Chapter 61: Chapter 61

"Okay," The teacher looks at us, “they gave us a pirate bus."

Hearing that scandalized me, “professor, but what a way to speak, don't be so Panamanian," I say mockingly, “what would they think if they heard us say pirate bus?" My classmates laugh and finally the teacher smiles.

"Okay , they gave us a coaster," he says stylishly, “is that more up to the task?" He asks us with a stiff air, we nodded laughing.  “Perfect, first we will go to eat, then to the Eiffel Tower and finally to the Louvre museum.” All happy for the places we are going to visit, we headed to get on the coaster.

“Profe, I have been watching you and you've been looking at the teacher for a while. I whisper in his ear, “could it be that you like her?" The professor is uncomfortable by my observation.

“Don't be ashamed, we are in the land of love,” Donald joins me, “besides, the teacher has a good rear guard," he smiles, “we are in the same hotel and what happens in Paris ...”

"Stays in Paris,” finished Carla, “look teacher, you are a grown man just like she is an older woman, why not try?" We who are at a table with the teacher, look at the table next to ours where the teacher is with the other classmates.

"Young people, you should stop thinking things like that, I don't know what you're talking about, this is just a work relationship."

I raise an eyebrow, “make it a crazy night and that's it."

The scandalized professor looks at me, "Miss Cook, control yourself."

Chuckling, I say, “then ask her out tomorrow after the show," the professor studies Professor Cambell and with a sigh, he looks at us,"okay, but no telling anyone about this. Agreed?” Discreetly applauding, we all agreed.

“Cha madre, refine more good crazy,” Donald touches his belly with how satisfied he is, smirking at his self-confidence.

Leaving the restaurant called ‘Rech’ we headed to the Eiffel Tower and finally to the Louvre Museum, tired, sore and sleepy, we wen backt to the hotel.

"I'm tired," my friend complains after hanging up the phone.

"I know, like me, let's go to sleep," My friend leans beside me and without waiting any longer, we throw ourselves into the arms of Morpheus.

The beep of my cell phone rings nonstop, growling in a bad mood from the dream I had, I answer, “hello my life,” I hear my mother's voice, I look at the mobile screen and when I see the time I snort.

"Mom, you know we don't have the same hours, you're European, you should know that," I say annoyed.

"I know, I know daughter, but I thought you were still enjoying Paris, it's just that I miss you so much."

Putting my anger aside, I sigh, "I miss you too mama, but you can't wake up your daughter at 2 in the morning to tell her that you miss her. Wouldn't it be better if she was already awake?"

My mother laughs, “okay, okay, I'll let you sleep, but don't forget to call me to tell me how you're doing at the exhibition."

"It's okay mom, I promise, now stop missing me so much and take this time for yourself, okay?"

I hear her protest in Italian, "I don't know why you ask the impossible, Olethea."

Smiling, I say goodbye to her or she won't let me sleep. Leaving aside the call that my mother has given me, I get up to go to the bathroom, some noises outside the room attract my attention, they are whispers and giggles. Oh my breath, gossipy plan, I approach the door and when I open it very carefully I look out  the head in the same way, Professor Gómez is reaching out while Professor Cambell laughs and talks, closing the door I try not to laugh so they don't catch me. After going to the bathroom I go back to my bed, the dream hit me again.

The morning has been crazy, calls from mom and Kahin, Carla's nervous breakdowns from missing her mother and boyfriend make me go crazy, the exhibition is at the art institute, ‘The New School’.

“Excellent young people, you have to have full confidence in you, I will not be able to help you this time, but I know that you are capable of doing this,” after giving us good wishes, our teachers leave, the place is huge and there are many people.

"Good grief , this is crazy,” my friend shrieks euphoric with spirits higher, "I'm excited by all the adrenaline it takes to be the center of attention for so many people."

Smiling happily, I look at my friend, I feel just as excited as she is, “we just need to do well."  I wink at her.

The exhibition is giving the most fun, the attention that people pay to my work leaves me with a unique emotion and joy, I feel like a professional artist. After the presentation, my classmates and I decided to venture into Paris, the teachers became unmarked and I know why they did it.

"Fuck Marilí, I don't remember where it was from."

Nervously, I look around, “we shouldn't have separated from the group Carla, it's dark and we don't know anywhere.” When I visualize at the end of the street two guys are approaching very quickly, fear invades me and they remind me of what I experienced months ago, “damn Carla, come on." I scream hysterically, my friend tries to stop me, but I pull her, bad memories invade me and I can't contain them, I can’t go through the same thing and this time, I’m afraid I will remember every detail.

“Marilí calm down, it's Donald and Mateo,” Carla try to control me.

"Have you had too much to drink?" My partner asks when he reaches us, with his heart racing and his nerves at their peak, he tries not to cry, it was too great a scare.

Agitated I look at them, “yes, I think I shouldn't have had so much wine." I lie, my friend hugs me with some force.

"Come on girls, the others are waiting for us, it's time to go back to the hotel,” Donald after giving me an inquisitive look begins to walk.

“You're good?” My friend asks in a low tone so that no one other than me will hear her.

"Yes, yes ... It's just that when I saw them, I thought the same thing that happened to me months ago will repeat itself," I gulped.

"Have you remembered?"

I shook my head, no, and thank God I didn't, remembering that would be a very bad setback for me." She nods, that would be very bad.

As always, when things are good they end quickly, we are once again invited to return to Paris, the places we visited were fabulous, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc De Triomphe, the Palace of Versailles were the places I loved the most.

"At last my precious Panama, heat, burn me!" Yells Donald like the clown that he is.

"My beloved land," I whisper, happy to have returned from that wonderful dream trip.

"Young people, we still have to go to campus, we have to register our return." Riding on the coaster of the university we headed to it.

At home, my mother and my aunt Lourdes, happy for our return, prepared a delicious meal for us, Kahin and Loan are working so they weren't there to greet us.

“How did it go?” My aunt is interested, “were the French handsome?" She gives us a naughty smile.

Not telling answering, I swallow the cookie I was chewing, “they were very sensitive, refined and very attentive."

My mother smiles, “I suppose you've seen them like that and you liked them because the boyfriend you're carrying is a tyrant, compulsive and possessive jealousy, I don't know what you're with him for.”

Rolling my eyes, I pass from what she says.

“Aunt Camilla, when are you going to forgive Kahin for buying Marilí? Don't you realize that everything started out badly, but has continued great? You should put that Congo hatred aside,” Carla looks at my mother reproachfully.

"Nothing will make me change my mind, I say that that man is not good for my daughter and that's it,” mom deadpanned.

"Well, they just got back, let's not make a fuss about that,” my aunt makes peace, “better tell me what experience it has been to have the attention of so many people on you and the interest in your work.”

I let out a deep breath, “that is something that cannot be explained in words and there are not enough emotions to show it with them, but I will still try it, it was amazing, magnificent, beautiful and very rewarding,” I look at them, "I hope this gave you a hint of what that experience was like." The two women laugh.

"You have explained it too well ..." My friend sighs. Carla and her mother go home and I decide to take a bath, just to think that my fiery brunette is going to charge everything that missed me, and my body trembles.