Let's Play Hide-and-Seek

By Susan J.

The next day I went window-shopping; as I walked through the streets I kept looking around for any sight of Miguel. I smiled at the thought of Miguel looking in every area possible for me and knowing that at this point in time that I was winning this little game that we were playing. I walked into one of the stores to look at some figurines; as I looked at the figurines I looked up to see Miguel standing outside the store. He was looking at the people who passed him; I guess he was hoping that one of the people who passed by him might be me in disguise. I watched him for a few minutes and then saw a door that led to another part of the store. I hurried to the door and then saw another door that led outside. I poked my head outside to see if the coast was clear, I then saw Miguel go inside the store that I was in and while he went in I ran out the other door. I rushed back to the hotel and rushed back to the safety of my room.

"Phew! That was close," I said.

Miguel looked around the store and saw a red glass rose. He picked up and held it gently in his hand. He took it over to the cashier and paid for it, the cashier wrapped it up and handed it back to him. Miguel left the store and kept looking around for any sight of me as he went back to the hotel. Miguel arrived back at his hotel room, he got a drink from the bar and sat down, and he put his drink on the table and gently unwrapped the glass rose. He looked at it from every angle and then re-wrapped it in the paper that it came in.

Later that afternoon I started getting ready for the concert. I took only my ID and money. I went downstairs to the restaurant and had something to eat, as I sat at the table I looked at my watch.

"Only three hours to go, I still wouldn't put it past him to find me in these final hours, but then again he might not," I said.

I finished eating and left the hotel. I found a taxi outside the hotel doors and got in. A short time later I arrived at the arena where the festival was taking place. I entered the arena and was surprised to see the place filled with so many people. I found my seat and prepared myself to see the musical talents that were about to perform. After about an hour and a half passed there was an intermission; I walk around to stretch my legs and to maybe buy a few souvenirs to take back home with me. I walked from booth to booth looking at the different souvenirs. As I was looking at a T-shirt I felt someone bump into me from behind.

"Hola amor."

I looked at my watch and smiled. I turned around to see Miguel standing there with this Cheshire cat smile on his face.

"Five minutes more and I would have won," I said.

"But the main thing is that I found you," Miguel said.

I gently patted his right cheek and smiled. "That you did Miguelito, that you did."

He hugged me tightly. "When can I collect my winnings?" he asked.

"When you assure me that you will not be leaving to go on any assignments. I mean it Miguel, if that damn beeper goes off you are not collecting anything."

"Don't worry. I made sure that there will be no assignments, so from this moment on for the next week you are all mine."

He kissed me and then smiled that cocky smile of his. The next music act started playing.

"Come on let's go and enjoy the music," I said.

"Okay."

Miguel held my hand as he led us into the arena to watch the band that was on the stage. We watched and enjoyed the music as well as enjoying each other's company. The show ended and it was time for us to leave, we walked towards the exit.

"Miguel,"

"Yes?"

"How did you get a ticket to the concert? I mean it's been sold out for weeks and I had to have someone find me a ticket."

"You seem to forget something amor."

"What?"

"I'm Miguel Bain and I get what I want."

"Oh, brother."

I rolled my eyes. As we walked towards the exit I suddenly felt someone pat my behind, I knew it wasn't Miguel because he was walking in front of me so for time being I ignored it thinking that it could have been someone just bumping into me since there were so many people in the arena. We continued walking when I felt it again, but with one little difference, instead of a pat it was a pinch, a pinch so hard that it made me yell.

"OUCH!" I said.

Miguel stopped and turned around "What's wrong?"

I turned to see a man standing behind me smiling and then winking at me.

"Que te pasa!" I yelled.

"Me gustas," the man said.

"Who's he?" Miguel asked.

"I have no idea, but what I do know is that he pinched my ass!"

Within a split second Miguel grabbed the guy by the throat and threw him against the nearest wall.

"Miguel what are you doing? Let him go!"

"Who the fuck do you think you are! Why did you grab my woman like that!"

"I like her!" the man said.

"Well find someone else because she's mine! Understand!"

"Si, Senor."

Miguel let the man loose and he stared walking away.

"Hijo de puto," Miguel said.

Miguel looked at me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Miguel, thanks."

"Come on, let's go." We left the arena. We got into a cab and drove away.

"Well where are we going?" I asked.

"Back to the hotel where I am staying."

