LADY RUSSAMEE

THE PAST

The medical business convention was scheduled for the coming week.

My flight leaves on Friday night and I will be in San Francisco for a week.

The event was for three days and the rest of my stay would be spent on some rest and relaxation.

I lost count of the number of times I attended these conventions.

The novelty wore off years ago.

Nowadays, I go because it was part of my job.

The exciting part I looked forward to was learning about the new advancement in healthcare.

***

By this time, the food delivery had become a regular thing between Alice and I.

I would get to the office and there would be a food container waiting for me.

If it wasn't porridge, it would be noodles.

The last time she brought was the glass noodle salad and cut-up ripe mangoes for dessert.

My assistant even asked if I had food ordered from Alice.

To prevent further questions,I said yes.

But what I look forward to about these meals were the notes inside the container.

She was smart not to tape it outside like she did the first time.

On her last note, she gave her phone number.

I would call her at night when I get home.

I have a secure line inside my room and these conversations had been going on for weeks now.

The first phone call lasted for three hours.

I was like a giddy school girl with a crush.

But she was so easy to talk to.

I liked knowing the things she did or didn't do.

I learned so much about her during these nightly phone calls and she discovered a lot about me too.

But there was something important I found out the more we became close.

The pull.

I couldn't resist Alice.

I was also starting to miss her especially in the mornings when we don't hear from each other.

This was a concern to me.

Am I falling in love?

***

My thought was interrupted by a soft knock.

I looked up to see my assistant sticking her head on the door.

She said I have a visitor.

"Who?"

"Mr. Kiet Ayutthaya," She announced with a big smile.

My expression was neutral.

I wasn't expecting him today or any day.

"Tell him to come in," I said out of politeness.

***

Kiet apologized for visiting unannounced.

"I am now handling all of my uncle's business and since I'm here, I thought I'd say hi."

This meant one thing.

Since he was now in charge of deliveries, I'd see him more often.

"By the way, are you going to the convention?"

"Yes."
"Me too."
Great.

"Do you usually attend?" I asked.

"This will be my first one. My uncle was invited but since he delegated everything to me, he decided it was best I go."

"I see."

"Are you hungry?" He changed topics.

"I'm okay."
"I was going to grab coffee at the cafeteria. Do you want to come with?"

I looked at the clock on the wall.

It was almost ten in the morning and I haven't had a break.

My back and legs were stiff from sitting too long.

"I could use a little caffeine," I stood up.

"Great. Perhaps you could give me some tips on what to do at these conventions. Uncle said it was the perfect opportunity for networking."
"He's right."
Kiet walked ahead of me and opened the door.

***

The first thing I saw when we entered the cafeteria was Alice and her colleagues sitting by the window.

She was seated where she could see the people coming in.

The smile on her face was replaced with a frown when she saw me with Kiet.

But she quickly looked away when a guy who was about her age said something to her.

Kiet and I went straight to the front to join the line.

Even with my back turned to her, I could feel her staring at us.

"What would you like?" Kiet's hand was on my elbow.

I stepped back and he dropped his hold on me.

"It's okay. I'll order on my own."
"Come on, Lady Russamee. Can't we at least be friends?"

"Why?"

"Because I could see that you are not interested in me as a romantic partner. Perhaps being friends would be the next best thing?"

"Or business partners which we already are."
"Alright. If that's what it takes for you to warm up to me, business partners then."
I smiled at him.

We stepped forward to place our orders.

The cashier didn't even have to ask what I want.

After taking Kiet's order which was a large cup of coffee with a splash of cream and three sugars, she prepared my oolong tea first.

When we were done, I turned around and checked the spot where Alice was seated.

She was no longer there.

***

The phone rang at seven in the evening.

I just came out of the bathroom after a quick shower and was still in my silk robe.

I picked up the handset and said hello.

"Who's that guy?" She asked after saying hello back.

"Which guy?"

"Come on, Russamee. You know who I'm talking about."

I sensed the jealousy in her tone.

What was weird was how I found it oddly satisfying.

Jealousy was an indicator that I meant something to her.

"Oh. Kiet."
"Kiet?"

"Yes. That's his name. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"Is he your suitor or something?"

"Why would you think that?"
"Because the way he looks and touches you tell me he wants to be more than friends."

"You're not wrong."
"He is your suitor then."
"He was interested in me. But I'm not."
"You're not?" The tone in her voice change.

It rose a pitch.

