Chapter VII A Weekend and a Five-Minute Getaway

An uneventful week passed.

For John Lloyd, it meant there was no talk of tortoise. For Sarah, it was John Lloyd just sitting quietly beside her, while they watched old movies oh her DVR.

All was peaceful.

Well, except those times that they bickered about food and having too much of it. When Johnlloyd insisted that he would order their food, Sarah was shocked to find more than ten dishes on their table. She accused him of wasting his money. He accused her of not being grateful.

Her father and their help were with them during that lunch so they could not fight out in the open, but once they left for an errand, she made sure that John Lloyd eat all the food.

John Lloyd was all too happy to oblige. Finishing the food meant two things. He’d get so full and die of gluttony, or if he didn’t die, he could stay in Sarah’s place well into the evening. He liked the latter very very much.

Sarah smiled to herself when she remembered that day. When her father came home that night, he sat with them and ate the remaining chicken. There was no food left so John Lloyd had no more excuse to stay.

Yet, Sarah knew if John Lloyd asked her father if he could stay longer, her dad would not say no. She noticed that both her parents, especially her dad had been extra lenient to her since they found out about her heart condition.

So, she was only slightly surprised when John Lloyd told her of his plans for the weekend.

“Start packing.” He clapped, telling her to hurry.

“Why? Where AM I going?”

“WE ARE. We’re going to Beijing.” He flashed her a wide grin.

“Why? And why do I need to pack?”

He circled her, before he answered her. They were in the kitchen.

“Because, we’ll spend the weekend in Beijing.” A wink.

“What?! Dad—“

“Tito already said yes. You wouldn’t think I’d take you there without asking for his permission first, would you?” He gave a naughty smile.

“Or wouldn’t you? What? Did you think I ---- tsk. Tsk. Sarah! I never thought you could be that---“ John Lloyd started teasing her.

Sarah didn’t let him finish. She knew her face was on fire, so she turned the faucet and splashed him with water before she ran toward her bedroom.

“Unfair! I’ll get you one of these days.” John Lloyd said to her retreating back. He gave a hearty laugh.

Life was perfect during that five-minute exchange.



It took them only 30 minutes to reach the Guangzhou airport. Five minutes in the airport when they had their first weekend fight. One of the many they would have in the next two days they spent in Beijing.

The flight attendant flirted with John Lloyd, and he flirted back. As claimed by Sarah.

When he noticed that she became quiet, he knew something was wrong. When he questioned her, she said everything was okay but turned away from him.

When the male flight attendant passed by, Sarah asked for a bottled water. Her smile was a bit longer than necessary. At least for John Lloyd.

They were quiet during the remaining time of the flight. Few minutes before touchdown, John Lloyd held Sarah’s hand.

And they fought again when they could not get a taxi.

“Why can’t they understand what I’m saying?” John Lloyd was getting frustrated, as the third taxi drove off because the driver could not understand what he said in English.

Sarah was just laughing beside him. The more he got irritated, the louder her laugh became.

After 30 minutes, she was still giggling and John Lloyd was more annoyed, they finally got a taxi. Sarah couldn’t stop her giggles from time to time.

John Lloyd got his revenge when they reached their destination.

Hotel. He booked them in one room, he told her.

“ No, get another room.” She stomped her foot like a kid.

“No available room.” He said with a straight face.

“If you don’t believe me, try asking the receptionist.”

“I plan to do that.”

“Ok, i’ll go to my room now. I’ll see you later.”

“What?! You’ll leave me here?”

“You don’t want to share the room with me, so get your room.” John Lloyd made a step to where the elevator was.

“Had I known--- I shouldn’t have come. You!” Sarah hissed at him.

John Lloyd knew he reached her limit, so dangled the two electronic cards for her to see.

“Gotcha! Ha ha”

Sarah reached for the card and pinched him at his side.

John Lloyd smiled. He was in a happy place. His world was perfect in those five minutes.



Sarah stuck out her tongue at him before she closed her own room. His was just next to hers.

John Lloyd opened his door, placed his overnight bag on his bed, and knocked at the adjoining room before opening it.

“Hello” John Lloyd smiled at Sarah’s surprised look.

She took a second look at the door that he just opened, before she closed her mouth.

“You didn’t think I’d allow you to stay alone in a room in a foreign country? There’s no way I would do that.” He sat on her bed.

“I’m a little bit worried about my safety though.” He teased her.

She threw a pillow at him, full at his face.

Sarah’s heart leapt. It was perfect happiness, those five minutes.






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Enjoy the moment, every moment, when you love.