Chapter 11 --- Internship

      It had been two weeks since Kat got back from China. She was happy that the office closed for one whole week because of the holidays. She was resting as much as she could and was trying to forget about things in China. But she couldn�t stop thinking back when she was in China, locking her door softly without letting him know she had heard him. She didn�t really want to think much, but in the back of her head, she was scared and wondered what that man was going to do to her when she heard him say he was going to �challenge her�.

      After one week of resting, she had to get up early in the morning to go to work. She wanted to rest more or request a day off, but knew she couldn�t be a lazy butt. Besides, she would have to find a new job soon. She was sad that her contract was going to be over, but happy that she wouldn�t have to see her boss� face once it is over. She couldn�t stop thinking of them kissing in China; she never wanted that to ever happen again. She couldn�t believed he kissed her so much, his place, China, what else, in the office? She felt guilty kissing someone else while her heart was waiting for someone special.

      Kat was in the office by herself dazing off, thinking what she wanted to do next. A couple more months and she will be free. She was thinking when she would get to see the one her heart wanted to see most. Although Kat had been studying and doing other things when she was in college, she had someone in her heart for a very long time. None of her friends knew she had someone in mind, because she didn�t tell anybody. They all thought she hated men because she didn�t seem to care about relationships like her friends did. The reason she didn�t care about any other guys was because she already had someone in her heart. When she thinks about him, she misses him and wants to see him. But she couldn�t because he was too far away.

They met when they were still college students. They met at UCLA, when she went to do community service and he was the leader of that organization. Ever since they met, they had been e-mailing each other to keep in touch.

      Kat was good at keeping her secret life away from her friends. They saw each other twice a month, when their organization has meetings. Their organization took turns holding meetings at their campuses each month. It had been 3 years since they first met and got to know each other very well. They both were graduating at the same time; he went to another country to continue school for his master degree. She couldn�t see him because of work and didn�t have time to visit him. She hadn�t seen him for almost a year. They still kept in touch through e-mails but not as much as when they were students.

      Kat didn�t want to think anymore, so she walked out of the office for a short coffee break. As she was walking towards the coffee area, an internship application in Thailand was posted in the hallway. Her eyes popped out, and knew she had to apply. She was reading about the internship and knew that this was her opportunity to go to Thailand and study there. This was once in a lifetime opportunity for her to do something she had always wanted to do.

She was thinking to herself, �If I get this internship to study in Thailand, I can see Hugo again.�

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Months passed and she had only 2 more months left with the company. Tik didn�t really talk to her again. She was use to his attitude and didn�t care if he talked to her or not. All she could think about was the internship, and waited for a reply from them.

When she was applying, she wondered what company she would be working for. She knew it couldn�t be Tik�s because it was a different name and different type of work from what she was doing now.

She didn�t tell her mother or anyone in her family, the only person who knew was her aunt. Vicky didn�t stop her, because she knew her niece would tell her mother herself and knew what had to be done.

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      Saturday morning, Kat received a letter from Thailand that informed her, that she was accepted in to their program. It explained the two-year plan with their company. The company would provide her with housing and education for her Masters degree. The only thing she had to do was to be a part time student and work part time with their company.

"This is too good to be true� she said to herself.

She was so happy; she ran downstairs and told her parents.

"NO, you cannot go!!!� her mother said with an angry tone.

"Why mom, why not?? This is a great opportunity for me to explore new things� Kat spoke with a sad and whiney face.

"I told you, I don�t want you to travel by yourself and we don�t have money to support you.�

"But mom, the company is paying for me. See read it, look� She showed her mother the acceptance letter.

With a curious face her mother asked �This sounds to good to be true. Can you really take this seriously?�

"Why not mom? You don�t think it is for real? Ask Auntie Vicky; she�ll convince you. I�ll call her right now.� Kat went to her room and asked if Auntie Vicky could talk to her mother to let her go.

After awhile, she was taking her mom words serious and really thought it was too good to be true. Is there really a program like this? And why didn�t other people in the office apply for it besides her?

She didn�t want to think too much, all she could think about was Hugo and seeing him again. Kat would take any chance to go, and she thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her to do so.

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Monday morning she was in the office working, the phone rang... It was Mr. SaPone �Hi Kat, Congratulations on the internship. Wow you get to go to Thailand, aren�t you happy?�

With a curious tone, she questioned him �How did you know I was applying for the internship and most of all how did you know I got accepted?�

"Whoa, calm down young lady, I called to congratulate you that�s all, not start an argument with you. People in the office were saying how you went around asking people if they were applying or not, it�s obvious you were. And your Aunt announced in the e-mail she sent me on Sunday night, so I thought Monday morning I would call and congratulate you. Are you satisfied with my explanation yet?�

She didn�t want to believe him, but it was true she did go around the office asking people, and called Auntie Vicky to talk to her mom on the weekend, and she must have e-mail Mr. SaPone Sunday or something.

"Oh..umm�thank you. I am still not sure if I am taking it or not. I have to wait for my mother�s response. I don�t want to disobey her, although I don�t mind.� She was making a little joke.

"Hahaha�funny Kat. If you don�t go, we always have room for someone like you to work for our company.� He said playfully, but she got his hint.

"Don�t worry sir; I won�t be working for awhile. After working here, I realized I want to go to school more than work. If it is not Thailand, then I�ll find another way and another place to go.� She said calmly.

"Well Kat, it seems like you got a plan there. Good luck to you, and see you when I get to America. Talk to you later, and I hope Vicky can convince your mother. Bye� He ended the conversation leaving her thinking curiously.

"Wait�wait�Hello? Mr. SaPone?.. Hello?.. Dammit� she said and hung up the phone. She continued thinking to herself 'How did her know I asked Auntie Vicky to talk to my mother. I know Auntie Vicky didn�t tell him about that in the e-mail or maybe she did?�

The time Kat got home from work it was already time for dinner. �Mom, I am home. Did you talk to Auntie yet?� Kat walked around the house looking for mother.

"Oh Kat, there you are. Wow you are home late, let�s eat and we can talk about you going to Thailand.� Her mom said with a smile.

"Mom, are you O�K.?? Are you sure? But you said �N...O.. no.. just last night, and now you are telling me I can go? How great is that, did you talk to Auntie Vicky already??� She said with confusion.

"Stop it young lady, I knew you wanted to go study in Thailand for awhile now, so this is your chance. Besides you�re going to be working there also, so you can support yourself. Your aunt told me it would help you grow up. It�s only 2 year�s right?� Her mother questioned her.

"Yes mom, only 2 years. They gave me a contract; I don�t want to sign it yet until I get there and see what they are offering me. They said I don�t have to sign it until I arrive there.�

"Look Kat, go for it, don�t think twice. Just sign and go, or else you cannot go because I will change my mind. You will only go with this acceptance, not from another�s.� Her mother demanded her.

Kat was confused. Her mom was against it just the other night, and now she was pushing Kat to go. She didn�t want to reject. If her mother agreed and said yes, she was fine. Kat was happy with her mother�s decision, happy with her offer from the company, and happy she would get to go to Thailand and see Hugo.

She wanted to think twice about her decision before she signed the contract. But everything was so perfect and so nice. Most of all, she could only think of Hugo and seeing him again. She didn�t care if she had to work or go to school, but seeing him would make her happy.

So she signed the contract after finish reading it through. She usually would call and ask more information about that company, but didn�t care to do it and just sent it in.

Kat thought to herself again �Hugo, wait for me. I am coming. And I am not going to lose this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Thailand to see you and be with you.� Smiling to herself and waiting for the day she would get to go to Thailand for her internship.

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