Celebrity Crush

Bubbling with anticipation

He hasn't called.

Or texted.

And it's our last day in Rome already.

I knew I was stupid to get so excited. Of course he didn't call, he probably doesn't even remember me. He has so many fans that he must meet everyday...

I sigh and turn to Gabriella, who's offering me her 'gelato' ice cream. Hmm... she probably knows what I'm thinking about. She never shares her chocolate chip ice-cream, except for emergency situations.

"So, wanna hit the museum next, Syl?" she asks in an unnaturally excited voice. "Gaby. Chill. I'm not gonna start crying because he didn't call me. You don't have to tiptoe around me!" I exclaim, irritated now. I know she doesn't like spending time in museums, that's why it was the last place to visit in our itinerary. She's acting all agreeable just to please me.

"We can do something else, like visit that bridge you wanted to. We can click good pictures there and then there are shops nearby, so we can get souvenirs for everyone...come on." I pick up my things and get out of the cafe. We're in a beautiful city and it's a beautiful day. I'm not gonna waste it thinking about something I knew was not gonna happen anyway.

________________________________________________________________________

About a hundred photographs, a street-side sketch and an afternoon of shopping, we return to the hotel where Gaby instantly collapses on the bed and falls asleep. I can't blame her for being so tired, we toured half the city on foot. I think I might have lost some weight.

We're leaving for Florence early tomorrow and our bags still need to be packed. Sigh. I'm gathering up all our things strewn across the room when I notice the clothes hanging by the window. I remember how excited we were while choosing our outfits for that dinner with Chris. Well, no matter, we can wear these some other day. Maybe even tomorrow. We still have a lot of time in Italy.

After finishing the packing I decide to take a nap too. I'll save my energy for tonight. We're going to tour the restaurant lane nearby and sample the house-specials at different places. Yeah, we are avid foodies.

Just as I am about to drift off, my mobile phone buzzes. Could it be....? No. I'm not gonna get all excited. What if it isn't? It most probably isn't. I should just leave it and go sleep. But what if it is him? And I don't read it and then it's too late? I should check...

I go to the table and pick up my phone nonchalantly..... even though I want to grab it up and see right away. Huh.... turns out it isn't a text. It is an email. From back home. I try to ignore the little swell of disappointment inside me and focus on the email.

It's from my aunt, regarding the surprise birthday party we're planning for my mother. That makes my mood improve a bit. It's going to be perfect. We're going to return home on the day of the party but my mum doesn't know that. She thinks we're returning a day after her birthday. That's why she insisted on no celebration. She was the one who had booked the tickets actually, but she doesn't know that I had exchanged those for a flight a day before. I can't help smiling when I think how astonished she would be to see us yelling 'Surprise!' along with everyone else there.