Tores, who the hell is Tores?
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Rachel POV
Three days later
Experts have suggestions that travelling is beneficial for our well being. Some of the positive being; getting out of your comfort zone, building confidence, ensures peace of mind,enhance your creativity and blah blah blah.
Strange, it contradicts what I was expecting from the so called 'beneficial' results.
Instead of getting out of my comfort zone, I'm retreating inside my hotel room, having popcorns and watching President Hoffer's meetings with the Japanese Government. So, I'm not out of my comfort zone at all.
Building confidence. The confidence to date the President? Putting the title 'President' aside, I'm no difference from a whore. I'm cheating with a married man. Yeah, building confidence to be a whore, just like Nike's slogan - Just Do It.
Ensure peace of mind. It's a joke. This is definitely bullshit for me.
Enhance your creativity? Of course, I need a game plan to be on a secret date, wait, secret date is too nice to use in this situation. Affair. Affair with the President will be the right word. Enhancing creativity? That's for sure.
I never promise him anything that night in Air Force One. I never. For every reason that draws me to him, it gets me drifting even further away from him. That's because I'm not even sure if he can promise me anything.
Derek is funny, easy to talk with, easy to laugh with, and easy to love. Wait, not love, yet. I'm just floating like a balloon, but I'm tying myself tightly to my conscience although every wind that blows through me seems to be sending me towards Derek's direction.
My heart races every time I think of him. We never finish touring the plane anyway, because Gavinski interrupts us midway. He might be the bottleneck that is sent to stop me from putting both leg inside the water.
I might actually said yes in a spur of a moment. Derek is hard to resist, I can see it is not a one night stand that he is seeking for in me. He is more than that. I don't know if I can tolerate the secrecy between us, avoiding the media and avoiding any human.
In a moment of deep thoughts, my phone vibrates. I lifted my bedcover away and headed towards where I've charged my phone. It's the other cabin crew, they are asking if I want to join them for this summer festival in Tokyo.
Comfort zone, I have to get out of my comfort zone. Spending too much time alone makes me miss Derek Hoffer even more.
From: Rachel
Sure.
It was summer in Tokyo, there is some festivals going on where the children and adults are wearing Kimono.
I took my phone out to take photos of the vibrancy that is taking place in this beautiful park. Japan has so much to offer, it's richness in culture, their hospitality and of course, Sushi. I love sushi.
'What festival is this?' Dolores, who is fanning herself with the hand fan that she just bought from a store, her makeup is almost ruined from the scorching sun. I don't understand why can't she just use sunscreen and a little bit of mascara to look presentable, she has to use stewardess standard level of makeup on off days.
'I don't know, but seems like everyone is flocking towards there.' I pointed at the direction where the crowds are gathered. 'Come on, we should do what the Romans do.'
IÂ guide Dolores along with me as I lead her to the crowds. As we glide and slip ourselves inside the packs of humans, I noticed Dolores was panting and annoyed.
'Seems like you have forgotten that I'm eligible for senior citizen discount.' She grumbled.
I almost laugh, I forgot Dolores is old enough to be my grandma.
'I wish I can piggyback you, but it's going to send us to the emergency room faster.' I sound apologetic, but I'm not. In fact, I wanted to burst out laughing. I wonder where is the rest of the cabin crews.
'I'll mark your words when we go back to Air Force One.'
I gave her a cheshire Cat smile, as stern as Dolores can be, she is actually Maleficent in real life.
I took her wrist and held her close to me. The crowds is unmeasurable as we get closer.
'Here! Rachel!' I heard my name shouted from across. It's Corbin, our fellow flight attendant. I glide through the passerby and head towards him.
'It's Derek Hoffer!' He shouts.
What?
I search for him.
I lift my head higher. My heart beats faster. I still can't see him.
And I saw him...
Smartly dressed in black blazer suit, blue shirt and grey tie. His brown hair is always neat, IÂ wonder who does the combing for him. He looks different from any other President I've seen in the news. Charming, young and full of positive vibes.
They were standing on top of the bridge where Derek stands next to the Prime Minister of Japan. Well mannered and patience, Derek stands in a straight posture, waiting for his turn to address the Japanese.
'At least he is the reason why I'm proud to be American.' Dolores finally said something, she is still fanning herself, I felt the wind motion move through me.
'Why?' I asked.
'Well, look, how many president or king or prime minister has been this good looking? If I were half my age, I would have throw myself at him.'
I peered at her for a moment. 'Even if he is married?'
'I'll be his mistress or whatever you call.'
'I mean, seriously?'
'Since when did we have a serious conversation after work, Rachel?'
I turned away from Dolores. The crowds claps their hands as the Prime minister bowed and gesture at Derek Hoffer. I guess it was Derek's turn to speak.
He was very welcome in Japan, everyone standing in front of him was eager for his speech. Of course they do, Derek's charisma spreads globally.
'Good Afternoon, I stand here before...' Derek started. I paid immense amount of attention, hearing how he pronounced every words, how he eloquently delivers the message he intent to send.
This is all a game of deceiving. Derek were blessed with good features, beautiful ocean eyes that were able to capture everyone's attention, even when there is debate between him and another woman, I guess, she will be distracted. Politician are good liars, I still stands firms to this opinion.
And there, even when he is a few meters away from me, I can't take my eyes off him. I hope he will noticed me, from the thousands of people around here, I hope he sees me. I hope he sees the way I look at him, he will know that I wanted to say 'yes' that night. My pride is too rigid to be called a homewrecker.
His crisp speech ended, it was short and sweet. Soon, all the crowds dispersed as the leaders went to visit different stalls in the festival.
'Bang!'
A loud striking sound were heard from the other side of the park. Everyone shouts, commotions started, parents carrying their child and seek for safety.
I'm very sure that sound is produced from a gun. Somebody is trying to assassinate one of the leader. I never expect for this to happen. It shouldn't happen, but it still happens eventually.
Derek! My sanity returns when I was knocked by somebody who is seeking shelter. I fall to the ground, my forehead felt a sharp pain. I tried to stand but the situation right now mimics the Running of the Bulls event in Spain, it's chaotic and deafening, every minutes your live depends on how alert you are before the bull charged towards you.
I covered my head with my hands and curled my body, the fear of being knock by runners left me with no choice. I want to cry, I want to go back home.
Suddenly, I was dragged on both my arms. It was too swift to notice. One moment, I was on the ground, next, I was pulled away from there. My mind is still in a whirlwind of the commotion that I don't know where I should focus.
'Bang!'
The second shot by the terrorist.
Fuck. We are dead, so dead.
'We got Tores!' A harsh voice beside me was heard.
I look around me and two tall man in black suit were basically lifting me up from the ground. I look clearly again, I felt a sense of familiarity. Alan and Joe, Derek's bodyguard.
'Code seventeen! I repeat, code seventeen!' Joe shouts at his security earpiece, I know there is something hidden in his ear. He had to push cover his ear from the noise in order to repeat his message.
Tores, who the hell is Tores?
Tores...Tores...Tores...
The two syllable repeats in my mind. Everyone is running in no definite directions. I can't control my move, Joe and Alan has total control over it. My visions blur and shuts into total darkness.
I'm drifting and drifting.
It's still noisy and chaotic.
I'm getting weaker and weaker.
The noise seems to become distance, until I heard a voice...
His voice.
I'm not sure, but it's definitely his.
'Rachel?' He shakes me.
Rachel
Rachel
Rachel