To Catch a Gust of Wind [COMPLETE]

Chapter 3 - Silay after Dark [#12]

There she was, standing under the stone arch, at the entrance, with the afternoon sun bathing her face with dappled light. She was still in uniform, girlishly elegant in white blouse and gray skirt. She was waiting for him indeed. She's looking towards the grotto, her back towards Rafael.

Rafael walked towards her, taking slow, measured steps. His heart was pounding hard and not a word was even said yet. Rica had turned towards him, staring at him as he walked closer. Her face bore an expression he could only hope was one for the better. And it did as he came nearer. There was a hint of a suppressed smile. He sighed with great relief.

"Hi," Rafael said softly as both of them stood under the arch. It's the only word he could think of at the moment. His head bowed, his mind was racing with time to think of appropriate things to say to a girl who was standing in front of him, waiting for him to say something to her, something that would make her remember this boy for a long, long time to come...

How they came to this was forever etched in Rafael's mind as they stood there under the arch recalling the moment when Rica said her first ever words to him before he graduated from Silay Institute...

"So you got my letter, huh," Rica said. The tone of her voice sounded mechanical, casual, but for Rafael, it was the sweetest one of all the voices that he had ever heard. Her first words to him and it was just the beginning. She turned her head to one side before she looked at Rafael straight in the eye as if she's looking for something she hoped would be already there.

"John gave me the letter just a while ago," Rafael said. "I'm surprised, to be honest. It's spontaneous coming from you. But...but I'm happy to meet you here." Rafael stepped closer to Rica.

Without saying anything, Rica turned slowly and walked inside the topless ruins. Only the arch entrance and the walls had remained standing, mute witnesses to any drama that had occurred after the old church was abandoned.

Rafael followed her. Rica waited for him and they both walked to a corner, fenced in by a half-fallen moss-covered wall built of old stones, cracked and broken with age. They sat together on an old wooden bench with just enough space for both of them.

"You surprised me," Rafael began. He had at last composed himself and managed to gather his thoughts. He stared at the grotto when he spoke. "I thought you have forgotten. I have been waiting for your reply. All I wrote in that letter is true. Believe me." He just couldn't gaze at her close-up. Not yet.

Rafael recalled what had happened the past months. He had at last came to the conclusion that it's better to write Rica a letter than to talk to her personally. It's the first step and he hoped to follow it up soon. Just as he was losing hope Rica would ever notice him, let alone write him a reply, the unexpected happened. One should never lose hope. It came as a surprise and he would have been prepared for this encounter had John not misplaced Rica's letter.

"I was hoping I would get an answer soon," Rafael said. Now this time he looked at the leaves to his right, away from Rica.

"But you gave the letter to John. Why didn't you give it yourself?" Rica said. "And you expect me to write you back?" Their conversation was becoming tense.

Silence. Only the rustling of the leaves disturbed by a gust of wind broke the silence in the ruins. A gust of wind that needed catching.

"Y-You mean I don't have any chance, nothing at all?" Rafael said, feeling foolish for asking a girl who was not ready to give any answer. Ouch, wrong move man, Rafael thought. He wished he didn't say it. Too late now. He looked down at his feet.

Rica stared at the ground then looked at Rafael. "Rafael," she said his name. Then she paused.

Rafael felt goosebumps all over him. Hearing Rica say his name...it's a wonderful feeling. He sat straight.

Rica continued. "What is it that you want to know? I haven't heard you ask for it."

Rafael leaned back, taken by surprise. The feeling went away suddenly just as quickly as it appeared. She obviously knows. Is she playing with me? Is this really her? Rafael faced the girl. "It's in my letter that...that John gave you."

"Well, I don't have the letter right now," Rica replied. "I haven't read it." She brushed her hair aside and turned her head towards the grotto. The light of the late afternoon sun fell in slanting rays among the leaves of an old acacia standing in one corner of the ruins. 

Now it's over. I'm done, Rafael thought. Is she teasing me? But she knows it already. Rafael stood up. He turned towards Rica. "Must I say it?"

Rica turned to look up at him. She stood up, facing Rafael. "Seriously? Mr. Rafael Cruz, I'm not the one who needs an answer." She raised her voice an octave higher.

Now it's really over. Time to put an end to my foolishness...