saw her looking so sorry; that was enough. However, her tears and her mucus wouldn’t stop falling.

“I left a party.” For some reason, Gryphon only sighed and leaned against the seat. He then began taking off his heavy suit jacket, disgruntled that it had been soaked in the rain. “A formal party, mind you. It’s the most annoying one I’ve been to. It’s my birthday, and yet I have to spend it with some people that don’t even matter to me. The things they spoke of are also garbage.”

“You talk too much. Are you sure you need a hospital?” Andrea growled. However, her heart had slowed down. It was as if talking to another person—a stranger, perhaps—was making her mind clear up from the fright that Mathias had given her. Was it her coping mechanism, or was there something about this guy making her feel safe around him? 

She then glanced at the fuming man and hoped that he was willing to beat up Mathias if ever he caught up with her. He really looked pissed.

Thinking about that scary man made Andrea remember about her phone. The woman finally decided to stop at an emergency bay to calm down and find her stuff. The moment she lifted her hands from the steering wheel, she noticed how shaking her hands had become. No wonder she dropped her phone in the first place. What a shame.

Upon seeing her strange action, Gryphon frowned and looked at her again. He noticed how her blonde hair was messily pinned to one side, while most of her make-up was washed away by tears. Her chest would rise and fall visibly as if she was taking in deep breaths in succession. 

He reached out to touch her hair, but his injury ached at his movement. He fished for his moist handkerchief and pressed it against the wound. “Tch, we should at least find a hotel. This rain won’t let up until later. Are you planning to stay with me in your car for the whole night?”

“You want to go to a hotel? With me?” Andrea finally turned to take a good look at the acquaintance that she picked up. After all, one wouldn’t stay in a hotel room with a stranger… well, aside from the excuse that they planned to do what adults would. 

Andrea didn’t plan on doing anything like that with someone she just picked up from the road. She was even thinking of dropping him off at a hospital after resting for a bit. It could be said that his words had made her freeze. However, she froze all the more when she saw his face. 

She didn’t expect to find him. Of all people, it was him.

Seeing the expression on her face, Gryphon’s lips finally curled in a mocking smile—she finally noticed! He then caught a glimpse of something by his foot. He bent down to pick up the phone on the floor. It was on an active call with someone named Mathias. 

With a smirk, he answered, “What’s wrong with hitting the hotel with an ex-girlfriend?”

He had no idea what Andrea was doing, but whoever was on the phone was probably someone Andrea didn’t want to speak with. If she did, Andrea would have looked for her phone. Moreover, the horror on her face only grew some more. He felt so victorious after suffering from failures tonight.

Gryphon ended the call and turned off the phone before ditching it into the glove compartment. The man then ruffled his wet hair, letting the gel soften, so his hair wouldn’t look ridiculous when dried. His minutes-worth of styling when down the drain the moment he walked under the rain.

Since he was hoping to wash off the rain, the dirt, and the blood; he gave directions to Andrea: “Turn right after the stoplight. There’s a hotel three blocks away. I can get us a room there.”

“…get out.” Andrea even took a few seconds before making a noise. He didn’t even realize that she said something until he turned to look at her with lifted brows. She repeated with a louder voice: “Get out of my car, Gryphon Pearce! Who told you I’m going to check in with you?!”

“Heh, police report says you will.” Gryphon laughed out as he showed her his injury again. For some reason, he really missed that shocked face of hers. “Do you want me to press charges against you? That Mathias guy can fetch you from the precinct, too, if you want.”

“Dammit. I shouldn’t have hit the brakes!” She slammed her arms on the wheel before growling, releasing all her frustration. Her eyes closed before taking a look at him again. “…where’s the hotel again? Are you paying for it?”

…

The storm battered the streets outside the hotel, the white rain coating the glazed windows with a faint glow of the surrounding lights. Cold and humidity assaulted everyone who dared to let the wind inside their rooms, so most just slept through the weather.

However, in the lobby, the valet attendant still rushed when a guest arrived at a very late hour. It was already past eleven in the evening, but someone still wished to check in. The receptionist readied the only available rooms to be picked from, rehearsing her lines no matter who walked up to ask for one.

It’s just that… who pushed the glass door was someone the hotel staff was not expecting to see. The handsome man entered in his white shirt and suit slacks, a suit jacket hanging from his arm. His dark-brown hair sat tousled on his head, rainwater dripping along the contours of his face.

All of a sudden, the staff rushed to get someone to give complimentary towels to him and the miss with him—one they had never seen with him before. She had corn-blonde hair and a red mini dress. Redness was evident on her skin as if she had been in the cold for quite a while. Her feet were bare, so the staff also gave her a pair of slippers.

The receptionist pulled up a different list for the man that came. It was their big-big-big boss’s cousin that she kept on calling her little brother. There was a rule for them to cater to him, even if they couldn’t cater to her. It’s just that… why did it look like they were at it in the bushes? The two looked dirty, despite the pristine aura around the man.

“There should be one waiting for me.” She heard him say. The receptionist checked with her computer. It seemed that they did come here for that.