Boy, 21: Love and Lust-Chapter 46: Date

Joren and Lana stepped out of the room together, the door clicking shut behind them, and they descended the stairs and entered the living area.

Leon was sprawled across the couch like a lazy cat, phone in hand, legs stretched out, a sock on one leg. He didn’t look up.

"We’re heading out," Joren said.

Leon didn’t move. "Oh?" he said, still staring at his screen.

Then, in a sudden shift of tone — high-pitched and teasing, like a grandma scolding her grandkids — he added, "You two better be back before sunset. And don’t take candy from strangers. Or talk to weird men in vans."

Joren blinked, then gave him a slow, amused stare. "The hell are you yapping about?"

Leon dropped the act, his voice returning to its usual dry edge. "You think I care where you go? You could fall into a volcano for all I care." He waved a dismissive hand without looking up. "Just don’t do something that gets all of us in trouble."

Joren rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, dude. Just tell Zuri we’re not around if she asks."

Leon gave a noncommittal grunt, followed by a lazy nod, his attention still glued to his phone.

Lana raised an eyebrow. "Was he always like that?"

"He’s probably in a bad mood," Joren muttered.

They lingered for a second, watching Leon scroll up and down his phone. Then they shrugged it off and headed out of the suite, stepping into the elevator.

The elevator went all the way down to the ground floor before coming to a stop. It’s doors opened and they stepped out of it and into the resort’s lobby — the same wide, sunlit space with polished floors, hanging plants, and the soft hum of ambient music drifting from hidden speakers. A few guests milled about, some checking in, others lounging near the indoor fountain.

Lana glanced around, then turned to Joren with a playful smile. "So... do you actually have somewhere in mind for this date? Somewhere in the resort?"

Joren scratched the back of his neck. "Well... I don’t exactly know the ins and outs of this place yet, but—"

"But what?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He gestured toward the front desk. "We could ask one of the staff. You know, about the sights and attractions — or whatever they’re called. Might get some directions."

Lana nodded. "Sounds good. Better than wandering around like lost tourists."

Joren smirked. "Exactly. Wait here — I’ll go ask."

He walked off toward the reception desk, weaving past a couple dragging large bags and a kid chasing a balloon. Lana stayed behind, watching him go with a faint smile, arms folded as she took in the ambience of the lobby.

The receptionist looked up as Joren approached the desk, her posture straight and polished, her smile professional but warm.

"Good afternoon," she said. "How can I help you?"

Joren leaned slightly on the counter, glancing at the resort map behind her. "Hey. My friend and I just got here, and we’re kind of clueless. Where can we find the resort’s main attractions? You know—restaurants, spa, cafés, stuff like that."

She nodded, tapping her tablet. "Of course. You’re not far at all. Just step out of the main building and take a right. You’ll see signs, and there’s usually a crowd heading that way. The dining terrace, boutiques, and mini marts are all in that direction."

Joren smiled. "Perfect. Thanks a lot."

"Enjoy your day," she said with a nod.

He turned and walked back toward Lana, who was waiting near a tall potted plant, arms folded, watching him with a curious expression.

"So?" she asked as he reached her. "What did she say?"

Joren gestured toward the exit. "It’s just outside. Take a right and we’re in the thick of it."

Lana grinned. "So what are we waiting for?"

Before he could answer, she looped her arm through his and tugged him toward the door.

"Let’s get going," she said, her voice light and eager.

Joren chuckled, letting himself be pulled along. "Bossy, huh?"

"Very bossy." she shot back, already pushing through the glass doors into the courtyard.

They stepped out of the main building and into the heart of the resort grounds — a sprawling, sun-drenched plaza framed by palm trees and sleek, modern architecture. To the left, a row of boutique shops shimmered with glass displays. To the right, the scent of grilled seafood drifted from an open-air restaurant. In the distance, a glimmering pool curved around a bar shaded by thatched umbrellas, and just beyond that, a sleek building with frosted windows bore the sign: Sorelle Spa.

Lana’s eyes widened as she took it all in. "Wow... this place is huge. Look at all the spots — restaurants, shops, a pool bar... it’s like a mini city."

Joren gave a low whistle. "Yeah, they weren’t kidding about this place being top-class."

Lana didn’t respond. Her attention was elsewhere, eyes darting across the plaza, taking in every detail.

