The boy lowered down his gaze, got his eyes
on Lorraine’s in amusement. He couldn’t love more his girl when she started to
be so philosophical. He considered it as a weird one, true. Either way, it was
so cute he couldn’t stop smiling thinking of it.
He then filled in the space between them.
“No, I don’t.” He murmured. They were way too close Lorraine breathed the same
air with the boy.
She closed her eyes. The wind breezed.
Everything felt so good and it was just so
right living the very moment, with only two of them in the rooftop, underneath
the night sky. It was 8 pm already but two of them felt like there was no
second ticking and the moment would last forever.
She wondered if forever really was the word
to indicate their relationship.
Lorraine leaned in and hugged him so tight
she could smell the masculine perfume of his.
“Tell me, ma
fleur.”
“Hmm?”
“Tell me.”
“Can’t you guess it?”
“Alright, give me a second. Is it nothing?
Because it seems we’re meant to be eternal, don’t you think?”
That was tickling her and it occured to her
how she loved the boy’s humor. It was so much, and she couldn’t get rid of it.
She then shook her head lightly, not sure as
to beat off the thought or to reply to the boy. “No, Levi. You’re wrong.”
“Okay, so what’s that?” He, again, whispered.
In spite of the moment’s coziness, she could
feel Levi’s heartbeat in her chest pounding harder waiting for the response. “The
reality.”
They both bate their breaths.
***
It was half 9 am on a Sunday morning when
Raquel came over to Lorraine’s house, “RAIN! Oooh my God guess what!? You
should know what!”, which only she found empty.
“Rain? You here?”
She walked towards Lorraine’s bedroom and
only got blanket covering no body. “Rain? Where are you? I’m so excited, I got
a big news!”
She went upstairs, to the rooftop and...
oops! Lorraine was laying right next to Levi, Levi’s arms were hugging
Lorraine’s body. They both didn’t notice Raquel’s presence. Well, they both
weren’t even awake despite the sunlight was getting bright.
“Ugh please, it’s nearly 10 and they’re still
asleep, curled up beneath such a bright sky?!”
Raquel headed to their body and got herself
stumbled in purpose. She pretended to fall. “AAHHH!!”
“What’s up?!” Levi got awake immediately and
looked up at the surrounding, but it was all the same as it was the night
before. Except Raquel’s presence. “What you doing here?”
“What’s going on?” Lorraine got awake too,
eventually.
“You tell me.”
“Quel?”
“Yes, Rain. I’m here.”
“Since when you’re here?”
“Since God knows when! Now c’mon you guys
should get up unless you want to get the sunburn. Go go go!” Raquel took
whatever her hand could grip and pointed it towards the couple.
It was a crowbar.
“Whoa slim it, buddy. Fine, we’re going
downstairs.” Levi took Lorraine’s hand and held it.
“No we,
buddy. Only Rain and me. You go.”
Levi made a face. “Seriously? Ugh, fine. Hey
Rain, got to go. I’ll let you know when I’m home.”
“Alright, see you Levi. Sorry for this, Quel
is being a jerk.”
“It’s cool, no worries. I’m used to it. See
you, ma fleur.”
He gave her a light kiss and bustled walking
downstairs, away from the girls, after giving his girlfriend one last glance. Raquel
and Lorraine waited until they heard the front door closed.
“Did you literally called me a jerk?” Raquel asked in disbelief.
“I did. Aren’t you a jerk, though?”
“RAIN!!!”
They both laughed out loud as walking down
the stairs. Lorraine had a seat as she turned on the TV. Raquel opened the
refrigerator and took two bottles of juices, then handed one to Lorraine who
was yawning. She didn’t find any burritos nor cereals, though, so she sat next to
her bestie, only drinking the juice.
“Rain. You won’t believe what I’m saying!”
Yelled Raquel in excitement. Lorraine looked at her, waiting for Raquel to
finish the line. Her voice was chipper. “I was hooking up with...”
Lorraine’s jaw dropped. “You were hooking up?!”
