[Drink in moderation], that was the message Emily had sent to Sheila.
'Shit,' thought Sheila instantly, as it was obvious that her friend had caught her.
[Ok], replied Sheila.
Reviewing the other messages, Sheila began to answer her patients' questions while Benjamin finished his breakfast.
'So she's a doctor,' thought Benjamin as he took one last sip of his coffee.
It was funny to see how Sheila struggled with her phone to reply to messages, as it sometimes froze.
"Haven't you thought about getting a new one?"
Sheila shook her head.
As Sheila answered message after message, she froze for a moment when she read a contact named Rita Barker.
She had several unread messages from that number, but one that could be read before entering the conversation was:
[Answer].
How had Rita gotten her phone number?
Sheila remembered writing down that number before taking the flight, but she never texted, and the moment she entered the chat…
'Shit,' thought Sheila as she realized she was the one who started the conversation. When she saw the time...
[Rita], message sent at 19:00 by… Sheila.
[I'm coming tomorrow], message sent at 19:02 by Sheila.
[Who is this?], replied Rita at 19:03.
[At 6:00], wrote Sheila at 19:05.
[Hello?], replied Rita at 19:05.
After that, there were several calls, but none were answered by Sheila.
[Who are you?], asked Rita at 19:12.
After that, there were several more missed calls from Rita until today's message.
[Answer], asked Rita at 6:04, and after that, there were more missed calls.
Sheila wanted to die.
Although she was still not convinced that drinking too much was not that bad for her, this was a harsh reality check.
'What do I do?', thought Sheila embarrassed until she realized something.
'Rita doesn't know this is my number, and she doesn't know I'm here yet. If I buy a new phone line…', thought Sheila as she focused her gaze on Benjamin, who was also checking his phone.
"Hey."
"Oh, are you done?", asked Benjamin, focusing his attention on Sheila.
"Where can I buy a new phone line?"
"A new line…? Well, surely that phone you have won't support the newer lines, and I don't think you have internet data either, so you're probably using the hotel's internet right now. So… how about you take the opportunity to buy a new phone along with a line?", explained Benjamin in such detail as if he were a professor.
Did she really have to change her phone?
Sheila looked nostalgically at her small touch phone, which had some scratches but had never failed her.
Also, it was a special gift one of her uncle's friends gave her months before his passing.
It was a phone that had been with her for a long time, and she had a certain affection for it.
Benjamin, noticing Sheila's downcast face, said:
"Hey, buying a new phone doesn't mean you have to get rid of that one. My suggestion is to get a newer model since there are features that phone doesn't support anymore, and keep both. It's a win-win, right?", explained Benjamin in a slow tone.
"I understand," replied Sheila as she grabbed her bag.
"Shall we go?", asked Benjamin.
Sheila nodded.
As they both went down to the lower floor to leave, noticing that Sheila was looking around anxiously, Benjamin asked:
"Did you lose something?"
"Where's the place to pay?"
Letting out a small laugh, Benjamin replied:
"I did that ages ago, Treit. While you were focused on your phone, the waiter came, brought me a tea, I paid, and he cleaned the table while you didn't take your eyes off your screen."
Sheila stayed quiet upon hearing that response, so she decided to follow him to the hotel parking lot.
"Let me introduce you to the beast," said Benjamin proudly as he pointed to his car. It was a small modern yellow Poumagen Beetle that brought back several memories for Sheila.
"How cute."
"Do you like it?"
"Of course!", replied Sheila excitedly.
"Do you want to drive it?", asked Benjamin to Sheila, noticing how her eyes had been fixed on the steering wheel since they approached the vehicle.
"Can I?", asked Sheila surprised.
"Yes, as long as you don't start driving in circles, I'm fine with letting you drive."
Had she also shown that habit at last night's dinner…?
Pressing the button on his key, Benjamin opened the car door. Sheila got inside the car, and Benjamin handed her the keys.
Then, Benjamin sat in the passenger seat, and before he could give Sheila instructions on how to start the car, she started it instantly.
'Wow, she does have experience,' thought Benjamin as he buckled his seatbelt.
"Where are we going?", asked Sheila with a small smile.
"Simple. We exit through the east exit, then go three blocks until we reach the roundabout, and then you'll have to take the left road. From there, we'll take the highway until we reach the Wolf's Grand Commercial Zone," explained Benjamin in detail.
"I'm new in this city," said Sheila frowning.
"Well, I guess I'll have to activate the GPS. Do you know how to follow a GPS?", asked Benjamin, but upon seeing Sheila's reaction…