Sweet Nights With Summer

The knocks became louder, and louder till the whole room was filled with the echoes that emanated from the force of the knocks. 

"Room service!"; the voice behind the knocks rang out as Shannon hurriedly moved to the door to know who it was that was disturbing her peace and that of Martin's. 

Upon opening the door, she saw a calm young man dressed in a red T-shirt with the insignia of the hotel pinned boldly on his chest. 

"I am the kitchen attendant madam…"; he began, whilst drawing backwards from Shannon who was visibly annoyed at him for ruining her perfectly good moment with Martin. 

"So what do you want?.."; Shannon cut in, not allowing him to complete his sentence as he tried to explain his reason behind the knocking. 

"I wanted to take your order ma'am, I didn't know what kind of food you would love to take this evening, so I was sent upstairs to inquire from you"; he answered. 

"By the way what's your name?"; Shannon asked as she fixed her gaze on the young man's face. 

"My name is Athelstan madam"; he answered. 

"Okay Athelstan"; she began; "I just wanna let you know that I am not feeling too hungry this evening, but if you can bring a bowl of Egwusi soup and a bowl of semovita for my friend here, I'd really appreciate it". 

"Okay ma, your wish is my command"; Athelstan said as he wrote down all of the instructions that emanated from the mouth of Shannon. When it dawned on him that there were no more orders to take, he bowed his head in respect and went down the stairs, all the way to the kitchen. 

"Relax Martin, the kitchen attendant is gone"; Shannon said as she closed the door after she noticed how shook Martin was. 

"What was that all about Shannon"; he asked, turning over his face to the window in a desperate effort to not see the face of the woman who was bent on knowing what it felt like to be with him, romantically. 

"What has gotten into you Martin" Shannon asked as she walked over to where the guy was sitting, knelt before him and then said the following; "There is nothing wrong with what we are doing, love…"

"Love…? Martin said with a little bit of smirk on his face as he tried to process the statement he heard from Shannon some seconds ago; "When did you begin to fall in love with me, do you even know what love stands for"?; he asked, turning his face over to face Shannon's and to hear what she had to say. 

"Ever since I set my eyes on you back when we were in high school, I have always wanted to know what it felt like to be with you"; she began; "but, at the same time, I was scared of approaching you because I didn't want a scenario whereby you would get hurt for following the popular girl in school" she said. 

"Why do I feel that it's not you talking but your dirty desires doing the talking?" Martin said, his face showing a certain level of pity for the woman who was kneeling right in front of him. 

"You don't know anything about love"; he began, "All the guys you dated back when we were in high school had one major thing in common that I don't have"; he said, and as he stood up and pointed to his face, he said the following in a loud voice; "They are more good looking than me!"

"What makes you think that you are ugly, Martin?"; Shannon asked as she gently placed her hands on the palm of Martin; "I don't think you're ugly, I think you are one of the most beautiful souls I have ever seen" she said. 

"Do not give me that crap Shannon"; Martin said, this time feeling visibly pissed; "I do not want to elongate this conversation with you anymore than I have"; he said; "but please, I would greatly appreciate it if you keep your hands to yourself".

"Are you rejecting my show of affection to you?"; Shannon asked with tears building up in his eyes; and as she rushed to hug Martin, he gently shoved her by the side and motioned to her with hands to let him be. 

"You know what?"; Shannon began; "You are not even on my level by the way, you should be happy that I stopped so low to be with the likes of you!"

"Do not be pissed Shannon!, I simply do not think that what we are about to do here is right!"; Martin said. 

"I am not going to talk to you again, just leave me alone" said Shannon, as she walked over to the bed and buried her head under the pillow to drown herself in tears. 

Kpam Kpam Kpam!!!

A knock was heard on the door. This time it was Athelstan the kitchen attendant. 

"I have brought the food you ordered madam"; Athelstan said as he waited to gain a response from Shannon. 

"Drop it at the door and get lost please"; Shannon said at the top of her voice, not minding whether she hurt the feelings of the poor guy who was just doing his job. 

"Ok madam, if you say so"; Athelstan said as he withdrew slowly from the door and began to make his way down to the kitchen whilst muttering incomprehensible foul words against Shannon in a low voice. 

"You did not need to be too harsh on him, Shannon, that was uncalled for, the lad was just doing his job"; Martin said as he opened the door to pick up the food that was placed right outside their door. 

Shannon said nothing and simply turned her eyes over to the other side of the bed to avoid catching a glimpse of Martin's face as he ate his food. 

After he was done eating, he thanked her for the meal, called the attention of the kitchen attendant to come and take the remnants of the food downstairs and then laid a mat on the floor of the room to sleep on it. 

And as he lay there, he thought about what had transpired this night between him and Shannon, whether if he made the right decision to not submit himself to her amorous desires and as he was lost in his sea of thoughts; it didn't take long until Morpheus, the god of sleep, visited him.