Pepper Spray

It was 9:30 p.m. when Jenna and Adam arrived at the inn that Jenna had booked several months ago.

The inn was a recommendation from Jenna's best friend, Gigi.

The inn building looked a bit old-fashioned, but it's still sturdy. The walls seemed as if they had just been repainted, Jenna could tell by the distinctive scent of the paint that filled her nasal passages. Behind her, Adam stood with a completely unpleasant face.

Jenna pressed the bell on the wall next to the door once, then took a step back and waited for the door to open. A few moments later an old woman with slightly gray hair appeared, she tightened her dark brown wool cardigan against the cold air.

"Is there a reservation already?" asked the old woman straight away, because she was lazy to linger in the open air.

Jenna showed the proof of the order stored in the email on her cellphone. The woman nodded with a smile.

"Ahhh Canada! Please come in," she said politely as she opened the door wide for Jenna and Adam.

Jenna quickly entered, she pulled her black suitcase and ignored Adam who was behind her.

The main room of the inn was very old-fashioned and simple, with only two sofas with colorful fabric covers on them with an ancient fireplace that seemed to be functioning properly.

"Come on, I'll take you upstairs," said the old woman, pointing to a circular staircase that was quite high in front of them. Jenna, who was also surprised, pretended not to see Adam who was staring at her in anger.

After went through a long struggle lifting the suitcase which was quite heavy, they finally arrived on the third floor.

The old woman opened a brown door and pushed it hard. The door creaked softly as it opened, indicating the hinges were worn.

Jenna almost plans to curse Gigi for recommending this inn, but when the door to the room fully opened, Jenna gaped in surprise.

The room was quite spacious, with one bed for two people, a medium-sized wardrobe, a pair of soft cushioned chairs facing the window, and an ancient painting depicting the city of Amsterdam in the early 1800s, very beautiful.

The paint is dominated by beige and brown tones. On the table facing the window, a flower vase with fresh red roses was beautifully displayed.

"Well, the bathroom is over there. I've made sure it's clean. If you need it, the kitchen is on the first floor. You can get free drinking water and bread there," said the woman in a very thick Dutch accent, which fortunately was understandable well by Jenna who does speak several languages ​​including Dutch, while Adam just paused to guess what the old woman meant.

"Okay then I'll come back down, ah ya I'm Elise. You can call me anytime if you need help, my phone number is on the card next to the vase."

After Jenna said her thanks, Elise walked out and closed the door behind her, leaving two strangers who didn't know each other in one room with unimaginable awkwardness.

Jenna pulled her suitcase toward the wardrobe and began arranging a few items that might be used the next day.

"You can use this wardrobe," Jenna said, pointing at the wardrobe door next to her.

Adam just put down his suitcase carelessly, then with one swift motion, he lied down on the bed covered with white linen.

Jenna glared, "who said you allowed to sleep over there?!" she shrieked annoyed. Adam leaned over to face Jenna, "I've paid 50 times and can't get a bed? Seriously! If you want, you can sleep next to me, if you don't want to, just sleep on a chair or the floor, I don't care!"

Checkmate! Jenna was at a loss for words.

With an annoyed face, Jenna draped a towel around her neck, took a change of clothes, went into the bathroom, and slammed the door behind her, making Adam, who had almost closed his eyes, immediately fully awake.

Jenna filled the bathtub with warm water and put a lavender-scented bath in it. While waiting for the water to fill, Jenna opened her cellphone, telling her best friend Gigi that she had arrived safely. She had thought about notifying her father too, but nevertheless. Jenna was still pissed off.

Half an hour later Jenna came out of the bathroom and overheard Adam talked on his cell phone while stood facing the window.

"Just take care of it, I don't care Mum! Who? Matthew? Seriously! Okay! okay! I'll make sure I get a wife as soon as I get back from Europe!"

Jenna, who did not mean to listen to Adam's conversation, could still hear it well because the room was not that spacious and Adam's voice was quite loud.

She pretended to be busy tidying up her suitcase when Adam turned around and stared at her.

"You heard it, didn't you?" he accused with a sharp gaze.

Jenna glared,

"Accusing without evidence! Nonsense" said Jenna, stood up, and carried a piece of ready-to-eat lasagna she had brought from Canada.

With no intention of offering the lasagna to Adam, Jenna went down to the kitchen with the towel on her head.

The kitchen on the first floor looked ancient but was clean. There was a dark brown kitchen set, two stoves, one microwave, one dining table, and a medium-sized refrigerator.

Jenna put the lasagna in the microwave, then waited for it to cook while rolling her finger across her phone. Soon after, the lasagna bolognese was ready to serve, the aroma filled the entire kitchen area, which was quiet at that time.

While Jenna was eating her bolognese lasagna, suddenly Adam appeared, rubbing his hungry stomach. Felt bad about asking Jenna for lasagna, Adam rummaged through a drawer for bread.

After opening and closing several drawers, Adam finally found a drawer with a pile of bread in it. He heated the bread in the microwave then greased it with butter which was on the table.

Jenna, who was focused on her lasagna, pretended not to notice the presence of Adam who had been going back and forth in front of her. Jenna was sitting on a high chair at the large marble table in the kitchen.

"Who's going to keep the key when we leave the inn tomorrow?" suddenly Adam broke the long silence that had built up between them.

Jenna paused, her spoon floating in the air.

"I'll keep the key!" Jenna said straightforwardly.

Adam walked over to Jenna, "No you can't! Doesn't Elise have a copy?" asked Adam, he put the last bite of bread into his mouth.

Jenna shrugged her shoulders.

"So you are looking for a wife?"

Jenna provoked, gave Adam a slight glance.

Adam's eyes narrowed sharply, "You eavesdropper!" said Adam.

Jenna pounded the table softly,

"What! You better lower your voice next time!" Jenna twitched as she got up from her seat, threw away the empty paper plate, and walked upstairs while drinking water from the bottle that had been filled earlier.

Before Adam got to the room, Jenna had confined their bed with small bolsters and cushions from the chair by the window. She also put pepper spray under her pillow in case Adam started getting insolent.

Slept with a stranger you've only known for a few hours sounded like a lot of ridiculousness, but it happened to Jenna. Just to get additional pocket money during her solo trip. 

Jenna pretended to close her eyes when the bedroom door opened. She heard footsteps getting in and getting closer to the bed. Only a few seconds after that Adam lay beside the line that Jenna had drawn earlier, Jenna smiled, she felt safe.

*****

Jenna was dreaming of riding a boat in Venice with a handsome man when suddenly a hand touched her skin. Jenna quickly grabbed some pepper spray under her pillow and squirted it on the person standing by her bed.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!" A scream of pain was heard loudly, sending the birds perched on the windows flying high to move.

Jenna immediately sat upright and was completely shocked to find Adam roaring in pain from the pepper spray that Jenna had sprayed into his eyes on reflex.

"Sorry, I forgot you were next to me!" Jenna squeaked fearfully.

Adam still covered his face with his hands as he shouted,

"You are crazy!!!!"

*****