I looked out the window of the cab not paying attention while Miguel told the driver what hotel to drive to. We arrived awhile later and as we got out of the cab I noticed that it was the hotel that I was staying in. I looked at Miguel.

"Is this where you're staying?" I asked.

"Yes, why?" Miguel answered.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

I started laughing. "Because this is the same hotel that I'm staying in."

"What?"

"I'm staying in this hotel."

"Oh, shit."

We both started laughing. We walked into the lobby and headed to the elevator. Miguel pushed the button for the elevator.

"So what floor are you on?" I asked.

"I'm on the tenth floor. What about you?"

"I'm on the eighth. So, you're two floors above me." Miguel smiled that devilish smile of his.

"What are you smiling about?" I asked.

"You know me, I always did like being on top."

I slapped his arm playfully. The elevator doors opened. "Well show me how much you like being on top," I said with a wink.

Miguel smiled as he pulled me into the elevator. We arrived at his room a few minutes later; we went inside and sat down.

"So now that you have won, what are you going to do with me Miguel?"

"Ah, the question is what I am not going to do to you," he said as he winked.

"Just let me make sure that my health insurance is all paid up first okay."

Miguel laughed out loud.

"Oh mi amor you are priceless," Miguel said.

"Yes, I am."

A few days later we found ourselves at my house in Miami; while I was lying on a chase lounge, Miguel floated in the swimming pool.

"Oh, amorcita," Miguel said.

"Yes?"

"I'm hungry, I would like you to make me something to eat."

I looked at him and I was about to say for him to get it himself, but then I realized that part of the bet was to do what ever he said.

"Would you like anything special?" I asked.

"I'm in the mood for a tuna salad sandwich."

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"How about some iced tea?"

"Your wish is my command."

I got up and went inside to make him his sandwich. Miguel got out of the pool and while he dried himself off with a towel my neighbor Gloria walked into the back yard.

"Hello," Gloria said.

"Hello…Gloria, right?" Miguel said.

As I walked towards the back yard I saw Gloria and Miguel talking. I felt inside that she might have given Miguel a clue to where I was and that way he was able to find me. I waited a few minutes and listened to their conversation.

"So was Serena at Vina Del Mar?" she asked.

"Yes she was. I would like to thank you for your help when I dropped by that day."

"My pleasure. Where is Serena?"

"Oh she's making us something to eat. I can go get her?"

"No that's all right. I'll catch up with her later. It was nice seeing you again."

"The pleasure was all mine, Gloria, and thank you again for your help."

"You're welcome. See you later."

"Bye."

Gloria left. I saw Miguel walking towards the house. I hurried to the bedroom with his sandwich; I put the tray on the dresser. Miguel looked around the living room.

"Serena? Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm upstairs, amoricito corazon," I said.

Miguel smiled and walked up the stairs, once there he stood at the door to the bedroom and saw me standing near the dresser.

"Where would like to eat your lunch, mi rey?" I asked.

"On the balcony," he said.

"Si, mi rey."

I picked up the tray and follow him outside onto the balcony where there was a small table and chairs. Miguel sat down and I put the tray on the table and then set the plates and glasses on the table. I took the tray and set it on the floor, I sat down.

"It looks good," Miguel said.

"I hope you like it."

We ate and enjoyed the warm breeze that was blowing around us.

"Did you think at anytime that you wouldn't find me?" I asked.

"Not at all. I know how your mind works and I didn't need any clues, so you were easy to find."

"You did stop here before going to Chile didn't you?"

"Yes, I needed to take a shower and get something to eat and relax before boarding the plane for that long trip."

"I gotta hand it to you, Miguelito, you are indeed a great hunter."

"Yes I know."

As we ate our lunch I knew that he was lying, and that thanks to Gloria Miguel got all the information that he needed in order to find me. Miguel looked at me.

"What are you thinking of, amor?" he asked.

"On how you were able to locate me. I'm not sure that I would be able to do what you did. You made it look so easy."

"Well, it's second nature to me, finding people."

"Yes, I know." We finished eating.

"Well I'm going to lie down for awhile," Miguel said.

"All right, just please take off your shoes, okay?"

"Okay."

I gathered the dishes and took them downstairs while Miguel stretched out on the bed. I put the dishes in the dishwasher and then went back upstairs. I saw Miguel lying on the bed with his eyes closed, I saw a small pillow on the floor and I picked it up.