“Yup!”
“With who?!”
“Hudson!”
“What about Dean?”
“Well he doesn’t know and I don’t want him to
know. He’s too nice.”
“Huh, he’s too nice and yet
you were hooking up with Hudson. I get
it.”
“Nah it’s not like that! Or yeah probably it
is, but I’m only giving Hudson a chance, okay? You know he’s been into me since
forever, so now I’m giving him a try. Can’t wait!”
“Can’t wait for what? Sleep with him?”
“What-no! We’re only going to have dinner
and... I don’t know, probably he’s going to bring me somewhere else too, but
I’m sure enough we’re not going to have a sexy night.”
“By somewhere you mean is a museum, isn’t it?
Or library.” Lorraine smiled sarcastically which only was given a really
straight face from Raquel.
“Haha wow, just wow. I still can’t believe,
it’s Hudson! Geez, he’s a geek, Quel!”
“But he’s hot. A hot geek.”
“Still, a geek. Glasses and all that.”
“Whatever, now you go shower, please. You
smell! Let’s go to my house. Help me finding the right outfit to go out
tonight.”
“Hang on, the date will be tonight?!”
“Yes! That’s why you should get your butt to
the shower right now! Go!”
Lorraine bolted to go taking a bath, took her
towel, and went showering.
***
“Okay, this will be the last. How do I look?”
Raquel asked Lorraine for the thousandth time.
“Gorg.”
“Thanks.”
“Now go! He’s waiting outside!”
Raquel finally decided to wear dark red dress and
gave her face a touch of lipstick and eyeliner. The black heels had already fit
to her feet, her hair were beautifully curly, cascading over her dress (she
owed Lorraine for this). All set. She never felt more beautiful than she was
right now.
Her prince-charming-wanna-be, Hudson, had
been waiting for her in the outside of her house, standing with his back against
the door. A car parked in front of the gate.
Are you
sure with this? Raquel asked herself before opening the door.
Yes, totally. She breathed in the
air. Feel bad to Dean? Again, she
wanted to make sure of herself first. No,
well a bit. Dean is my boyfriend afterall. I’m only having dinner with Hudson,
not sleeping with him.
She then opened the door, and found a guy
with casual jeans and a shirt covered up by a leather jacket. No mention the
glasses. Crap, he may be a nerd but he’s
a total hottie! Sorry, Dean. I do still love you, okay.
“Hey,” Raquel let the boy notice her
presence.
Hudson spun around and gave her a smile. Those dimples though!
“Hey. You look nice. Ready to go?”
Raquel was actually about to pass out, but
she tried not to let it look obvious. She nodded and smiled back.
“So, where we going?” Asked Raquel once they
were in the car.
“Hmm I actually don’t know yet, I’m going to
let you pick the spot instead.”
“I’ll be fine with any restaurant you pick,
anyway.”
“Alright then. Mind to go to Muelle Tres?”
“Not at all.” She gave him a sweet smile and
they went to the place in silence. As the silence grew more deafening, the more
awkward she felt. She wondered, is going
out with a nerd always this clumsy?
***
8 pm, and it was so bright of a night. The
restaurant was crowded of hungry people. They could barely find an empty seat
for them two the moment they stepped in the restaurant. But luckily, they
spotted two empty seat on the corner, so that was where they headed to.
“Ahh, this place is nice! You go to here
often?”
“Haha yeah. My favorite seat is over there,
you see? It’s far enough to avoid the nuisance. I read and do homeworks here,
you know.”
Nerd.
“Oh fair enough. Why not in your house
instead of in here?”
“Well I don’t feel like being at home,
actually.”
“Why’s that?”
Silence.
“Could we not talk about this, please?”
“Sure, sorry.”
“No problem.”
Silence.
“Good evening. Have you decided what to
order?” The waitress came by, making them less clumsy.
“Sashimi and lemon tea for me. You?”
Raquel was drown in the menu, and a minute
later she finally got what she wanted to eat. “Spaghetti, please. Oh, and hot
chocolate.”
