Fast forward - Cuba II

Found myself de-boarding (is that even a word?) the plane and back on Cuban soil two months later...

Spent the first two days just taking in the fact that I am on vacation again - mostly also arguing with myself about whether I returned because I was hoping to see Jorge again or because I fell in love with Cuba and associated him - my last memory of Cuba - to the carefree time I had with my friends. I never did see him during the beginning of my week in Cuba, but deliberately sat in the same area I used to sit with my friends at night to have my daily smoke *see - family and hiding the fact that I smoked is no fun for a nicotine addict* I did not make eye contact when I finally saw him that night, choosing instead to keep puffing away, casually glancing at my phone with no internet - totally engrossed in my game of Flappy Bird. That's when a familiar shadow suddenly fell over me. I looked up. He had the same intense stare and furrowed brows and he had another friend with him. I will never forget.

"Excuse me, but have you been to this resort before?"

I was caught between my want to mask my surprise that he remembered and wanting to stay anonymous because I have a boyfriend for goodness sakes, to wanting to act all mysterious and non-creepy as possible that somehow I am back on his resort, alone. I finally managed to say one word "Yes" (wow - such a cool comeback *cue eye roll* so not smooth) I mean who is he to even make me feel this way - I have no qualms about putting anyone in their place when I am back at home. I have a sharp tongue and the use of sarcasm is my best friend.

"I remember you, do you remember me?"

I feigned stupidity and mispronounced his name on purpose so he wouldn't feel so important (weak game - I know) but hey if you're going to be marching around holding a microphone like a social butterfly, he must have an over inflated ego anyways. After some polite back and forth with "how do you dos" and asking about other staff members that I could remember, I pretended that it was time to return to my room as I was done catching up on my daily smoke quota. Again with his intense gaze he stated that he hopes to see me around the resort soon. I said my good night and marched off to my room - and even though I blamed my pounding heart on the fact that I had to run 10 minutes in the dark back to my room *scared myself by imagining all the creepy crawlies that would get me if I didn't run* I had a sneaking suspicion as I tried to fall asleep that night that it was more than that.