Let's Play Hide-and-Seek

By Susan J.

I checked into a hotel room in Chile and stood on the balcony looking down on the town and the people walking around. I looked at my watch and noticed the time.

"Thirty-six hours left to go, so far so good. I hope I can stay hidden from him for the remaining time." I went into the bedroom and took a nap.

Miguel's plane was about to land in Chile, so he started getting his things ready for the landing. As the tires of the plane skidded to a stop on the runway I woke up and sat on the edge of the bed.

"What a dream, or was it a dream? I think Miguel has arrived. I better be on total alert."

Miguel got his suitcase from the overhead compartment and got off the plane. He found a taxi outside the terminal and since he had been almost everywhere in the world he headed to one of the hotels that he knew. He arrived at the hotel and checked in. He went to his room and tossed his suitcase on the bed, he walked into the living room and then over to the bar and took a beer out of the refrigerator. He walked out onto the balcony and looked at the city below.

"Where can you be, Serena? Thanks to your neighbor I know you're here somewhere and I am going to find you."

Meanwhile I was in my room thinking of my next move.

"I hope Miguel didn't check into this hotel, that's if he's here in town. I'm starving, time to get something to eat."

I got my ID and some money and put it into my pocket and left the room. I walked to the elevator and pushed the button, the doors opened and I got on, the doors closed. I got off the elevator and walked through the crowned lobby and out the door. I walked down the street and enjoyed the mood of the crowd. I walked into a restaurant and sat down, from the other tables I could hear the topic of the conversation, which was of course the musical event known as Vina del Mar. I ordered something to eat and while I ate I couldn't help but look around to see if I saw Miguel lurking around ready to pounce. The waiter came by to see if I needed anything else.

"Is there anything else that I can get you Senorita?" asked the waiter.

"No thank you, well maybe there is," I said.

"Yes?"

"Where would I get a ticket for the festival at Vina?"

"I don't know if there still is any tickets available? You can check one of the ticket agencies."

"I will, thank you."

"You're welcome."

I paid the check and left. I found one of the agencies and I decided to check on the tickets. I found out that there weren't any available. I returned to the hotel awhile later and walked over to the elevators. I pushed the button and the doors opened, as I got on the doors closed behind me, the doors to the other elevator opened and out walked Miguel. Miguel walked through the lobby and out the front door of the hotel. I walked into my room and locked the door behind me, I walked over to the bar and got a soda from the refrigerator and I walked into the bedroom. I put the soda on the nightstand and I opened my suitcase, I took out a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt. I changed my clothes and then I got comfortable on the bed, I grabbed the remote control for the television from the nightstand and turned the TV on.

"I have a strong feeling that Miguel is here in the hotel. My luck that he would check into the same hotel."

I smiled at the possibility of him being in the same hotel without him knowing that I was there. Miguel walked through the streets looking for any signs of my whereabouts.

Miguel looked at his watch.

"Damn I'm running out of time," he said.

While Miguel roamed the streets I relaxed as much as I could. "Bummer that I couldn't get a ticket to the festival. I wonder if anybody in the hotel has any connections? I'll ask tomorrow." I looked at the clock on the nightstand.

"A little less than twenty-four hours left. He's so close to finding me so I have to be very careful when I leave the hotel. I would love to win this little game."

I turned off the TV and then the light and went to sleep. Miguel returned to his hotel room, he took a bottle of beer from the bar and opened it. He walked out to the balcony and looked down at the city.

"You are giving me a run for my money amor, but I will find you," Miguel chuckled.

The next day I woke up around 11:30 am, I got up, took a shower and got dressed. I called for room service and they brought me my lunch awhile later. The bellboy pushed the cart into the room.

"Where would you like for me to set the table ma'am?" he asked.

"Over by the chair please," I said.

He set the table by the chair that I indicated and then he handed me the bill to sign. As I signed it I took the opportunity to ask him a question.

"Excuse me but I would like to ask you something?"

"Yes ma'am?"

"Do you know where I might find a ticket for Vina?"

"That's going to be tough because they have been sold out for weeks. Let me call a friend of mine and see what I can do. Just one ticket?"

"Yes, just one."

"Let me call him and I will call you when I find out something."

"Okay, if I'm not here then please leave me a message."

"I will."

He left and I sat down to eat. Meanwhile Miguel walked the streets looking for any sign of my presence. He walked into the shops and restaurants hoping to catch me off guard but to his disappointment I was nowhere in sight. While I relaxed in my hotel room a knock came at the door, I got up and walked over to the door and looked through the viewfinder; it was the bellboy. I opened the door.

"Hello ma'am," he said.

"Hello."

"I've got good news about the ticket."

"Great. Come on in."

"Thank you."

He came in and I closed the door behind us. We walked into the living area.

"What good news do you have for me?" I asked.

"I called my friend and he had one ticket left for Vina. It's for the show tomorrow night."

"Great. How much?"

"Two hundred dollars."

I looked at him.

"Well you only live once. I'll be right back," I said.

I walked into the bedroom and got the money from my purse. I went back into the living room.

"Okay here you go, two hundred for the ticket and two hundred for you."

He looked at me with a surprised look on his face.

"I don't understand?" he said.

"You did me a big favor by finding me a ticket, so I think you should get something as well."

"But two hundred dollars?"

"Please take it."

"Thank you."

He handed me the ticket as I handed him the money.

"Have a good time ma'am."

"I will and thanks again."

"My pleasure."

He left the room. I looked at the ticket and smiled.

Miguel returned to his room and went to lie down on the bed, as he lay on the bed he put his hands behind his head and smiled.

"You are good at hiding, but I'll find you. I know you're here somewhere and I will find you."

I looked at the ticket and smiled, knowing that I was going to be able to see something that some people don't have the opportunity to see and it made me feel very lucky. I put the ticket in my purse. I decided to go downstairs and buy a magazine at the newsstand. I rode the elevator down to the lobby and while I rode down I could have sworn that I smelled the scent of Miguel's cologne. I shook my head.

"I'm sure Miguel isn't the only man who wears that cologne. Oh Miguelito I feel that you're here somewhere, can I be mistaken? I know that I never told you that I wanted to come to Vina. Well I better stay on my toes, because one thing is for sure, you do know how to find people."

The elevator doors opened and I walked through the lobby to the newsstand. I bought my magazines and some munchies; I paid for them and headed back towards the elevator. When the doors opened I got in and rode back up to my floor. Miguel was in the hallway of the floor that he was on and he was pressing the button for the elevator. The elevator rode upwards and stopped on my floor, when the doors opened I got off and walked to my room, I opened the door and went inside. The elevator arrived on Miguel's floor, the doors opened and Miguel got in and the doors closed behind him. As he rode in the elevator he had time to think about his next move.

"I hope Serena's friend wasn't wrong about her coming here."

He looked at his watch.

"It's 10:00 p.m. which means I only have 22 hours left to find her."

The elevator doors opened and Miguel stepped out.