“Which spaghetti do you want to order, Ms?”
“The one with shrimps and mussels, thank
you.”
“Okay, be right back.”
Silence.
“Hey, Raquel. You look pretty tonight, no
kidding.”
“Yeah thanks, you already said that in front
of my house actually.”
“Oh did I?” Raquell nodded, Hudson was
embarassed.
Silence.
“Look, Raquel. I know this is awkward, and
I’m sorry. I already know it will be like this, silence, awkwardness, silence
again. I’m already...”
“No, no! It’s fine, totally fine. This is not
awkward at all, it’s just... I’m feeling so hungry I can’t talk much.”
The hell? Did I literally just say that pile of klunk? The lamest excuse
ever.
“No, I mean. Could I tell you something?”
“Go ahead.”
Raquel was sort of certain enough that Hudson
was about to confess his love to her. So
this is the time, she thought. She often heard of this rumor that Hudson’s
feeling towards her apparently had allegedly begun since a year ago. True
indeed, Hudson always acted weirdly whenever he got close to her. She needed a
proof, nevertheless. She needed to hear by her own ears “I love you” from
Hudson’s mouth.
This is a fact, every girl walking the Earth
needs certainty and proof.
“Well, here it is. I actually have concerned
that we don’t click, that the way I am isn’t meant to complete the way you are,
that my endless stupidity cannot be ended by your intelligence and vice versa. You
got it? I suppose you’re hurt, so I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to, I have to
tell you this though.”
Silence.
“I need someone who can make my imperfection
perfect, and it is her.”
Raquel got confused. She had no clue even a
bit about what was happening just now, what this nerd was talking about, nor
who was the girl Hudson referred to.
“Who?” A single word was eventually blurted
out from Raquel’s mouth.
“Lorraine.”
Hudson’s face devoid of expression. The
disquieting feeling out of sudden filled up the entire restaurant.
“I just don’t know how to tell Lorraine that
I’ve been in love with her for like, who knows? 6 months? I don’t really know
either. But really, I...”
Raquel was aghast. “Hang on there. You love
Lorraine?”
“Yes.”
“For real?”
“For real.”
Raquel’s heart stopped beating. She nodded
slowly in dismay, trying to grasp all of the things she just heard. Didn’t Hudson love me?
“So why did you ask me out?” She couldn’t
hide the disappointment in her voice, but who cared.
“I don’t know how to show her that I’m into
her. She’s always with Levi, and I don’t want to make her hook up with me.”
Hook up. That’s the words she used all this time to Lorraine, that she
hooked up with Hudson. Now it’s going the other way around instead, great.
“You can just simply tell her.”
“I can’t! You don’t get it, I just can’t!”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Which one?”
“Why did you ask me out instead of her?” She
stared at him deadly in the eye. This whole situation was literally bugging
her. Hudson was bugging her. I hate this
nerd to the moon and back.
Hudson took a deep breath. He didn’t know how
to explain, he was no expert in love issues whatsoever. He’d rather drown in
mounting homeworks than in a pond of complicated love. “Because you’re her best
friend.”
“That doesn’t make sense! I’m her bestie,
true, so what?”
“I thought I could tell you and if I did, you
would help me.”
Raquel sniffed. “No way.”
Hudson took another deep breath. “I should
have guessed this. You know, I think one of the most universal human
experiences is feeling all alone. It only works for people like me, though.
Probably I still can’t click or fit with how the people surround me. The
feedback I get and I give aren’t the same. Probably I handle things quite
differently from people usually do. That is all the most likely that makes me
always feel lonely.”
Raquel kept shutting her mouth, either didn’t
know what to respond or didn’t want to. She was still pissed off afterall.
“Sorry for being so philosophical. I know
it’s not your thing, so I’m better not to go on with my words. And anyway I
think that waitress is bringing our foods, let’s just forget this and eat like
nothing happened, deal?”
Raquel nodded in spite of her confusion.
“Deal.” --ets010515