"So," Joren said, turning to him with a grin, "which one do you want to go to fir—"

Before he could finish, she gasped and grabbed his arm. "Oh! A spa!" She pointed toward the sleek building. "Let’s start with that one!"

"Wait—" Joren began, caught off guard as she tugged him forward. "I thought we were getting lunch first—"

But her excitement was infectious, and her grip firm. He let out a breathy laugh as she pulled him along.

"Alright, alright," he said, giving in. "Lead the way."

Lana beamed. "That’s more like it."

They made their way down the path, the sun warm on their skin, the resort buzzing gently around them.

They stepped into the spa, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. The air was cooler, scented with lavender and eucalyptus. Soft instrumental music played in the background, and the lighting was low and warm, casting a golden glow across the marble floors. A small indoor fountain trickled quietly near the entrance, adding to the tranquil vibe.

Behind the reception desk stood a woman in a cream-colored uniform, her hair pulled back neatly, her smile calm and welcoming.

"Good afternoon," she said warmly. "Welcome to Sorelle Spa. How can we help you today?"

Lana stepped forward, her eyes already scanning the serene space. "Hi! We were wondering what kind of services you offer."

"Of course," the woman replied, reaching beneath the counter and pulling out a glossy menu. "Here’s a list of our current treatments — massages, facials, aromatherapy, body scrubs, and a few specialty packages."

Joren and Lana leaned in, flipping through the menu together. Lana pointed at a deep tissue massage listing. "This one sounds intense."

Joren raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want someone digging into your spine for an hour?"

Lana smirked. "I don’t think I’m up for that."

As they skimmed further, the woman added, "We also have a limited-time couples massage experience, if you’re interested."

Both Joren and Lana looked up at the same time. "Couples massage?" they echoed.

"Yes," she said with a nod. "It’s a guided session where couples massage each other, with a professional masseuse walking you through the techniques. It’s designed to be relaxing and a little fun — great for bonding."

Lana tilted her head, intrigued. "So we’d be the ones doing the massaging?"

"Exactly," the woman said. "We provide the oils, the setup, and the guidance. You do the massages yourselves."

Joren glanced at Lana, then back at the receptionist. "That’s... different."

Lana grinned. "Kind of tempting though."

The woman smiled. "No pressure. Take your time deciding."

They kept skimming through the menu until Joren finally looked up and turned to the receptionist. "You know," he said, "the couples massage actually sounds pretty good to me."

He turned to Lana. "What about you? You in?"

Lana tilted her head, considering it for a second. "Yeah," she said with a small smile. "I’m fine with it."

She turned back to the woman behind the counter. "We’ll take the couples massage."

The receptionist’s smile widened. "Wonderful. Just give us a little time to get things ready — we’ll need to prep one of the private rooms, set up the oils and towels, and bring in the masseuse who’ll be guiding you through the session."

Joren nodded. "Cool. How long do you think that’ll take?"

The woman tapped a few things on her screen, her brow furrowing slightly. "Hmm... it might take a little while. Most of our staff are currently with other clients. I’d say... ten to twenty minutes, if that’s alright?"

Lana’s smile faltered. "Twenty minutes?" she echoed, clearly less thrilled. "That’s kind of a long time to wait just for a massage."

Joren shrugged. "It’s not that bad."

She turned to him, arms folded. "Not that bad? That’s like... a whole episode of a show. What are we supposed to do for twenty minutes? Meditate in the lobby?"

He chuckled. "We could go get lunch. Kill two birds with one stone — eat now, come back relaxed and ready to get our backs cracked."

Lana raised an eyebrow. "That’s not how massages work, Joren."

"Still," he said, grinning, "I’m starving. And we haven’t had lunch today."

She sighed, then nodded. "Alright, fine. But if we come back and they’ve given our spot to someone else, I’m blaming you."

"Cool," he said, turning back to the receptionist. "We’ll come back after lunch, if that’s okay."

"Of course," she said with a gracious nod. "Thank you for understanding. I’ll make a note and hold your spot."

"Appreciate it," Joren said.

He gently placed a hand on Lana’s back and guided her toward the door. As they stepped back into the sunlit courtyard, the scent of grilled food drifted in from somewhere nearby.

Lana glanced sideways at him. "You better not take me to some awkward restaurant."

Joren smirked. "Relax. I’ll find us something nice."

She laughed, looping her arm through his again. "You better."

They disappeared into the crowd, leaving the spa behind them.