The Eternal Intern (Contemporary Romantic Comedy) (6 page)

“So you’re alright?
,” she asked again in worry.

“Yes, I’m fine but I really have to go now
,” I repeated myself stressing the word “now”.

“OK. Bye then
, and take care. If you ever need anything you know your Mom and Dad are there for you,” she reminded me.

I was moved as she said that. It meant a lot to me. I heard her say that often but now being so far away from home the first time in my life I really understood the message. No matter where I was I could always turn to my parents.

A
fter I hung up the phone I was looking at it. What should I say when I call Loretta. Stay cool and calm, or romantic and sentimental? I took a deep breath and waited until a truck passed by. The sound of its engine waiting for the green light made it impossible for me to talk to Loretta. After the truck left, I had no more excuses. I dialed her number. I’d memorized it shortly after I dialed it a few times when I first met her.

Beeeep
,
Beeeep

It was ringing and this time I was sure that I didn’t accidently call my parents.

Beeeep
,
Bee…
”Hello?” her sweet angel like voice answered.

I hesitated first to answer.

“Hello?” she asked again.

“It’s me
,” I replied.

“Patrick?
” she asked.

“Yes
,” I answered not knowing what to say next.

“How are you?
” she asked calmly.

I had the feeling she was not sure herself what to say.

“I’m fine and everybody here is very nice to me,” I replied trying to start small talk. “But it’s my first day, so I don’t know that much,” I explained.

“I understand
,” she responded.

“It’s good to hear your voice again
,” I blurted out.

“It’s good to hear yours as well
,” she replied dryly.

“I am sorry for all that I said before you left
,” she started explaining to me.

“No don’t be
,” I interrupted her.

“No Patrick, I am sorry
,” her voice gained strength.

“I gave you false hopes. I can’t do this
,” she continued.

“You can’t do what?
” I asked her expecting the worst.

“I mean, I can’t be with somebody who is not here. I need my partner at my side and not on the other side of the globe
,” she explained to me emotionally.

“But, but, but…
,” I said.

“No buts Patrick
,” she interrupted.

“I can’t do this. I am sorry
,” she explained further.

“I am back in a few months. I am not gone forever
,” I explained to her desperately.

“Patrick, I think you like me too much
,” she said.

Wow, that went deep. But what she said was true. I was too much into her. More than she was into me it seemed.

“I want you to enjoy this experience,” she tried to ease my pain.

“I have to go now. I had a beautiful time with you but
all good things must come to an end,” she stated coldly. Her voice was calm. It seemed as if she didn’t really care that much. It was hard for me to believe that. Why should she be wanting to be back with me shortly before I stepped on the plane and now pull back and drop everything?

I told myself that I w
ould not beg.

“I understand
,” I replied, calm.

“Thank you. I know you would. You will always be someone special for me
,” she added.

“You too. I better go now
,” I said trying to keep my pride.

“Sure, I understand
,” she replied with a surprised voice.

“Take care Loretta
.”

“Bye Patrick
.”

I hung up analyzing what just happened.

That’s it. I’m in love with a woman that is thousands of miles away and afraid to be with me under these conditions. I have to make the best out of it and do what she wants me to do: Enjoy my experience down here and that is what I will try to do. I was shocked to see how my fear of losing her turned into an aggression against her.
How could she do this?
I will not have her ruin my life. I will move on as fast as possible. Despite my anger I had a sense that she was not 100% convinced of her actions. I was sure that it wasn’t the last time I would be talking to her.    

Chapter 5

Moving on is not that hard after all

I
kept walking through the city that day. It was a Friday. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and I wanted to discover my new temporary home as soon as possible. I was surprised that the streets were bursting with crowds of people, everywhere. Sidewalks, shops, and restaurants were packed. There was a woman in traditional African tribal attire standing in front of a barber shop, her long dress waving in the wind. She had to hold her bright orange head cloth with both hands so it wouldn’t get blown away. Later, I found out that this particular day was payday; the day the people go crazy and spend all their money at once.

Friends of mine gave me a travel guide before I left home
, and now I was walking around the city like a tourist: a camera hanging from my neck and the travel guide in my hand. I spent the rest of the day walking from one shop to the next, from one statue celebrating their independence against the European invaders, to museums showing old weapons and clothes of the brave women and men that fought and died for their country.

As it turned dark I returned to my apartment. A man was sitting on a chair in front of the door. He hadn’t seen me yet. I stood at the gate looking for my keys.

“HELLO!” the man suddenly shouted in my direction.

“Ah
em, hello,” I responded playing around with my hand in my trouser pocket.

“You must be Patrick
,” he said happily, “I’m Mike. Welcome to Africa!”

“Hi, you must be the roommate Ms
. M’Beka mentioned?,” I asked.

“Yes, I am
,” he responded proudly.

I was still looking for the keys to open the gate. There was no light and I could only see shadows.

