Halfway toward the exit door, she hears a familiar voice calling her name from the left side. When she turns her head, she sees Tina in the hotel lobby, sitting on the couch looking at her curiously, her luggage on the side. Bette immediately approaches and hugs her so tight, buries her face on Tina's neck while her tears continue to fall. Tina hugs her back as they sit on the couch. For several long moments, they just embrace without saying any word. Bette lets out her emotion; Tina can feel Bette's tears streaming through her neck. She consoles her, affectionately running her hand up and down Bette's back. Bette feels the relief from Tina's warm hug and tender strokes.
A few minutes later, they release from each other's hug and look at each others' faces. Tina wipes Bette's tears on her cheeks using her thumbs.
Bette: You left me, again..
Tina: I'm sorry, I didn't wake you anymore. You seem so tired and needed more rest and sleep. I left at 5am so I can prepare my stuff.
Bette: Why are you leaving now?
Tina: I've got nothing else to do here so I'd thought I should go back to LA. I don't want to be bothering you. I know you're busy with your art gallery business.. My coming here is a wrong timing. Maybe, some other time I'll visit you again here. But for now, I have to go back to LA. My boss wants me asap. He has a new project for me.
With teary eyes and an imploring look, she pleads.
Bette: Can you please stay? Please? At least one more week?
Tina swallows, speechless. Four hours ago, she just called the airlines to rebook her flight for tonight, and she has already checked-out from the hotel. There's no way she's gonna rebook it again.
Tina: My flight's still at 7:30 tonight. We can still spend a few hours together before my flight later. We can have lunch together.
Tina's suggestion is not acceptable to Bette. She sobs with her body quivering, and then buries her face on Tina's neck and pleads again.
Bette: Stay with me please? I promise I will cancel all my schedules for the week. I will spend time with you, we'll go to the Eiffel Tower together and visit famous landmarks. I'm sorry I've taken you for granted...and I'm sorry about last night. I went out to party with my friends. I didn't know you were in the house and cooked dinner for us.
Tina draws Bette's face and looks at her in the eyes.
Tina: It's not your fault. I should've called. I'm not mad, don't worry.
They hug each other again. Bette's hug is so tight, Tina can feel her longings, her need for someone so close, her need for her former best friend.
Bette: Let's go back to my flat Tee. Don't leave me please. Please? I beg...
Tina releases a heavy sigh then in a few moments, speaks.
Tina: Okay. I need to rebook my flight once again.
Bette: Thank you Tee. Thank you.
They pull out from each other's embrace. Tina looks at her phone on the side table; it's still charging. She ran out of battery so she decided to charge it at the hotel lobby after checking out earlier; the reason why she didn't leave right away.
Tina: I forgot to charge my phone last night so I'm charging it just now.
Bette takes her own phone from her coat's pocket and hands it to Tina.
Bette: Here, call the airlines and rebook your flight.
Tina: Thanks.
Bette feels relieved. Tina extends her vacation to 10 more days.
