Among the orchids pt. 2

     “Hi. There was a woman and two of her friends right in this general area like a minute ago.” Eric gestured in a very vague direction, in hopes that the guard would understand.

“Um, she had on a yellow raincoat and dark curly hair?” he continued. “I can’t remember what her friends had on but I’m looking for the woman in the raincoat.”

“Yeah, I did see them here but they left a few minutes ago,” said the guard. “I think they headed back towards the entrance, but I’m not positive. Sorry.” 

“Okay, no problem. Thank you.” Eric walked away feeling defeated. More upset that he didn’t just go straight up to her in the first place. 

“Excuse me ladies, sorry to interrupt” he began quietly to himself. He was replaying all of the scenarios in his head that would have been much better than what he actually chose. 

“Would that have been so difficult to say? Excuse me, ladies! That’s not rude. I mean how else do you get a person’s attention? You say excuse me! Dummy. And who writes shit down on paper anymore? Like she doesn’t have a phone.” Eric was beating himself up all the way towards the front of the garden and back to his car. He stood at the crosswalk, looking both ways before he took a step and when he looked right, he saw the raincoat he had been obsessing over all afternoon. She and her friends were walking in the opposite direction but it was his last opportunity, and he was going for it. Eric started jogging to catch up with them before they had gotten too far, but they were fast which forced him to pick up the pace. 

“Excuse... excuse me”, he called out ahead of himself, being cautious not to scare her but loud enough to get her attention.

“Excuse me”, he said again as he got closer, this time tapping her on her shoulder. “Hi.” He let out a breath and rested his hands on his knees for a moment trying to get himself together. 

“Hi”, he began again. “I’m Eric. I saw, well we saw each other. Inside? In the garden, by the… by the flowers and the cactus plants?” He was still panting trying to find his words. She and her friends were all confused but they weren’t frightened, it’s not like he was the most threatening in this state anyway. She looked at him for a second before she responded.

“Qué?” She answered, sounding puzzled.

“What?” Eric was asked with a baffled look on his face.

“Qué dijo?” she asked. 

“Wait I’m sorry I don’t …” they both looked at each other lost and awkward as they tried to piece together what was happening. The girl shook her head before responding. 

“Lo siento, pero no entiendo.” She smiled politely and looked at her friends who shook their heads, to signify that they also didn’t understand. Eric laughed, before nodding out gracefully, waving goodbye and backing away towards his car. 

“Sorry ladies. Enjoy your night,” he said, before turning back, getting in his car, and heading home.