Ramon Le Grand

While shadowing the 'foreign guest,' Alexa learned the ins and outs of the Beauty Pageant business. She needed to learn as much as possible for her future in the industry.

Deep in her heart, she knew she still had a lot to learn, but she was determined to accomplish her dream even if it killed her.

Finally, it was the end of the week, and Alexa ended her shadowing. As much as she loved the job, it was tiring and energy-consuming. She was exhausted. 

Just as she was about to leave, the lady approached her and asked sincerely, "Alexa, if you have time tonight, I would like to have dinner with you to discuss something important. Are you available?" 

She answered, "Yes, Ma'am! I'm available." 

'Even if I were not, I would make myself available!' Alexa thought while giving her the best smile she had been practicing for a long time.

"Good! Do not worry about dressing up. It is a casual dinner. Be here around 3 PM., that should give us enough time." The lady instructed. 

Alexa was thinking to herself about the time her temporary boss indicated. "Madam, isn't 3 PM a little early for dinner? I'm just wondering..." She asked with a questioning gaze.

"Just come back around that time. You'll soon find out why, alright?" the lady said irritably.

Alexa saw her reaction and to rectify the situation, she answered. "Yes, Ma'am! I will be here promptly at 3 PM. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave." She gave her a respectful bow, then proudly left.

The foreign lady had a half-smile on her face when Alexa left.

What she had planned for their dinner was a test to prove if she was correct with her assumptions or not. She wanted to see if Alexa would have what it takes to be the new talent that she was looking for. 

***

Alexa was standing at the bus stop when her cousin Andrea called. She fumbled with her cell phone and almost dropped it before she was even able to answer.

Luckily, someone was fast enough to catch it before it fell onto the ground and shattered.

"Thank you!" Alexa said after taking her phone back from the stranger.

"No big deal, it's a good thing it didn't drop. It would have shattered into pieces for sure." The stranger was trying to make small talk.

"Yup! Man, I would have been in deep shit with my grandma if that happened." She replied calmly.

"Alexa, you don't recognize me, do you?" The stranger asked her with anticipation.

Alexa looked at the stranger with a straight face without blinking. She assessed him first with his face, then she backed up a little, and got ready to bolt.

"Man, if I offended you or have done something wrong, I'm sorry, OK?!" Terror was written all over Alexa's face, but she was still ready to fight.

"Hahaha! You have not changed a bit. You are still a tomboy, but you sure clean up pretty well." The stranger bantered.

"Wait a minute, do we know each other from the past? I do not recognize you at all?" Alexa questioned with her voice raised.

"Hahaha! Of course, you would not recognize me anymore. The last time you saw me was when I was twelve years old, and I was on the skinny side. Plus, I had braces and thick glasses then."

He gave Alexa a wide grin, showing straight, pearly white teeth. "My braces are gone, and I had a Lasik done, so I have no more glasses, either. Moreover, I work out, so I am buff, see!" he said, showing his bicep while flexing his arm.

Alexa looked at him once again. She studied his features for a long time. She thought about what he said and finally recalled who he was. Her mouth dropped in awe at this realization, and she exclaimed, "Ramon!!! Oh, my God! Is that you? How can this be? Hahaha!"

"I told you back then, before I left for America, that someday we would meet again, so here I am," Ramon responded. 

Alexa got excited, she jumped at Ramon and hugged him, "Hahaha! I can't believe it's you, and you kept your promise that we would meet again."

Ramon was stunned and speechless at her reaction. He stood stiff as a board, not moving, in shock, with a nervous look.

Alexa was overwhelmed with excitement and could not believe that the person in front of her was the same childhood friend who left for America when she was only seven years old.

She was devastated when Ramon said his goodbyes.

His only comforting words back then were, "We will meet again. I promise!" Those were his parting words, and she kept that in her heart all these years.

Once all the excitement was over, she remembered their happy and sad times.

She became overwhelmed with emotion, and tears started building in her eyes. Alexa pushed Ramon a little so that she could be face-to-face with him. 

She looked him straight in his eyes, and then she started punching his chest, with tears flowing down her beautiful face.

"Where have you been? *POW, POW, POW * You are so mean you know that? I waited for your letters all these years, and none came. What happened?"

Alexa bombarded him with questions while tears ran down her face, and some snot was coming from her nose.

"Hahaha! Slow down, gosh, what's with this..." Ramon pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, and instead of handing it to her, he wiped her tears first, then the snot slowly dripping from her nose.

"You haven't changed at all. Do you know that?! I still must wipe your snot, just like when we were kids. You may be taller now and look more like a girl, but you are still the same. Hahaha!" Ramon was so happy that she accepted him as if he had never left.