Late in the evening.
The car was entering the parking lot of Star Hotel instead of the hospital.
Lola, who had been looking out the window in the passenger seat, initially thought it was no big deal that the car was going in a different direction, as if they were just stopping somewhere briefly.
But when the vehicle stopped in an unexpected place, Lola’s expression changed to one of confusion.
“O- dear. This is…?”
“Hotel.”
Although it wasn’t her first time at a hotel with him, she hadn’t been informed in advance. And since this situation was different from the last time, Lola couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered.
“So, what’s the occasion for being here?”
Dylan turned to look at the somewhat bewildered Lola and spoke seriously.
“Lola, we haven’t seen each other’s faces for at least three days, right?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“So today, I want to see your face as much as I can.”
Because I couldn’t read any emotions on his expressionless face, I couldn’t tell if his words were sincere or not. Yet, my heart reacted so easily, pounding away.
To Lola, whose face had turned bright red,
“I was thinking of spending tonight with you.”
Dylan added a simple remark, making his intentions even clearer.
Dylan didn’t want to part ways like this, especially since there were knots that needed to be untied between him and Lola.
It was the same whether he was investigating or dealing with relationships. Dylan was the type who felt compelled to resolve any lingering doubts or contradictions that arose.
However, it didn’t seem like the right time to talk while they were having a meal, and he thought there was no better place for the two of them to converse than a hotel.
Moreover, he hadn’t seen Lola’s face for a few days, which made him want to be with her even more.
“Let’s get out.”
Dylan said as he turned off the engine.
Lola hesitated and couldn’t move right away.
It was understandable, as an invisible gap had formed between them in such a short time.
Additionally, he wasn’t the type to express his emotions well, so she couldn’t predict his next move at all. This left her feeling anxious and unable to shake off the unsettling feeling that she had made a serious mistake, weighing heavily on her heart.
“Lola.”
Dylan called her softly, as if he was lost in thought. Only then did Lola snap out of her reverie and open the passenger door to get out.
******
After finishing the check-in at the front desk, Dylan and Lola got into the elevator. When the elevator, carrying the two of them, stopped on the 31st floor where the suite was located and the doors opened, Dylan stepped out and said,
“Lola, there’s something I haven’t done for you yet. I need to do it now.”
“……?”
His casual tone and the seemingly random statement caught Lola off guard.
But before she could grasp the situation, Dylan suddenly lifted her up.
“Ah! Dear.”
Lola, startled by the sudden turn of events, wrapped her arms around Dylan’s neck.
“You have to try everything that others do. I’ve never carried you like this before.”
Feeling his breath and scent at the tip of her nose made Lola’s heart race and her head spin as if she were drunk.
“Why? I like carrying you like this. Don’t you?”
Under normal circumstances, she would have felt ecstatic and happy.
But today was a bit different, wasn’t it?
Because of her own mistake, Lola couldn’t feel lighthearted about his excessive kindness, and her heart felt heavy.
“Don’t make that face; I won’t eat you.”
How did her expression appear in his eyes?
It wasn’t fear, but it was burdensome, and she couldn’t figure out his true feelings, making it hard for her to manage her expression.
Not knowing how to explain herself to him, Lola bit her lip.
“Even if you say you don’t like it, there’s nothing you can do today. I’m going to carry you like this.”
She seemed a bit flustered by his sudden action.
Moreover, since he had brought her to a hotel, she must have felt uneasy.
But none of his words were lies.
He had never carried her in his memories, and he wanted to hold her tightly until they reached their destination. Bringing her to the hotel was simply because he wanted to talk, with no ulterior motives.
However, seeing Lola in his arms with a slightly stiff expression, Dylan began to feel conflicted.
‘Should I put her down now?’
He didn’t want to.
He loved feeling her breath up close and the fragrant scent that wafted from her.
Wanting to savor this moment a little longer, Dylan moved slowly.
