The Hotel’s Couple Discount Changed Everything

The lobby of the Grand Palms Resort smelled of sea breeze, coconut, and money. Lucas and Marcos, carrying worn-out backpacks that stood in stark contrast to the gleaming marble floor, stared at the reception computer screen with the same horror as someone watching their bank balance disappear.

—How much?! —Marcos nearly choked, his voice echoing beneath the high ceiling. —Ma’am, we just want somewhere to sleep for three days. We’re not buying a share of the hotel.

The receptionist, an elegant woman with a gold name tag that read Diana, smiled with the professional patience of someone who dealt with broke tourists every day.

—Gentlemen, we’re in the middle of peak summer season. But... —she discreetly pointed toward an acrylic display on the counter—if you had booked through our app, you could have taken advantage of our current promotion.

Lucas leaned over the counter, narrowing his eyes as he read the fine print.

“Summer Package for Loving Couples: 60% off master suites with ocean views + complimentary sparkling wine.”

A spark of pure mischief appeared in Lucas’s eyes. He nudged Marcos with his elbow and gave Diana his best shameless grin.

—You see, Diana? We’re a couple. We just didn’t want to... you know, draw attention. But at that price, to hell with prejudice! Apply the discount.

Marcos’s eyes widened, his face turning a deep shade of purple with embarrassment. He opened his mouth to protest, but Lucas stomped hard on his foot while keeping his smile perfectly intact.

Diana looked at the two of them over her reading glasses. Lucas tried to put an arm around Marcos’s shoulders, while Marcos stood stiff as a plaster statue, staring at the ceiling to avoid looking at the woman.

The receptionist let out a quiet, almost mysterious giggle as her fingers flew across the keyboard.

—A couple, of course. The Grand Palms values the authenticity of our guests very highly. But please be aware: our system is integrated with the resort’s wellness policy. If the room detects that the couple’s dynamic isn’t... genuine, we usually make the necessary adjustments.

—Adjustments, sure. Whatever you say. Just give me the key —Lucas laughed, grabbing the magnetic card before Marcos could die of embarrassment. —Room 302. Thanks, Diana!

---

The following morning, the relentless summer sun streamed through the gaps in the curtains of the master suite.

Lucas groaned, rolling over in the enormous king-sized bed. His body felt strangely light, yet incredibly sensitive at the same time. The linen sheets seemed to brush against his skin in a completely different way.

He reached toward the other side of the bed.

Empty.

Marcos must have gone downstairs early to get breakfast.

His throat dry, Lucas got out of bed. That was when the first warning bell went off in his mind.

He seemed... shorter.

His footsteps no longer had the same heavy sound as before. And then a long, wavy strand of brown hair slipped over his shoulder.

—What the hell...?

Lucas reached for his head.

His short, spiky hair was gone.

In its place, silky strands fell all the way down to the middle of his back.

Panicking, he rushed into the marble bathroom and froze in front of the mirror.

The scream caught in his throat.

The reflection staring back at him was no longer his own.

His square face and three-day stubble had been replaced by delicate features, full lips, and expressive eyes belonging to an absolutely stunning woman.

But the biggest shock came when he looked down.

His sleep clothes were gone.

Instead, he—or rather, she—was wearing a retro one-piece swimsuit with a white background covered in vibrant red cherries. The swimsuit fit perfectly, shaping a narrow waist, wide hips, and a generous bust that Lucas could barely process as part of his own body.

—No, no, no... This has to be a dream. It must be that damn caipirinha from last night —she muttered.

But her voice came out soft, melodic, and unmistakably feminine.

Lucas ran her hands over her hips, feeling the pleated texture of the swimsuit. The fabric seemed almost fused to her skin. She tried tugging at one of the straps, but the elastic simply adjusted itself even more perfectly around her bust, emphasizing her new curves.

The bedroom door beeped.

Marcos walked in carrying two acrylic trays loaded with fruit, bread, and glasses of juice.

—Dude, you have no idea how long the breakfast line was. I had to—

Marcos froze.

The glasses of juice shook dangerously on the tray.

His eyes widened as they locked onto the brown-haired woman in the cherry-print swimsuit who had just emerged from the bathroom, her face filled with pure panic and her cheeks bright red.

—H-Hey... —Marcos swallowed hard, his voice faltering. His face immediately turned crimson, and he looked down at the floor awkwardly. —Sorry, miss. I think... I got the wrong room. Do you know where the guy who was staying here went? Lucas?

Lucas crossed her arms beneath her new breasts, unintentionally pushing them upward and making the cherry pattern stand out even more.

—Marcos, it’s me, you idiot! —she snapped, although her soft voice made it sound more like a spoiled complaint than an actual shout. —I woke up and... look at me! I don't know what happened! This stupid cherry thing appeared stuck to my body!

Marcos slowly raised his eyes, blinking several times.

He placed the tray on the table with trembling hands, nearly dropping everything. He looked Lucas up and down, his eyes stopping briefly at the wide hips outlined by the swimsuit before traveling back up those curves to her frightened—but unbelievably beautiful—face.

Then it finally clicked.

The receptionist’s warning. Necessary adjustments.

The hotel really had a very literal way of correcting fraudulent reservations.

—L-Lucas? —Marcos stammered, taking a step backward, completely flustered. He rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing where to look. His heart was pounding like a drum. —Oh my God... You... you turned into... a girl. And... a very...

He cut himself off, far too embarrassed to finish the compliment.

But his eyes betrayed him, briefly dropping toward her shapely legs before quickly returning to the floor.

—A very what, Marcos?! Look at me! How am I supposed to go to the beach like this?! —she protested, taking a step toward him.

The movement made her hips sway, and Marcos took another step backward until his back hit the door.

—I... I don't know! —Marcos confessed, his ears burning red. He glanced at the cherry-print neckline and swallowed hard.

Despite the shock and general panic, a spark of something completely new flickered in his mind.

He had always thought Lucas was a great guy, but seeing his friend transformed into such a spectacular woman was making his brain short-circuit.

And deep down...

He wasn't exactly hating the situation.

—You know... Diana warned us about the couple rules. I guess the hotel decided not to let us get away with the lie.

Lucas noticed how nervous her friend was.

She took another step forward, cornering Marcos against the wooden door. A sudden, strange wave of feminine confidence—mixed with her old desire to tease her friend—washed over her.

She placed one hand on her hip and tilted her body slightly.

—And you're just going to leave me locked in here while you go enjoy the beach, boyfriend? —Lucas teased, a mischievous smile appearing on her full lips.

Marcos looked at the hand resting on her hip, then at the brown eyes staring at him with amusement.

He let out a nervous laugh, relaxing slightly beneath the familiar teasing, although his face was still burning.

He reached behind himself, grabbed the doorknob, and turned the lock with a sharp click.

—Well... —Marcos cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure, although his voice was still an octave higher than usual. —If we don't go down to the beach together, the receptionist is going to think we're fighting. And, come to think of it... she was right.

—Right about what? —Lucas asked, feeling a strange, inexplicable shiver run down her spine as she noticed Marcos's shy but focused gaze.

—That now, finally... we're in the right room.

He paused, still trying to process everything.

—Give me some time to get used to this, but... you look beautiful. Ready?

Lucas looked at herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting the strap of the cherry-print swimsuit.

Then she looked at her friend, who was already opening the door and waiting for her with an awkward, protective smile.

Pretending to be a couple for the next three days didn't seem like such a terrible sacrifice after all.