"Not really."
"Why not? He looks fine and if I'm not mistaken, rich."

"You think he looks fine?"

"He is not ugly."

"Do you think he's handsome?"

"I just said he's not ugly," She chuckled.

"What do you like, Alice?"

There was a pause.

I thought our call was disconnected.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, I do."

"I like you."

It was my turn to pause.

"Hello?" I heard her say on the other line.

"I'm here."
"Oh, good. I thought I lost you. Is that okay?"

"What is?"
"That I like you?"

"I guess so."
"You're not sure?"

"I don't know what to say. You took me by surprise."

"I've like you for a long time now but until today, I kept it to myself."
"What changed?"
"I saw you with that Kiet guy. I got jealous."

"So, if you didn't see me with him, you won't tell me what you feel?"

"I will. For sure. I was just waiting for the right time."
"When is the right time?"

"I don't know yet but I believe it was going to happen. Seeing you with him sped up the process."
I placed a hand on my chest and took slow, steadying breaths.

The flutter of butterflies was intense again.

"Were you threatened by him?"
"I was."
"Do you still feel that way now?"

"Not as much."
"Were you going to tell me that you were jealous if I didn't ask?"

"I was going to make sure first that I have a reason to let you know about that."
"What do you mean?"
"If you don't like me the same way, I won't tell you. My heart couldn't take it."
"Yes, Alice. I do like you. For a long time now."
"When were you going to tell me?"

"I don't know. At the perfect time? When the opportunity comes?"

"We're both silly," She laughed.

"I could kiss you if you were here," I said.

"I'd do the same to you."
The butterflies were unleashed and flying freely in my chest.

"Can I see you before I go?"

"Don't you need to get your stuff ready for your trip?"

"I'm packed. Like a month ago."
"Wow. You're way prepared."
"I don't want to forget anything. I hate doing things at the last minute."

"I'm off tomorrow at four. See you at the bus stop?"

"Okay."

"I have to go now. Mom is closing the store early. See you tomorrow?"

"Yes. See you."
"Goodnight, Russamee. I'm so happy that it's hard to let you go."
My heart did a triple somersault.

"I'm happy too."
"Bye."
"Goodbye," I heard the click but I held on to the handset as if it carried all my wonderful secrets.

***

Alice was waiting at the usual spot when I pulled up.

She opened the door and I drove away from the bus stop.

Her hand was on my thigh as soon as she put the seatbelt on.

"I want to kiss you so bad," She whispered.

I almost missed stopping at a red light.

"That's a very dangerous thing to say when I'm driving," I couldn't help myself from smiling.

"Can I?"
"What?"
"Kiss you? We're at a red light," She squeezed the top part of my thigh.

An electric jolt surged upwards and settled between my legs.

Dangerous indeed.

"Not anymore," I pointed to the green light.

"Darn," She leaned back, disappointed.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"You'll see."

I drove to the opposite side of where she lives.

There was a garden restaurant and I haven't been there in a long time.

The place was quiet and the fields of roses in bloom added an elegant touch to the ambience.

"Wow," Alice gushed as soon as she saw the restaurant.

"This place looks so beautiful," She scanned the acres of roses.

"Are you hungry?" I took her hand in mine.

"I am."
"Let's go then."

The interior was white and roses of different colors lined the walls.

We were seated near the window where we could see the flowers in bloom.

After we placed our orders, Alice excused herself to go to the bathroom.

I followed after a few minutes.

She was leaning with her back on the sink counter when I got in.

Alice took a step forward and before I could react, she locked the door and pinned me against it.

Her lips were soft and her breath was warm.

I kissed her and felt all the air in my lungs evaporate.

Alice's hand was at the back of my neck, pulling me closer and closer, making it harder and harder to breath.

But I didn't want to pull away.

I wanted her as much as she wanted me.

"I've been thinking of you the whole day," She said when she came up for air.

"Did you miss me?" I wiped the lipstick stain on her lips.

"Always," She grinned.

"I miss you too."
Before she could say anything, I kissed her again.

***

"Is this our first date?" Alice asked while we were eating.

"Second."
She frowned.

"I consider that trip to your place as our first date."

"Ah."

"Are you going to be okay when I leave?"

"Why won't I be okay?"

"You won't miss me that much?"
"Of course I will. But I know you'll be back," She squeezed my hand.

I glanced at the guests beside us.

The men didn't notice what she did.

"Do you want anything from California?"
"I do."

