A Kiss of a Thousand Words (Erlebnisse Series #2)

72

i still can't believe i finished this semi-epistolary in less than a month! with all the mood adjustments i had to do to fit this story's mood, at first, i didn't think it was possible. imagine the transition from nayi and kievon to this—never realized na sobrang fluff pala ng navon. but now, here we are at its end. i hope you are appeased with whatever i poured out here because i truly am; this was the original ending. thank you for reaching until this far!

you know where to find me
twt and cc: raeminiscence

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Roaming around memory-inducing streets, Simonne tightly held her paper bags filled with recently bought belongings that she will take home soon with her to France. A lot of her university days breaks and after dismissal hours were spent here with no corner not bearing a memory.

The end of the week was nearing and after spending the past days visiting her beloved ones, she figured she needed some time for herself even just for a day. She decided to take a break by stopping by the nearest coffee shop she had her eyes on since the second she glanced at it.

Despite the crowd ambling outside the store, the spacious inside piqued her interest to stay longer. With the light peeking from the outside, the winter white walls and beige countertops winked at her. The line wasn't long but the pace remained sluggish for some reason. She didn't mind, she had nothing better to do for the rest of the day anyway. Random businessmen and students convened at the occupied tables. This was the comfort she seeks from coffee shops until this day—the hushed voices and diffused laughter of the people unknown to her but knowing that there is a presence around her brushed comfort inside her heart.

A person pushing the door open made her look at that direction. Instantaneously, her and this person's eyes widened at the same time. When was the last time they have talked? Almost two years ago?

"Arius," she breathed.

Arius dressed himself up in a simple white polo shirt and navy blue jeans—normal and fit for a lazy and casual day. For Simonne, he didn't look much different than before other than, obviously, his features being more defined. The man also had been working out which Simonne immediately noticed because of his buffer physique.

"Simonne," he called.

As he was about to walk towards her, he stopped first to accommodate the women walking to exit by the door by pulling it for them. The gracious women then thanked him endlessly for it. Simonne suddenly remembered all of Arius' gentlemanly manners which she had witnessed before.

Good thing that didn't change, she thought.

Arius let out a smile as he was walking towards her. He, for one, couldn't believe that Simonne was in front of him. It seemed unreal and he assumed that it's because of the unnoticeable time they spent apart for a some time.

There was something about Simonne's poise that elicited a proud grin out of him. She was, in his words, more compelling in the way she brings herself—not that she wasn't before, she's just knows it now and carries herself to meet her own standards.

"Umuwi ka na pala," he pointed out.

They exchanged a quick hug. A hug that unraveled a lot of things—memories for the past they shared together; affection for a friend whom they haven't seen since, and ignition for a bond now reunited.

"No," she quickly denied with a vigorous shake of her head, "I'm just here for a week, bakasyon lang."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm assuming you met with Nayi already?"