“Looks like you need a door opener,” he said as he approached the gate from the inside.

“Here you go
,” he continued as he opened the gate, ushering me inside.

“Beer?
” he asked as I followed him to the apartment.

“Sure
,” I answered, relieved to be inside. He seemed to be a nice guy.

“Take a seat. I’ll get us some gasoline
,” he joked.

I sat down looking up to the sky. The stars were shining down on me. No cloud in sight. I felt happy.

“Here you go, Pat,” handing me an open bottle.

“When did you arrive?
” he asked.

“This morning
,” I replied looking at the beer bottle.

“Wow, so you’re fresh off the boat
,” he smiled. “Like it?” he asked, sitting down next to me.

“Up to now it seems nice
,” I responded, putting the bottle to my mouth.

“I hope you have no plans for tomorrow. We are invited to go to see some elephants
.”

“We?
” I asked surprised.

“Yes. One of our co-workers invited me today and told me to ask you as well
,” Mike explained.

“Sure, great. Thanks
,” I answered happily.

“Don’t thank me,
thank Rosa. She’s the one that invited you,” he added.

“So tell me, what brought you down here?
,” he continued.

“Radio
,” I answered randomly.

“Come on. The truth?
,” he pushed me.

“Well, I really love different cultures and want to experience them
,” I explained again.

“Bull. You are not in an interview here. Be honest
,” he kept pushing me.

“Ok. The girls
,” I admitted.

“Ahhh, the girls
,” he laughed.

“Believe me, we all come for the same reasons
,” he said taking a big gulp out of his bottle.

“Are you single?
” he seemed to be on a role with his questions.

“Yes
,” I replied suddenly thinking again of Loretta.

After I hung up the phone I’d completely erased her out of my head. Now she was back again.

“Good for you then. You’ll enjoy it down here,” he promised.

“Well, I better get to bed soon. We are being picked up at nine in the morning
,” he put his empty bottle on the table and went inside.

I took a last sip and followed him.

“You got a lot of stuff with you,” he pointed at my bags.

“Sure, I am here for three months
,” I defended myself.

“You even brought dress shoes
,” he said sarcastically.

“Yeah, you never know. Maybe we have to attend formal meetings for work”.

“Sure. Good night then,” he said pulling his eyebrows to his forehead and disappearing behind a wall at the end of the room.

I laid down. Lying there I looked out of the window. I just realized why I really came here, to chase skirts. Moving on is not that hard after all.

.   .   .

“Wake up
,” a deep voice pulled me out of my sleep.

It was Mike. He was looking down at me.

“It’s eight. Hurry, we are being picked up in one hour”.

”What?
” I was still fighting to open my eyes.

“Come on. Get up
,” he repeated.

I rolled out of bed and headed for the shower.

As I got out of the bathroom Mike stood in the kitchen that was our living room and my bedroom at the same time handing me a beer.

“Breakfast?
” he smiled.

“No thanks. Too early
,” I explained waiving my hands refusing his offer.

“Ok then. More for me
,” he put the bottle back in the fridge.

I was
shoveling my hands throughout my bag looking for my pants.

“Pat, honestly I like you but the dress shoes worry me
,” Mike said sitting at the table looking at me.

“What do you mean?
” I asked as I was putting my socks on.

“Well, I texted a friend of mine last night telling him that I got a new roomie that has dress shoes with him
,” he admitted.

“I asked him what to do and he replied I should crap into them
,” he started laughing. “To be honest, I was considering it last night.”

He shocked me with his statement.

“You’re kidding?” I tried to calm myself down.

“Nope. But you’re a cool guy. I won’t
do it. Relax,” he smiled rubbing his hands up and down his thighs.

Suddenly the honking of a car interrupted our conversation.  

“ROSE. WE’RE OUT IN A SECOND,” Mike shouted through the open door.

Rose was an elderly woman sitting in her yellow VW Beatle. She was scratching her short
, salt and pepper hair as we approached her car.

“Hi I’m Rose. Get in
,” she commanded through the open car window.

As she was driving along the dusty streets she warmed up.

“Sorry for the harsh welcoming but we are running late,” she explained.

“So, what have you seen since you arrived?
” she asked.

Her voice became softer and warmer as she started to look over the wide open
fields.

“All kinds of sightseeing stuff but I can’t wait to start work
,” I answered getting excited as I realized that I will be starting to work for a radio station in the next few days.

“Nice. Believe me you will enjoy working for us. We are a great team
,” she explained.

“First time in Africa?
” she asked further.

“Yes. But I hope not my last.”

“We will see,” she replied dryly.

Rose pulled the car into the parking lot of a wildlife park. I could hear the
trumpeting of the elephants in the distance. Now I really felt like I was in Africa. We spent the whole day walking around the park.

I
could hardly sleep the night before my first day at the station. It was actually very chilly during the night and I woke up with a sore throat.