Helen finally arrives at the airport a bundle of nerves, but then she remembers it's just a work matter. She sighs several times to control her racing heart and tries to calm her trembling hands. The driver parks at the main entrance, turns around, and comments with a smile on his face:
"We made it on time, I think."
"I think so. How much is it?"
"Eighteen euros."
The girl looks for money in her purse and hands it to the driver with a broad smile.
"You can keep the change."
"Thank you, miss, and good luck."
As she enters, she sees many people rushing around, so she grabs her cell phone and calls her former boss.
When he sees it's her calling, he takes a sip of water to clear his throat; his hands are sweating and he trembles, as he's more nervous than he imagined.
"Hello, Helen," his voice is faltering.
"Boss, I’m already at the airport. Where are you?"
"Don't call me boss, or have you forgotten that you no longer work for me. I'm just Renato now."
"Okay Renato, where are you?"
"In a cafe on the first floor, I'm waiting for you."
"I’ll come up now," he answers and ends the call. She walks past a display window and, upon glancing at her reflection, now regrets her outfit. "I’m such a fool, I should have worn something really sexy so he regrets everything he did to me," she mumbles under her breath as she adjusts her shirt slightly.
Helen goes to an escalator and slowly ascends it. She's fearful; she has a bad feeling. When she arrives at the upper floor, she searches among the shops for a café, until she eventually spots her former boss sitting with dark glasses and two cups of coffee.
When he sees the young woman, he stands up, removes his glasses and approaches her.
"Hello," he greets her confidently and warmly, kissing her cheek, which takes Helen by surprise. "I ordered a coffee with cinnamon and cream, just the way you like it."
"Thank you, but I just came to deliver the reports."
"Helen, I have to be honest with you and admit that I don't need those reports. I just wanted to talk to you, and it was the only excuse I could find to see you. Please sit down; we only have an hour."
"Okay," she says incredulously. "What do you want to talk about?" She grips her bag tightly.
"Stop being so formal and you can use 'tu' with me, I think the formality between us has been left behind after our encounters."
"I’m sorry, but it's hard for me to talk to you in any other way," her cheeks burn at his comment, as memories of their kisses flood her mind.
"Except when you're angry, then formality doesn't matter to you," he smiles, a spark of mischief in his eyes, "I’ve heard you insult me," he confesses.
"Alright then, what do you want?"
"Much better. I want us to talk about us. I don't want to embark on my trip to Germany knowing that I hurt you. I can't stand it. You are important to me; I have a certain affection for you that I can't explain, but only now I’m realizing it."
"You just obsessed over my body, before you never saw me with other eyes," she spoke so loudly that some passing women murmurred at them, so she lowers her voice and continues, "to you I was just easy sex,” a tear courses down her cheek, her glasses hide her misty eyes, “do you remember how you would always call me ugly, that's why you hired me? Those words were etched in my mind and hurt my heart, just like how you got that mad idea of the prophecy. For three long years, I heard the same thing over and over. You can't suddenly say you care for me now and expect me to believe you."
"Helen," he tries to take her hand, but she doesn’t let go of her bag, "I only said those things to you because I wanted to kiss you and make you mine every damned day that you were with me. It was my way of pushing you away, but now..." he pauses, "I don't want you far away anymore. You are beautiful." He leans in closer to her chair and removes her glasses; he needs to look into her eyes without any barriers, he wants to see through her soul. "And I’m sorry for being such a jerk to you, I hurt you and I can't change that. I’m sorry."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I want to get to know you, spend time with you, and erase that horrible image you have of me."
"I don’t know what to say."
"Don't say anything, I just need to ask you a favor while looking into your eyes. If you have feelings for me, just wait for me,” he pleads, taking her hand, “I don't know how to explain what I feel for you, but the only thing I do know is that I love having you by my side. These days without seeing you or hearing your voice were torture."
"I can’t promise something like that. Six months is a long time and I’m not sure if what you’re saying is true."
"I understand that you hate me now, that you have doubts but you were right."
"I don’t know what you're referring to."
"When we were together our bodies and souls connected. You're the first woman who's given me hope and I won't let you forget me easily. I don't know how to treat you; I've never been in a relationship and I just want to learn by being with you. In six months I'll be back and I want us to talk in person again, for now I'll content myself with hearing your voice over the phone."
Renato shortens the distance, he can no more resist without tasting her lips and he kisses her. Initially, she refuses to accept his kiss, but eventually she stops fighting and surrenders. When they separate, he rests his forehead against hers and says,
"I’m going to miss you, Miss Scribbler."
"How do you remember that?"
"Because that day I realized I was in trouble. In just a few minutes you changed my way of thinking; I gave you an opportunity, which was something I had never done before, I would have fired you for much less." He kisses her again very briefly. "You were very brave confessing that you hadn’t paid me any attention. But I always wondered what you were drawing in that notebook for over twenty minutes."
"That day I created the design for my tattoo," she confesses shyly.
"I love it," he kisses her, "and I love you. I feel like I wasted time trying to distance you and now we only have a few minutes to enjoy the taste of your lips." He kisses her again, and each time it's harder for him to pull away.
The airport begins to announce boarding for the flight to Germany, they separate and Helen speaks sadly.
"That’s your flight."
"I know, you still haven't promised that you're going to wait for me. I need time to sort a few things out, but I’m going to come back for you, I promise."
"Alright, I’ll wait for you," she can't refuse, especially after hearing such a beautiful confession.
"We have a deal, Miss Scribbler, don’t forget it," he seals their promise with another kiss and upon detaching hands over the keys of his truck, "here, you can use it while I’m not here. You always have trouble getting a taxi."
"That’s not necessary, I’ll take it to your house and leave it in the parking lot."
"Helen, I need to ask you another favor," he says as they get up and walk to the boarding gate, "my sister is pregnant, can you please help her with Hercules? That flea-ridden mutt loves you and will be happy to see you."
"Alright."
"Thanks, I have to go in now," he hands his passport and ticket to the agent and, while she checks the information, steals one last kiss from Helen, "I’ll call you."
"Okay."
Helen watches as he disappears into the crowd, and when finally she sees his plane lift off, she heads to the parking lot, opens the truck door and finds a bouquet of red roses and a box of chocolates. She's surprised when she reads the card.
"...I knew you would accept, because what we have is real. Just wait for me and teach me to love. R.R..."
Helen grabs the roses and smells them, she still can’t believe what’s happening is real, until she pricks herself on a thorn and sees the droplet of blood on her finger.
"This is real, Helen, you’re not dreaming," she murmurs and starts the truck.
The young woman leaves the airport and heads for the apartment, she enters to leave the key and finds a giant teddy bear with a bow, a perfume and a note.
"...If you miss me, just spray this doll with perfume and hug it. I’ll hug you in my dreams..."
The young woman embraces the doll and lovingly takes it to the room; she lies down on the bed and is left remembering every detail of the conversation she had with Renato.
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