第5章

Chapter 5: "Sorry, I'm lost"

She hesitated for a moment before politely saying, “I’m so sorry. I must have got lost on the way here. This is my first time in this area and I’ve never been to the hot springs before.”

The man looked up at her with mild surprise but immediately composed himself. “That’s alright, Miss. I also happen to be new here as well. It wasn’t my intention to cause any confusion. Let me show you where everything is.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, opening the door leading to the hot springs.

Taking his lead, they both entered together. The man was clearly quite knowledgeable about the hot springs area since he pointed them to different facilities around the area without needing much of her guidance.

As they walked through the showers and lounging areas, she couldn’t help but notice the various comforts offered by the facility. The water was warm and refreshing, with a variety of towels and robes available for guests to use during their stay.

Finally, they arrived at his private suite. He motioned her in as he pulled out a key to unlock the door. She felt a blush creeping up her neck but nodded anyway, stepping inside.

He led her to a corner of the room where a small table with cushions and a few candles were placed nicely. “If you feel uncomfortable here or need anything, just let me know.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “And if your interest lies in taking baths instead of showers, we have special hot springs services available as well.”

She couldn’t help but smile as she felt her heart flutter at the thought of soaking in the hot springs. As he finished speaking, a young server approached with a tray full of complimentary towels and amenities.

The man took out his cell phone to take a call before stepping back into the room, closing the door behind him with a gentle click. She couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed that she wasn’t going to spend the night in this cozy suite, especially when her companion was off doing business for what seemed like an hour.

But as they both looked at each other, their eyes met briefly before turning away again and disappearing into their own thoughts. She couldn’t shake off the thought of him being engaged in whatever he was currently doing or maybe even somewhere else on purpose.

It wasn’t until they were seated at a table in the middle of the room that she realized she still hadn’t introduced herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.” She reached out her hand and took his as they both sat down.

He smiled warmly when he saw her handshake with him, feeling a sense of warmth flow through his veins from the contact. It wasn’t long before their conversation resumed with both parties feeling more comfortable around each other.

As they continued to talk about their respective experiences in the city and how they ended up on this vacation spot, she couldn’t help but feel that they were finding something special despite having been thrown into it together by chance.

The hotel staff came over a few times throughout the night offering her refreshments or small tips on things she might find interesting. She felt grateful for the unexpected warmth of the place and decided to make herself at home, enjoying both the scenery and the company.

In the morning when they woke up, he was gone but left some extra items for her as a sign of kindness. It wasn’t until she saw him in the elevator taking a call on his way out that it became clear how much time they had spent together without realizing it.

And so began their romance that started from an accidental mistake during a trip, turning into something far more meaningful than just a fleeting encounter in a hot spring.