Never Fade

Matthew

MATTHEW

            My eyes flipped open at exactly six A.M. This no avian fluttering of the lashes, no gentle blink towards consciousness. My awakening was mechanical. A spooky ventriloquist-dummy click of the lids: The world is back again.
The sun climbed over the skyline of buildings, revealing its full summer god self. Its reflection flared across the river toward the window of my apartment, a long, blaring finger aimed at me through my frail bedroom curtains.
I wallowed in bed. Bernard is longer beside me.

Heading to work, I stop by Starbucks to grab some coffee and for breakfast. I have deadlines to cope up, stacks of paper on my table, and conference meetings today. I’ve got so much work to do.
Its been hell of a ride.
I gently sat on my leather chair and called my assistant to deliver me a glass of water.
“ Let’s do this!” I whisper

The day ends while I was heading to the parking lot, my phone suddenly vibrates.
A message from a friend

Hey Bro,
     I’m in town for a couple of weeks.
     I know yah busy, but spare some time for me.
     Let’s go out tonight! I’m calling Nathan and Bob.
     And some old friends I could contact... I’ll give you the address
     Be there... okay?

Finally, a stress reliever. Ha!
I went home to change on my pair jeans and shirt. There is not much of nightlife around my place, but the address says near Williamsburg Bridge.
I drove not for several miles. Getting out from the car, my ears were attracted to the music coming from the place. It was a building made of bricks and looks like a garage. But a bigger garage.
Its not a place where young asian and brunette girls strip on the stage, or men on their underwear. Nope, its not that!.
In this place, there is dancing, and loud music, and tequila, and hot girls. BOOM!
The world will always want a drink.
The bar is a corner bar with a haphazard, patchwork aesthetics. Its best features is a massive Victorian backbar----an extravagant work of wood in these shitty plastic days.

Then I heard my name called out. “ Matthew!!”
I turn to see Nathan standing on the aisle of a table near the fire exit.
As I was getting closer to them, I can see that they are many.
Peter stood up. I was surprised
He ran towards my direction and wrap me.
“ Matthew! How you been doing bro?”
“ I’m rotting in hell”
“ Hahah”
Then Nathan jumps over.
But I see that girl.  That sitting in at Peter’s table, talking someone on the phone. She seems a bit of a loquacious and moving. She is making that hand gestures and squirmy movements.
The first thing I see is her head. The shape of it, to begin with.
It was the back of her head I saw, and there was something lovely about it, the angles of it.
She seems familiar in the way her red head falls.
Nathan said something about drinks.
“Why don’t you two sit and wait for me. Cause I got to take this call from Bob.” Peter said patting me at the back.
“ Can we order drinks now?’’ Nathan asked
“ Sure can...” walking until he fades out from the crowd.
I took some lovely steps on the floor eyes on the head of the girl.
As I got near, I got the chance to hear her voice.
This just got so intense.
The table is just two meters away now as I can hear her voice clearly. Nathan sits beside the girl.
Probably Nathan brought her girlfriend.

I let out a breath.
Its her---- Jeanne.
Its Jeanne.
How on earth could she be here?
Probably Nathan is dating her, but Nathan is too old enough for her.
What is she doing here?
When Jeanne saw me, her eyes widen even more and her jaw drops.
I cannot explain how delighted she was to see me. Because I was even more delighted to see her too.
She was about to hang up the phone and said to her caller. “ I gotta go Mark. Bye! Take to you later”
Oh, Mark. Her bestfriend.

Jeanne covered her mouth. I felt the urge to talk to her.
Then something occurs to me.
Nathan says “ What do you drink bro?”
“ I don’t know--- milk?”
He laughs “ Fresh milk or Powder?”
“ I would take the flavoured”
He laughs again.
I glance at Jeanne and she is trying to relax herself.
“ By the way, Gosh where are my social manners. Matthew, this is Jeanne Earl. Jeanne this is Matthew Verdon”
I let out a quite---and involuntary---gasp of recognition
Jeanne clears her throat and her head jerks up.
My instincts is to pretend that something else caused the exclamation.
“ Hi” She wave at me.
I let out a smile.
“Can we order now?” Nathan asked looking at me.
“ Yes” I said.
Jeanne inserted “Actually, that’s a good idea Nathan.”
I was catching glances at Jeanne who seems uncomfortable at the moment.
She clears her throat again.
Through my peripheral vision, I can see that she is staring at me. Nathan keeps on talking but honestly, I wasn’t paying attention.
“ So, Matthew, you are now an editor in chief right?’’
“ Yep and its been a hell of a ride”
“ Ahhhh I see”
Nathan clasps his hands and turn back to call a waiter.
I staring at Jeanne. But she looks away, giggling herself secretly.
Jeanne clears her throat again.
“ Would you excuse me? I need to go to the bathroom”
I was supposed to say anything but Nathan caught me
“ Do you need some company?” he says gently.
Damn! Why did I choke and not say anything.
Jeanne was off her way.
 

My beautiful Jeanne is walking away