He wanted to say those words for quite some time, but he was shy. For years he went by on his own, healing wounds from a past love that he hoped for but never came through. He thought at that time that she was the one, but she broke his heart coming as fast as a bullet, piercing his heart and leaving him gasping for air, fighting to survive. She was the greatest pain he’s ever felt. And now, after being with this woman for only a few hours, it felt as if his heart was healed and ready to go for it again. For the first time in a long time, he felt the walls of his heart slowly being demolished by Julia.
“Why do you have a blank stare at me? She finally asked.
“Nothing, you have beautiful eyes, did you know that?” Charles answered shyly.
“My Ex-boyfriend, when we broke up, told me I had a disturbing face. He wouldn’t have noticed me if I didn’t talk to him first. And he said I was stupid, not the right one for him.”
“You’re joking right?” Charles chuckled. But he received no reply, she just watched the street vendor pass by. He realized she was telling the truth and Charles felt guilty for chuckling to what she said. As the darkness enveloped the summer night, so did his heart. He was falling for her. He felt alive again, and she was the reason.
“How can they be so happy?” Julia conversed.
Charles lit two more cigarettes and gave the other to Julia.
“Look at those couple, they live in shacks, they scavenge for bottles to sell to junk shops for a meager price. Then they buy a bit of rice and packs of noodles as their dish, then sharer it among to the countless children they’ve spawned together. And then tomorrow, they’ll do the same thing over and over again.” she continued.
He looked at the couple who lived around the plaza across them, they were indeed smiling while they ate, and they also laughed, more than they did.
“Maybe for them money isn’t everything.” He answered.
“Maybe it’s the fact that despite of all the poverty and hardship in life, they’ve stayed together, they’ve suffered together. And maybe if I was the father and did everything I could to see my children eat at least three times a day, I think I would be happy, too. For me it’s a mission well accomplished.” Charles explained.
“And maybe because my wife stayed with me all these years living in the plaza when she could have disappeared anytime she wanted, but instead she stayed. Maybe the real reason is that we both love our family and we’d do anything to keep it, and that is genuine, that is true love.” he continued.
“I often watch people in parks.” She said.
“Wondering what kind of lives they lead, where they’re going, the reason that they are where they are. I wonder what it’s like if people watched me live my life, was it worth watching? Or was it just a waste of their time?” she added.
“I think it would be awesome.” He replied.
“When I first saw you at the fair, I loved how the wind blew your dress into the flow of your body. I saw you walking effortlessly to the art fair, you graced through the crowd like there were springs in your feet. I tried looking for you inside but I failed. But then unexpectedly you were at the bridge, watching the sunset.” Charles spoke with passion
His eyes gleamed and locked into Julia’s eyes. She stared with glow in her eyes, anticipating each word that would come out of his soft-spoken lips.
“I don’t know what went through my mind but I just know I had to talk to you somehow. And when our eyes met, I saw how the setting sun glazed your skin, your radiant skin. Your eyes flowed with the color of the golden sun.”
They stared each other intensely, their faces closer to each other and they could feel each other’s breathing.
“Your eyes, my God! Your eyes captivated me. And your soft lips, my heart skipped two beats when you smiled at me.” Charles said without reluctance.
And then finally the shock sank in. He couldn’t believe the words that came right out of his uncontrollable mouth. She stared at him for a while, as their heart rate shot up to the sky, the sound of the city blurred. Their eyes fixed at each other, they could hear the blood pump in their nerves. And Charles went for it, his lips planted in hers. She closed her eyes, feeling his lips. She held his back, closer to her as their bodies collided to one another. He pressed his lips against her even more. He felt her pinkish lips, it was as soft as a feather pillow. Her kiss was as sweet as a red velvet cake, her bind was tight that he felt her breasts pushed against his chest. She fought his kiss and pressed harder, she wanted to feel his warm, wet lips, he tasted like the beautiful sunset, he put his arms around her and held her beautiful face. She was beautiful, she was the one who Charles was waiting for, and he wanted her. Then she released her lips from his, she hugged him tight. There was nowhere in the world Charles would rather be than to be where he was, trapped in her arms, it felt like magic.
It was now nearing midnight and they had both lost track of the time. Julia asked if he could walk with her back to Escolta and Charles agreed. And in walking back to Escolta, they were again silent. Both didn’t understand fully what had just happened, but it felt right, and that was enough for them. When they got back to the art fair, it was now closed. Charles offered to accompany Julia home but she refused. She wanted to take the Jeepney home, alone. While they waited for a Jeepney, Charles spoke.
“Hey, about that kiss earlier at the pla-” she interrupted and gave another warming kiss.
“Don’t ruin it,” she exclaimed as a Jeepney stopped in front of them.
“Don’t come looking for me.” She went inside the Jeepney and looked back one last time.
“How do I find you?” Charles asked desperately.
“Let fate bring us together.” She smiled and the Jeepney sped away.
Charles watched helplessly as the Jeepney went away and he lost sight of her. He was left speechless, unable to move his feet, he lit a cigarette and stared at the sky. The cold summer breezed through him, grey clouds were upon him. He surveyed the street of Escolta, there was no one but him, and he was alone again. He wasn’t in the mood to take a ride home, instead he started walking home.
And as he walked and walked the heavens roared their mighty thunder, but Charles didn’t care, all he could think about was her. He is now a prisoner of her memories. And when the rain finally poured in the city of Manila, Charles just smiled.
He couldn’t explain what was happening within him, he felt infinite.
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End of Part 1
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