Atlantic Ocean | It’s not a movie

Litz watched carefully herself on the mirror while she got dressed up for the party. She would meet John in person for the first time and she wanted to be perfect. John was her last date’s best friend and the destiny had put him on her same cruise for two weeks. She had discovered it by chance, browsing the list of the cruisers. She was single, but somehow, she felt guilty to find herself so attracted by this mysterious man whom she had heard much about. On paper he looked like a prince from a fairy tale, with that kind of shadow on his face coming with age.

She wore her favorite Guerlain pink lipstick, who made her feel very self-confident and walked through the whole deck to reach the party. Everybody was elegant and glamourous, sipping their cocktail at the bar, with a breathtaking view on the Atlantic Ocean.

Her friend Serena was waiting for her in a stunning red Valentino long dress, which made her olive skin shine bright. She was drinking a Caipirinha. Litz ordered one more for herself and regretted not to have worn her Armani long skirt that night. She could see John at the other side of the bar, wearing an all white suit and flirting with two super hot Brazilian girls, showing off confidently the results of plastic surgery.

– Look at him, look at those girls. I’m clearly not his type. I shouldn’t even invest in meeting him.

Litz said bitterly.

S: – What the hell are you saying, sweetie? If he flirts with hot girls, it just means he is a confident man, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are his type. And, then, come on, you obsessed about him all the time, now go and talk to him!

L: – No, I changed my mind. He should come and talk to me.

S: – Oh, God. Wait here.

Litz was not able to ask her intentions, that Serena had already started her catwalk toward him. Her cheeks became red, she suddenly felt shy and in a matter of seconds she left her seat and went straight into the crowd next to the dance floor to hide herself. Too bad Serena was one of the most determined girls she had met in her travels. John and her came to find Litz a few minutes later.

S: – Here you are, darling! Do you know John? He is from San Francisco.

John: – You are Litz, right? Nice to meet you! I think we have some friends in common…

L: – Hi John, yes, I’m that Litz. Nice to meet you.

By the time John had talked to her, Serena had left them alone. Litz discovered that John was a broker and had been travelling a lot for work before getting on board. Then, he politely quit the conversation and left the party. She felt a mix of melancholy for the end of her last love story and curiosity about this introvert elegant man. She saw Serena taking selfies with trendy people she didn’t know, but she decided to leave the party. She was too overwhelmed to meet more strangers that night.

Litz was walking outside by the pool, while she saw a little figure dragging a pillow and a voluminous blanket. She came closer and recognized Pam, the tiny woman from Vietnam.

– Hey, Pam. What are you doing with that stuff?

Asked Litz.

P: – Oh, don’t you know? Apparently there is an epidemic going on. My room mate is sick, I don’t want to sleep with her.

L: – I’ve heard about it, but I know sick people are already in quarantine and getting better. Your room mate has probably just got a cold. Where are you going to sleep?

P: – Oh, I will sleep under the stars!

L: – You can’t sleep alone. You are drunk, Pam.

P: – My crush avoided me all day. I want to be by myself.

L: – No way, you are drunk! Let me come with you.

The two reached a quiet spot on the backward of the ship and lied down under the blanket. Pam told Litz all about her cruise fling and they laughed about watching the stars without any romantic partner to share the view with. When Pam got better, Litz left her and came back to her room, bumping once or twice into the weirdest couples making out outside.

The day after, a guy looking worried came to Litz asking about Pam. They found the pillow and the blanket, but Pam was not there anymore.