"Miguelito, are you asleep?"

"No, I'm not." He still kept his eyes shut.

"Good. I have a surprise for you."

"Oh really? What is it?"

"This!"

I started hitting him with the pillow and as I hit him he jumped up from the bed and grabbed me by the arms and threw me on the bed. We wrestled around the bed and I wound up on the bottom and Miguel on the top. Miguel grabbed the pillow and tossed it on the floor and then he pinned my arms down on the bed.

"Why did you hit me?" he asked.

"Because you lied to me."

"When did I lie to you?"

"You said that you didn't need any clues to find me."

"That's right."

"You friggin' liar! When you stopped here at the house you ran into Gloria who told you where I might be!"

Miguel looked at me and didn't say a word.

"So you had no idea where to look for me until Gloria gave you the clue that you were looking for, right?"

He kept looking at me.

"Answer me, Miguel. I won't get mad and I won't stop paying the bet, I just want you to admit it."

"Well in a way yes. I was looking around the house when she came and then she started talking and giving me hints, then we went over to the desk and she started looking through the top drawer and she found…"

"The brochure about Vina Del Mar."

"Yes."

"So you had help in finding where I might have gone."

"Yes, but without her I still would have found you."

"I know you would have but it would have taken you longer and you would have lost the bet."

"I guess so."

I started laughing. "Oh Miguel, you are too much."

"So you're not mad?"

"I told you I wouldn't be."

I released my right hand from his grip and I touched his face. He lowered his head and kissed my right cheek.

"Well, since I sort of had help in finding you, I think that I should forfeit part of the bet and let you share in the winnings. Sound good?"

"Miguel, you don't have to do that."

"Please I want to, besides I love to pamper you."

"Oh Miguel, how is it that you always know when to say the right thing."

"It's just my nature, I guess."

"Yeah, right." I hit him on his behind.

"Oh baby, I love when you do that," Miguel said. He kissed me.

"Oh I have something for you."

"What?" I said.

Miguel got up and walked over to his suitcase. He opened the suitcase and took out a long white box. He walked back over to me and we sat on the edge of the bed.

"Here, this is for you," he said.

He handed me the box. I looked at him.

"Miguel you didn't have to get me anything."

"I wanted to, besides once I saw it I know you had to have it."

I opened the box and move the white tissue paper to reveal a beautiful glass red rose. I gently took it out of the box and I held it in my hands. I looked at him.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"Oh Miguelito, it's one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen."

"One? What other beautiful thing have you seen?"

"You." Miguel looked down at the floor.

"Miguel are you blushing?" He looked at me shyly; as he looked at me a few tears fell from my eyes.

"Are you crying?" he asked.

"Only if you're blushing."

We both smiled at each other. Miguel sat next to me. "I have never seen you shed one tear in the years that we've known each other."

"And I have never seen you blush before. This is the most beautiful gift I have ever received Miguel, thank you."

I kissed his cheek.

"You're welcome."

I gently put the rose back into its box and set it on the nightstand. I then ran my fingers through his hair and looked deep into his eyes. I kissed him tenderly. We both lay on the bed and continued kissing. Miguel looked into my eyes and it looked like he had something to say.

"What is it, Miguel?"

"What?"

"Your eyes tell me you have something that you want to say. Do you?"

"Well yes, like I mentioned before it's only right that we share the winning of the bet. Okay?"

"Okay, even though you don't have to."

"You're right, maybe I shouldn't share my winning the bet."

"Why not?"

"Because I did win after all."

"By default?"

"Yes by default! You had help remember." Miguel started chuckling,

"Damn, I love to see you get all fired up!"

"Oh, shut up and kiss me!" I said.

"Oh, I'll do better than that."

Miguel got up and walked over to the sliding glass door. He found the cord that moved the curtains and with one swift pull of the cord he closed the curtains. With the look in his eyes I knew what was about to happen, he walked back over to the bed and laid down by my side, he kissed my cheek and then my neck.

"Mmm, that feels so good," I said.

"I think it's time that we share the winnings don't you?"

"Oh I agree, I agree."

"I have something special that I'd like to share with you."

"I've shared that special something with you before Miguel."

"Well let's share it again."

"I thought you'd never ask."

"Let the sharing of the winnings begin!"

And share we did! We shared the afternoon away and well as the night. Miguel is a great expert at sharing and I loved every minute of it!