Chapitre 23: Are You Gay?

After finishing their meal, they were enjoying tea while appreciating the dazzling reflection of the moon and other lights on the lake. The calming foliage also contributed on setting the mood.

Midori was however still a bit dazed on recalling the message she received earlier.

Dan, who was constantly staring at her, was itching to know the matter behind her expression, but he did not seem to know how to inquire about it.

Just then, she snapped out of her thoughts and saw him staring at her.

"What are you looking at? Is there food stain on my face?" She tried touching her cheeks and the corner of her mouth.

Dan smiled. "Nan demonai*." Then he slowly shook his head.

Midori was astonished. "You spoke in..."

"You like to converse like that, right?"

"It's mom's native tongue..." she replied, her thoughts replaced of the current situation. Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, I've been meaning to ask you something."

Dan raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Really? What is it?"

Midori took a deep breath. "Are you gay?" she asked carefully.

Dan's elbow which was holding the fortunately empty teacup dropped from the table edge.

"What?!" Dan's face showed how incredulous her question was. He tried to open his mouth but no words came out.

Midori tried to justify her claim. "We-well, this blouse is too girly...uhm, actually all the clothes that you ask me to wear are very feminine..."

"Because you're a girl!" Dan's voice seemed to disrupt the tranquility of the surroundings.

The man handling the boat cannot help himself not to snicker.

"Even so, it's too girly for your taste unless...I am just a front!" Midori tried to drive her point home.

"D-Do all of these seem gay to you?!" Dan gestured towards their surroundings, the boat, then to himself.

Midori shrugged her shoulders then heartily laughed.

"Why you..." Dan was pissed, but he calmed down seeing her laughing face. He eventually gave up and laughed with her.

The boat ride coincidentally ended and they docked safely.

As soon as they stepped foot on the ground, Dan grabbed Midori's wrist and embraced her tightly.

"Just so your weird brain knows, my sister picks out your clothes." he whispered through gritted teeth.

Midori laughed even more. "I hope this sister of yours is not your alter ego."

Dan held her shoulders at arms length then looked into her eyes. "Want me to prove to you that I AM NOT GAY?" His eyes predatory.

She just laughed then twisted her body to turn away from him. "I wanna see my room. It's so beautiful here."

A uniformed personnel led them to the grand suite room. He handed Dan the keycard.

Midori looked into the traditionally designed room with round mirror and a king size bed with a wooden cabinet which nestled an emerging television on remote control. There were also lounge chairs, a personal fridge and mini bar. She proceeded to the en suite bathroom.

Before closing the bathroom door, she looked back at him. "You can go to your room now. Good night." She smiled brightly.

Midori took her time in the bath. She took a warm shower first, then proceeded to the tub to soak in aromatic oils and bath salts. When she finally finished indulging herself, she brushed her teeth then blow dried her hair. She was in a soft robe when she went out.

She was walking past the bed, going to the wardrobes when she saw someone sitting on the sofa.

"Whaaaaah!" she screamed her lungs out, tightly hugging the robe as if wanting it to fuse with her skin.

Dan, who was quietly reading a book on the sofa, gestured to plug his ears with his fingers.

"Wha-why are you still here?!" She pointed towards him with her trembling fingers.

After sizing her up with his gaze, he calmly replied, "This is also my room." Then he flipped the book page.

Before Midori could retaliate, a knock was heard from the door.

They shot each other looks. Seeing she was still in a robe, Dan sighed and went to open the door.

A female employee appeared before him. "Please excuse my intrusion, Sir...but we heard a scream from this suite just now. Is there a problem?"

Dan remembered that though this is a grand hotel, it was built near a lake and to fully experience nature, the rooms were not sound proof, plus their door to the veranda was left wide open for the evening breeze to flow.

"Sorry. She just hallucinated a bit. Thought she saw something that wasn't there. She's calm now." He tried to sound reassuring.

The employee tried to stick her neck more into the room. You will never be sure if this room will not be a murder scene in the morning.

Midori was irritated as to why the personnel was still at the door. She cannot fully change when other people are lurking in the room. She wanted the person at the door to disappear so she could send Dan away herself. Sensing that they were still chatting, she calmly shout out from the bedroom, "Who's there?"

Dan was a bit surprised that she talked from there, but was internally thankful that she did. "Hear that? She's okay now. Please rest assured that we will keep it down from now on." He then flashed his smile.

The female employee was almost melted by his smile. She nodded, then blushingly excused herself.

Dan walked back into the bedroom. He walked towards Midori until he had cornered her onto a wall.

"So, who are you saying is gay?" He stared slyly into her shaking eyes.