Los Angeles to Mexico City: A Novella

After many disappointing dating encounters, I became hungry for self-enrichment. I looked inward as I reconnected with culture, music, and linguistics. My newest goal was to learn Spanish! During this time, I vowed to limit my media exposure to Spanish language outlets only. The Real Housewives was replaced with novellas on Telemundo, hip hop music was replaced with reggaetón and samba, and screwdrivers were replaced with caipirinhas and pisco sours. I immersed myself in Hispanic culture and Los Angeles became my training ground for exploring diversity. I was not discriminatory as I devoured content from around the globe, but, I focused specifically on Mexican content.

I became engrossed in a soap opera, Triunfo del Amor. Triumph of Love is the translation of the novella’s title. I was determined; triumph was my goal! My triumph would be to learn Spanish, once and for all.

My weeknights became a cultural lesson taught in Mexico City; I was enthralled with the scandalous plots and nefarious characters. Plus, I had tons of new topics to discuss with my grandma! Mexican soap operas are the most dramatic and unbelievable television shows I’ve ever seen! I was enamored with the depiction of Mexico City’s elite. The women are stunning; as beautiful and curvaceous as they are crafty. They drive sports cars and live in mansions. Their physical assets abound, and the men are just as desirable.

My beloved character was Max Sandoval, played by the actor William Levy. If you don’t know who he is, and you have a pulse, I recommend an immediate internet search! William Levy is the most handsome, robust, blonde-haired, green-eyed, Spanish speaking man to ever grace my television. He was the envy of my nights; his physique is unreal. He’s tall, built, manly, and sensitive. He’s also an amazing actor!

He’s been dubbed the “Latin Brad Pitt.” I became caught in a hybrid of reality and fantasy. I imagined the life of the girls in the novella. I wondered what it would be like to work with William Levy/Max Sandoval, every day. I wondered what his personality was like. I wondered what it would be like to meet him, and most importantly, I wondered if Mexico City was abound with men just as desirable as him.

I was content; weeknight dates with William Levy, Mexico City, and my novella, never disappointed. I had no desire for real dates or relationships; I had everything I ever wanted!

Until, an old boyfriend reached out.

We reconnected for dinner at Westside Pavilion. Of course, he was more handsome, charming, and hyper than ever! I could never keep up with him; always networking, negotiating, or hustling! Being with him was a whirlwind of amazingness; his energy was intoxicating! He always smelled good too, I'm such a sucker for men’s cologne! His green eyes deep as emeralds. He was a sight! Immediately, we fell into romance. We laughed, hugged, held hands all night. I wondered why I had let him go in the first place!

I shared my recent hunger for novellas as well as my obsession with Mexico City. “What a coincidence!” he announced, “I go back and forth to Mexico City all the time, for work.”

“What?” I exclaimed!

“Actually, I’m going next month. You should come, I have tons of friends, business partners out there.” Without hesitation, I accepted, Mexico City was my passion! What luck I had!

My fantasy of triumph was about to become reality! He promised to take me to all the spots where my novella was filmed; and surely, I could practice speaking Spanish! I was beyond excited! Plus, my old boyfriend was courting me back!

The next week we met at Moonshadows in Malibu, for cocktails and ocean breezes. The L.A. sunset was the perfect backdrop to plan our adventure! I talked of pyramids; he talked of clubs and special parties. We planned to share a room at his favorite hotel, with separate beds! I was a single girl on a budget. I did what I had to do.

As the cocktails grew stronger, the night grew stranger. He became preoccupied with his phone, then blurted, “I can only hang out with you on Saturday night, in Mexico. My work schedule is filled up.”

“But, what about the pyramids?” I pleaded.

“Don’t worry, my friend is willing to show you around, for a fee though. He’ll friend you on Facebook. Got to go. We’ll talk later!” He paid the check and bolted!

Dumfounded and disconcerted, I thought, 'Maybe I’m wasted.'

I wondered why he left so abruptly. The Mexico City friend (for a fee) contacted me on Facebook seconds later. As I savored my last Mojito, I began to feel like I was in my own novella.

Hours later, he called to explain why he was acting so weirdly at dinner. His next words rocked my world! “Saturday night we’re going to dinner with William Levy!”

“What?” I exclaimed, “You’re joking!” He explained that his production company was meeting with Levy for film projects in Spanish speaking markets. He wanted to surprise me, that’s why he left dinner! It made sense now.

I mused, “How sweet of him to make this trip special for me.”

My qualms dissolved, and excitement reigned! I shuddered as I imagined meeting William Levy at dinner. What outfit should I wear? What should I talk about? Insecurity about my Spanish arose, but I didn’t care. This was my chance to experience Mexico City, like the novella, with William Levy! My heart, mind, and body seized! What luck I had!

Sensing my enthusiasm, he sighed relief, then stammered. “So, after the William Levy dinner, we’ll go to a club. It’s a regular club. We’ll go together. It’s just that there’s a room in the back that you can only enter as a couple. You don’t have to do anything back there, if you don’t want to. I mean, if you want to, that’s cool, but, I just need someone to go in with, like a partner! Like you! Before I could ask details, he cut in, “So, you’ll be my partner okay? Once we’re in there, we can separate! Just gotta walk in together. It’s a regular club, so don’t worry. Okay?”

'What kind of club is this? What happens in the back? Why would he want to separate?' I pondered silently, too confused to respond.

“One last question,” he blurted. “You won’t mind if I bring somebody back to the room, right?” My eyebrow peaked but I stayed quiet. “Don’t worry though, I’ll still hook up with you, just at the end of the night, after she leaves. You’re okay with that right?”

Silence and repulsion overcame me. I realized that his hyperactive nature had found itself immersed in some type of underworld. I felt queasy and shaky. The sweet, good-natured guy that I knew was far gone; I felt sad and empty.

We didn’t go to Mexico City, and, I never spoke to him again.

I’ve learned to stay silent and people will eventually show themselves. Clearly, there was no plan for sightseeing, or dinner with William Levy. The trip was a scam and he was a sham. I have no idea what his intention was, but I didn’t stick around to find out. I have yet to travel to Mexico City, but I’m confident that I will, someday. In the meantime, I continue to navigate the wild world of the L.A. dating scene.