Chapter 18 To The Hotel With My Sister's Friends

• The hotel came into view in the distance, a towering building with bright lights illuminating its facade, their glow reflecting off the wet streets from the evening rain. The VIP card from Sis Elin felt heavy in my pocket, but my steps slowed. For some reason, I hesitated to go in. Back in the village, the word “hotel” always carried a bad reputation—a place for improper things, whispered about with judgmental gossip. Even though I knew this was a luxury hotel, those thoughts nagged at me, making me stand frozen on the sidewalk, staring at the large glass doors guarded by a uniformed security guard.
• “Hey, Riko!” A woman’s voice called out, familiar and slightly flirty. I turned, and there was Siska—Sis Elin’s friend and a salon worker. Her light brown dyed hair swayed in the night breeze, her face bright with minimal makeup that made her look younger. “Hi, Sis Siska,” I greeted flatly, already bracing for what was coming. She always teased me whenever we met, even in front of Sis Elin, and now, alone on this quiet street, I knew she’d be worse.
• Sure enough, without hesitation, she linked her arm with mine, her warm fingers wrapping around my forearm. “Where you headed?” she asked, her wide smile and twinkling eyes full of teasing.