"What?"
"You. I want you. Back here."
I shook my head both from feeling giddy with what she said and because she was so cheeky.

"I have to tell you something."
"What is it?"

"Kiet will be there too."

She put down the fork on the plate.

"Hey. You don't have anything to worry about, okay?"

"Of course, I do. He gets to be with you on the days I didn't get to."
She released a shaky breath.

"I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize what we're starting okay?"

"I'm sorry. I got carried away."

"It's fine. You don't have to apologize. But believe me when I say that I will be thinking about you the whole time."
"You'd do that?"
"Of course, silly." I pinched the top of her thumb.

"Can I call you when you're there?"

"No."
"No?"

"I will call you. It's long distance. I don't want you to rack up a big bill if you do that."

"Okay. Same time?"

"We'll be on different time zones. It will be morning there and evening here. There's a fourteen-hour difference. I'll call you before I go to the event."

"Okay. I will wait."

We finished our meal and took a stroll on the fields.

When it got dark, I dropped Alice off at her place.

I said hello to her mother who was busy serving their customers.

"I think your mom needs help," I pointed to the line on the street.

"She does. Are you okay if I go?"

"Why don't I help?"

"Huh?"

"Tell me what to do?"

"Do you know how to take orders?"

I frowned.

"Ah. You give orders not take them," She teased.

"I can do it."

"Okay. Come in then. I'll give you a pen and paper. Just write down what they want and give the paper to me. I'll prepare the order."

When I approached the first customer, the elderly lady looked at me from head to foot.

I was out of place there in my expensive suit and high heels.

I asked her what she wanted and wrote it on the order slip.

People had varied reactions to me being there but most of them were surprised.

A few asked what I was doing there while there were men who asked my name.

I gave them a different answer.

When everyone's orders were taken, I went back inside to help Alice serve the food.

My legs were aching by the time we were done.

"Alice, why don't you take Lady Russamee inside so she can sit?"

"Are you going to be okay in here?"

"Yes. Thank you for your help," She was looking at me.

"You're welcome," I smiled.

***

"Sorry about that," Alice said when we were inside the house.
"What are you sorry for?"

"I made you work when you should be resting."

"I'm happy to help. Does it always get busy?"

"Yes. At this time. It's dinner and people don't want to cook so they come here," We sat down.

"I took time away from your mom."
"She knows I'm with you so no big deal. Thank you for helping. You didn't have to do that."

"I'm here so might as well make myself useful."

"Come here," She pulled me in for a hug.

"Hmmm...now you smell like garlic," She sniffed my hair, the laughter muffled as she burrowed her nose on my neck.

"Do I?"

"I'm just kidding. You smell good like the refreshing rain after a long period of sweltering heat," She pulled away.

I looked at Alice and felt myself slowly crumble into a heap of a lovesick mush.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just can't believe everything that's happening right now," I interlocked our hands.

"Do you like it?"
"I do. But sometimes it makes me afraid too."
"Why?"
"Because this feels too good to be true."

"This is real, Russamee. I am real and you're very special to me."

"I feel the same way about you. I know it's real. I see it in your eyes and I feel it here," I pointed to my heart.

"If I could bottle it up so it stays with me forever, I would."

"Let's just stay this way and enjoy the moment," She laid her head on my shoulder.

I placed an arm around her and felt the comforting warmth of her body.

We stayed that way until I noticed the wall clock.

It was almost eight in the evening.

Alice must have noticed how I shifted.

She sat up straight.

"Sorry. I didn't realize it was getting late."
"Time seemed to stop when we're together," I grinned.

"It does. Or, it's because I don't want to let you go."
"If only I could stay here, I would."
"Why don't you?"

"Believe it or not but I still live at my parents' house."

"There's nothing uncommon about that. I think if our parents can keep us till we reached their age, they would."

"Sometimes I wish I don't."
"Why?"

"Because I would love to stay with you here longer and not worry about them worrying about me."
"You should get going then. I don't want your parents to be mad at you for staying out late."

"I should," I stood up despite my reluctance.

Alice placed a hand on the doorknob but she didn't turn it.

Instead, she turned to face me and kissed me hard on the mouth.

I thought of her mother who was outside the house but when Alice's tongue grazed my upper lip, I was too weak to fight.

I kissed her as if the world was ending.

When I pulled away to get some air, Alice pulled me in a tight hug.

"Come back to me, okay?" She whispered.

My stomach was in knots and all I could do was nod.