In Between Sheets

Tuktuk trouble..

On our last day in Cairo we had time until midnight before our flight to Hurghada. We wanted to go sightseeing, but it didn't went as planned with; taking a wrong Uber and paying him cash for a ride we didn't take. He then dumped us somewhere we could see some sights, only to find out they were closing in five minutes. Traumatised from the Uber and not having enough cash on us, we took a tuktuk to bring us to Khan El-Khalili where we could walk the streets looking for an ATM and find some food and tea.

The tuktuk driver asked one of us to come sit in front so the weight was evenly balanced out and he seemed happy that I sat next to him. He was very proud of his tuktuk, saying it's an Indian brand and it's very strong. But then something happened and he stopped on the side of the road with a worried look on his face. He walked around the tuktuk and in the back the stood still; we had a flat tire. I looked at the time; we booked a taxi at 8 pm to take us to the airport and it was 4 pm already!

The little tuktukdriver got help from others and the took the tire off. He then asked if we could please stay with his tuktuk on the side of this big road, because he needed to go get a new tire. He jumped on the back of a taxi he knew, held on and drove off to get a new tire. We stayed behind in the middle on the road, safely on the pavement. People were staring, even try to poach us away, but we stayed until the little driver came back, put the tire on and we continued our way. We gladly gave him a nice tip, because he deserved it!

"Funny story"

I was today years old when for the first time ever I was a teeny tiny afraid of being abducted in a foreign country! I always joke about being abducted while traveling and if it happens in for example Colombia, I maybe wouldn't mind it. But, with that said... Egypt is another story!

Our taxi was a little bus that would fit all of our luggage and we would have a comfortable seven hour ride, from Aswan to Hurghada. The driver, now he was all kinds of creepy. He only stared and didn't speak one word English. His staring became even more creepy when I sat behind the drivers seat and he adjusted the mirror, so every time I'd try to look in the front, he would pierce his eyes in mine and I'd quickly look away. I felt so uncomfortable that I decided to sit all the way in the back of the bus where I could sleep peacefully and no one would stare at me.

At some point we made a quick toilet stop, I offered him a cigarette so he would hopefully soften and not stare so creepily. As we were waiting for him to finish his coffee a group of men entered as well and as soon as they did, I felt their eyes on me. I lowered my eyes to not make eye contact and even though I was wearing a long dress with long sleeves, I covered the bosom area. Luckily we went away soon after that, but the feeling didn't leave.

They all stare the same way, like they have never seen a woman before and their eyes stop at the bosom area. The way to Hurghada was long and dark and some parts uninhabited, I just hoped nothing would happen. My colleague and I joked about me being abducted in Egypt and I've seen a lot of movies and documentaries where girls are being abducted in foreign countries- I don't want to be one of them.

But we made it! I'm writing this from the beach of our resort safely in Hurghada. And I did pray the creepy chauffeur got home safe back to Aswan

At the busstop Benjamin leaned on the pilar, waiting with me for my bus to come. It had been a while I felt this safe with a guy. I could turn off my brain, just be cute and know everything would be all right. There were plenty of times to have a goodnight kiss, but we both didn't make that move. My bus came and I asked him, isn't there anything you want to ask me? He smiled, your number?

And that was the whole thrilling beginning of two scorpios meeting each other... 😍

Plot twist, after a year, enter new interest...

Oh before we head into the next office Christmas party, let me tell you the almost last part of a five-chapter story. Almost a year later haha.

Quick recap: There is flirting, electricity, a tongue piercing and a tattoo that is not visible.

I made my way to my coat and put it on, I said goodbye to the people who were left, but only to the ones I know. They saw him taking his jacket too and I could see a question mark on some of their faces. I went outside to wait for him, because you know, when someone leaves a party and greets people, people always have something to tell that takes ages.

Standing outside I saw a few of the colleagues who already “went home” thirty minutes ago. Suddenly a cute couple came towards me, and the girl asked me “Where is the boy you were with?”. I frowned and said, “I didn’t come with someone.” She gave me a little nudge “No silly, the one from the bar!”. Oooh she meant Benjamin. Now her boyfriend came too. “What are you guys doing? He clearly likes you, and you like him too! We were observing you both all night.” I was feeling a little bit shy. “Really? Well, maybe we are interested in each other, I don’t know, but we are colleagues.” They both sighted and rolled with their eyes- the same reaction everywhere. Then two women colleagues walked up to me. Both being their mothers! This was too cute. Their children were in a relationship and these two were now telling me that Benjamin and I need to happen because we were too cute and we both like each other, they could tell by only observing us. My colleagues were listening to their children who were pleading their case and then one of them took my hand- the one who has a big shot position. “Sweety listen, if you are both single go for it, he is such a handsome guy!” Then the cute couple said the words I’ve been repeating the whole evening.. “Colleagues”. She nodded her head, “You both work in different departments at different regions, I say go for it. You have my “blessing” hahaha.” Then the other colleague chimed in. A gorgeous woman who might had a bit of interest in him too, but a bit too milfy for him. “Aren’t you in a relationship?”, she asked. Maybe she was really “concerned” or maybe it was just to pry, but I said with a big smile, “No, I haven’t for quite some time.” She smiled and said, “Oh well, girl just go for it!”.

