My short trip to Geneva was the one thing I was very excited about. Unfortunately, it came to an end, and I had to say goodbye to all my newest friends and contacts.
On the day I was checking out, my neighbour was right behind me with a group of other young men. They seemed nervous. I didn't heed their actions, instead choosing to focus on my thought process for the project.
Despite the awful network, my brother had called me daily. He religiously kept his promise and used the satellite phone at the command centre. I also got updates from my intern.
Well, inclusive of fan updates on my favourite band I kept photo bombing.
Sighing, I pulled off one of my ear plugs, lowering the volume so that I could talk with the staff who was checking me out of my room.
"You're fine. We already took inventory. Hurry, Dr. Ban is waiting for you! Have a lovely trip back! We are rooting for you!"
The staff was so friendly, I couldn't help but blush. How she knew Dr. Ban was waiting for me, and that I was running the project, could only be explained using three words.
Dr. Ban talked.
Smiling at her enthusiasm, I nodded and took the proffered T-shirt. "Thanks Macy!"
"Oh my gosh! You remembered my name!"
I could only smile at her, internally grateful for name tags. I signed out and strolled to my good, old friend and mentor's car. He shyly rolled the window down.
"Too much?"
"Well, I have a new fan now. Thanks Doc!"
"She could be a fan of your music!" He said, making me shake my head as I got into the car. His chauffeur put away my bags. I smiled thankfully at him and settled into my seat.
The trip to the airport was filled with funny jokes about the desert and dessert. I have no idea who started it, but I do know who ended it; the traffic police who decided to ask for autographs from the two of us. Apparently, we were using Dr. Ban's personal car, not his diplomatic one. I hadn't even taken the time to notice all this.
I got to the airport, only then realizing that I had misplaced both my ticket and passport. Dr. Ban immediately started making calls while I looked through everything, to the point I had flipped my bag open and was currently throwing out the contents in a rush.
"Hey, kiddo, come here for a little-"
"I am so sorry Dr. Ban! I don't know how I lost it-"
"Excuse me. I thankfully found you! You dropped this at the-"
"Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!" I grabbed the passport and ticket from him, hugging him at the spur of the moment. I was so happy I could kiss... Wait, why am I kissing him?!
The saviour of my passport was frozen as I pulled away from him. I hid my face in shame as someone literally burst out laughing somewhere nearby.
I messed up. Big time. My first kiss was gone like that. Stupidly. I hurriedly tried to gather my stuff and run, but the universe obviously had other plans for me, so I tripped and fell when I tried to run, and my suitcase spilled all my stuff out.
Including my underwear and toiletry bag.
If I was lighter skinned, I would have turned into a tomato by then.
The same guy I was trying very hard to run away from laughed lightly and started picking up my stuff, his hands deft and making quick work of the mess around us. A few people laughed while others tried to help too. I was very thankful for the latter.
Eventually, I had all my stuff together, and now I couldn't even look Dr. Ban in the eye. However, the sweet old man gave me a hug and safely delivered me into the arms of his chauffeur to oversee as he properly thanked the young man who had brought my passport.
"I am so embarrassed Henry," I told the chauffeur who smiled charmingly at me. "How do I ever stop thinking about this?"
"Time is all you need Miss. Mtenyo," he said as he secured my bag and then wheeled it away. I shook my head as I turned back to see if Dr. Ban was okay. He seemed happy and was engaged in an earnest conversation with the young man whose face I still couldn't see, but whose lips I probably would never forget.
Not in this world, and not in the next.
Dr. Ban smiled my way once or twice, and so did the guy before the younger one bowed and my mentor bowed back and hugged him warmly. He produced a card and handed it over to the young man, who, I had discovered was unusually tall.
Not that it was something I wanted to dwell on. It was the exact opposite.
I wanted to run.
YOU ARE READING
The Republic of ARMY
FanfictionI always lived for the moments my father would tell me I could not do something... then I would go ahead and do it. That had been my entire life. Maybe he was just really angry at me. Or maybe he just hated having a daughter who didn't measure up...
