NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 11

This new acquaintance surprised Randall, but interest in Anna immediately took over. They corresponded endlessly on numerous topics, and both enjoyed chatting.

He was even more charming than in the pictures. Polite messages, pertinent jokes, funny short videos he sent trying to show Milan to a girl. It was all so adorable and yet profound. Anna just couldn't believe that such an attractive, unique guy lived on the same planet as her.

Every day she grew sadder that they were far apart and could not get to know each other in real life. Randall took it more optimistic, saying he would one day fly to her, or she would fly to see Italy.

Anna's changed. Her usual cold mood, set only for work, dissipated, and it was challenging to focus. The Italian occupied all her thoughts, and she checked her phone every few minutes, ignoring the fact that the notifications vibrated in case of messages.

Anna stretched out on the bed and got up to make some coffee. The phone rang. She answered mechanically, barely taking a breath:

"Randall?"

"Em... Hi, Anna."

The girl coughed.

"Mark! Hi, Mark. I didn't expect a call from you."

"That I noticed." The velvet voice in a tube laughed. "Randall, huh?"

"The acquaintance," Anna hurried to cover up. "Nonsense, nothing serious. What're you up to? It's been a while. About three months, to be exact. Three months and f..."

"Three months and four days, right." Mark giggled.

"Are you... counting?"

"Certainly. I miss you, Anna."

There was an awkward pause. Anna took control of the situation.

"How is the capital? How's your work?"

The second line rang. Randall. The girl shivered but focused on Mark's answer.

"Oh, everything is great! Did I mention they promoted me?"

He didn't.

"Congrats!" Anna's voice came out somehow fake, and she gulped.

"Thank you! Come for a visit?"

"What? A visit?" Anna choked on his words. "To you? Oh, no, I can't. I have work."

"Is there never a weekend? We'd have a wonderful time. I'd show you the whole Mining Great from start to finish."

"No, I made sure I never had a day off." Anna felt a sudden resentment. The memory of every day she'd gone to work to keep from thinking Mark had left her came flooding back.

"This can't be. You are a teacher. You will have an obligatory holiday. Come, Anna. I want to see you. You know nothing's changed. I still miss you... I..."

"I already have plans for the upcoming holidays!" suddenly blurted out Anna, not understanding what she planned to say.

"Plans?" Mark didn't expect that answer. "What sort of plans?"

"I'm flying to Italy."

"Italy!"

"Yes, to see a friend. See Milan."

There was a silence Anna did not even notice. The swarm of her thoughts in the chorus asking, What was that? drowned everything out.

Why would she say that? No such plans existed, but a sudden desire to hurt Mark got over everything else.

"Oh..." Mark finally reacted. "Well, that's too bad..."

Anna heard some pain in his response. Wasn't that what she wanted? Now she was sorry about what she said.

She wanted to see Mark. She really did. But the resentment of the way they broke up just kept her from breathing. It trampled on her pride every day, and even after she forced herself to be friends with Mark and communicate regularly, she didn't feel any better.

But it was different now. Only a new love could help let go of an old one. Anna remembered Randall's perfect features the last time she saw him on video chat, and suddenly she beamed. Or maybe it was not a ridiculous remark? Perhaps this was her upcoming holiday plan indeed.

"Yeah. Sorry. Maybe some other time we'll see each other."

"Sure," Mark's voice was low, and he hurried to finish the conversation. "Look, I have to go, okay? I was happy to chat. We'll text later, right?"

"Of course," Anna answered. "Bye!"

The girl threw the phone on the bed and walked over to the PC. On the screen, the messages from Randall were flashing. "Are you busy?" he asked.

"Now, yes, I am. But free on upcoming holidays and flying to you." Anna wrote and giggled, expecting his reaction.

It followed immediately with a series of surprising texts.

"What?"

"You serious?"

"When?"

"Wow! Anna, I'm so happy!"

"Anna!"

"Hey, are you there!"

Anna burst out laughing and hurried to explain to him that the idea had just occurred to her. Still, she determined to make it a reality, and all the last part of the evening, they talked about how amazing she would spend time with this handsome man in sunny Italy.