So everyone, at least the people who can have a “say” in the matter, gave us their blessings- which was actually pretty funny. He came outside and we walked away together to get food. He ordered something with a lot of garlic sauce, maybe he thought it would scare me off not to kiss him, or maybe he just liked the garlic sauce very much. I kept my part of the promise- food first, now it was him to uphold his promise- walking me to the bus.

We went through the park and took the only route that was lit, the rest of the park was dark AF. I felt very safe with him around. There was a man with his dogs, huskies, I asked if I could pet them. The man made a weird comment and said something about me petting their owner. “I don’t think so”, I said and he walked away with his dogs. “Well, that’s not very nice, I don’t get to pet them?”. I asked. Then he answered, “Not petting the owner, not petting the dogs.” Ughh perve! I turned around and looked up to Benjamin. At that point a little man said something we couldn’t really hear. It was another colleague who has left the party. He didn’t sense the vibe and invited himself to walk with us to the central station. I told him what happened with the man and the dogs and he laughed. Saying he wouldn’t mind being pet by me either. Uuuhgg, I’m surrounded by petty men, except for Benjamin that is, I thought to myself.
At the central station we noticed the colleague still being glued to us, but he needed to get the train, and we were heading to the bus. Benjamin was now also getting annoyed with him and pointed out, “There, you need to go there to the train, because we are going to the busses.” Now he “understood” and went his way. It’s a sweet guy honestly, but a little oblivious to what happens around him. Or maybe he was trying to cockblock…?

The international language of Siiiuuu

One of the highlights of my little birthday trip to Spain took place in none place other than Pestana CR7 hotel on the Gran Via. It is a very chique place where you can enjoy some beautiful pieces of art (read: his signed shirts) and they also have a foosball table for eight people! The little balls were so cute, I'm bummed I didn't have them on a picture somewhere, but I'm mostly bummed I don't have any video footage to back my story, because it is TOO CUTE! 😍

I was taking pictures of the foosball table when a little kid came in with his parents. His mother decided after two seconds it wasn't a room for her and walked away. The kid was excited when he saw the foosball table and went around it to find a ball to play. His father was not that into playing and was already have way out of the room. I didn't know what language they would speak, but he looked disappointed, so I just said in English: "Come, come let's play." The kid looked up as I put my purse and coat in one of the windowsills. His little face lit up and we started to play foosball. Without trying I scored and said (ofcourse) "Siiiiuuu". The kid laughed and said it too. We played again, and another made by me. Now he was laughing and saying ssiiiuuu with me. At this point my mom stepped into the game to play too and so did his dad. Now the little kid scored and he looked at me with a what-do-I-do-face.. I winked at him and whispered:"Siiiuuu". He then stepped away from the table, made the most famous jump, landed with his tightened fists slightly in front of him, making his arms look strong, legs a bit a part from each other and went:"Ssssiiiiuuuu". He was so happy 😍😍 and made me happy aswell.

People have tried to create an international language, a language spoken and understood by everyone on this planet. Did we as a people succeed? Ofcourse not! 😄

But in this moment I knew, Cristiano Ronaldo did ❤️ such a simple gesture, a simple word, understood by everyone 😍 he must feel so so amazing and humbled at the same time. My nephews do the jump and siu too, it is literally too cute!

Chapter 3 of the Office Christmas Party...

I frowned as I was staring him dead in the eyes when he asked the question. “Is this guy for real?!” I thought to myself. He kept on preaching that we are colleagues and now he’s asking me whether we go to his place or mine? I shook my head and smiled. “No love. We are colleagues remember?” We both were silent for a moment and just enjoyed our company in the crowded bar. A girl who wasn’t a colleague but knew him from around tapped him on the shoulder. I walked over to another colleague for a chat, giving him some space. At some point we were standing back to back and he asked me if I wanted something to drink. I thought he would forget anyway, but max ten minutes later, he came over my shoulder and put the zero in front of me. He let me carry on my conversation as he was continuing with his. The colleague I was talking to saw what he did and how we were and made a face. “Well, isn’t this a guy for you?” while he said it, he winked. I looked back at Benjamin and tilted my head. “Yeah, he is cute!”, and turned around again. “But, we are colleagues.” My colleague rolled his eyes.

At some point we ended up chatting to each other again. He asked about my tattoos and wondered if I had one in between my breasts. “Tsk tsk tsk, that’s not something a colleague should ask!” I pointed out. Now Benjamin rolled his eyes. Then he made a movement with his tongue and I thought he was drooling. “Ew, you’re drooling, did you have enough to drink?!” I asked him. He shook his head and came a bit closer so I could see what he wanted to show me… His pierced tongue.. Again I looked him dead in the eyes… “What do you want me to do with this information?” I asked him. “Hmm”, he said as he raised his shoulders. I looked at the time. “What time are you going?”. He looked at the time too. “I want to grab something to eat before heading home. Do you want to come with me?” “Hmm, yes if you promise to walk me to the bus, because I don’t feel comfortable walking alone through the park.”

Stay tuned and find out if he was a perfect gentleman or not...

That moment when I'm rushing to get home and someone pulls the belt of my coat... I turn around annoyed AF and.. stupid Benjamin! Gave him a punch on the shoulder.. "I grew up watching Bollywood movies. It's embedded in my DNA to fall in love with the person who does a move like this!" 🫣

Chapter two of the Christmas party 🥳

She brought me to him and the mistletoe was following us. “Do you two know each other?”, she asked and said to me to stand next to him. We both felt a bit weird for this introduction. “We already know each other.”, he said. Then she whispered in my ear not to go anywhere, she was going to get me a wine. When she walked away, we both looked at each other and shrugged. When she came back, she noticed the mistletoe above us and encouraged us for a kiss while everyone was watching. He came in for a kiss and I turned my head, he got the hint and kissed my cheek. Very pleased with herself the manager whispered in my ear again. “You both are single, you two look nice together, talk to each other.” Before she walked away I said to her that we already established that we are just colleagues and nothing can happen because of it. She then said something surprising. “Oh no, you both are in two different teams, you two have my blessing and I’m his manager!”. She walked away and I looked at Benjamin a bit shy. We toasted and I started to tell him what she said to me. We both could laugh it off, so the awkwardness was gone in a jiffy. From that moment on we were glued together. Whenever he went to get a drink, he asked me what I wanted and made sure I had a drink in my hand.

Because we are both working on our bodies, he a little bit more than me, we were drinking a lot of zero products and that came with the countless times of alternated bathroom visits. At some point he didn’t came back, because someone stole him away from me! No, I’m kidding, he was talking to a girl who he knew because of his ex. And I happily talked to another colleague whom I hadn’t seen for a while. Of course he asked what my relationship status was and then asked if there was someone who I might be interested in at the bar. He was looking around for me. This particular colleague is married and has three children. Since I’ve known him, he wanted to spread the love and wanted to set me up with someone. He was looking around and who stood out of the crowd (literally)? Of course it was Benjamin over towering everybody. So it was easy for my colleague to say that I should go talk to him. I told him the story of us in the office and the main concern of Benjamin, being colleagues. But the thing was, I liked being with him, talking with him. It felt easy and not forced. We could go and hang out just so I would feel a bit happier. We even could go and play some tennis. That was my idea, hanging out with him, doing some sports to get my body back in a nicely manner.

After a while he found his way back to me and we hunched over a table together. “Do you still play tennis?”, I asked him. He nodded. “Yes, I do. Sometimes with my friends, sometimes with my dad.” With my hands I was gesturing what his problem was? “Why do you ask?”, he smiled and asked. “Well, we could do that, we could play tennis…” And then there it was again, his eyes locked into mine and he leaned forward.. “I told you, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to meet outside work.” I felt the chemistry, I knew very well where it could go, but it wouldn’t. My first priority was laughing a lot and really play tennis. “Zero?”, he asked while he made his way to the bar and found a chair to sit on. I nodded. I looked to my left and saw Le Pigeon mouthing that he was going home. I went to him to give him a hug goodbye and went to the bar to collect my zero and my chatting partner of the evening. He was sitting with his legs far apart and handed me my coke zero. I took a sip and moved in between his legs when I put my bottle on the bar. Now I was standing in between his legs, maybe my favourite way to be in a bar, tucked away, feeling safe, close to each other but not touching. I told him that Le Pigeon was leaving and he laughed. “He has been saying that for the last hour.” I took another sip of my zero and said “Yeah, I’m waiting for him and that whole gang to leave, so I can go home too.” He gave me a look. “Am I going home with you?”, he asked..

Here it is, the first part of the office Christmas party with more stories about Benjamin