The Song of Belle

Chapter 2: Whistles on the Pathway

The sweetest, clearest and most affectionate music in a student's life made a crystallized ringing. Suddenly, the whole class went back to life. Class is finally over.

I am heading back to an empty home. Dad, must still be at work at this time. Mom, while a stay-at-home mum, her presence is ghostly felt. Darie is always out of the house after school. She finds it easier to have new 'friends.' I don't mind. I secretly wished I had a brother. One time, i questioned dad why I don't have a brother. He smiled a meaningful smile.

Mt. Clermont College is just walking distance from home. Dad makes sure to choose a house to rent that is near the school so it will be convenient for me and Darie and at the same time close to his work so he can easily be within reach if and when something happens. Except for the family's constant migration, which is to be unfairly blamed to Dad's work, I adore him. He is a responsible, kind and sensitive person. He knows exactly when mom or Darie needs him and what they need from him, without actually asking from him. He is a sweet man. Same with me, I need not ask from him. He is sensitive enough to know what I need and how exactly do i need his help. And when.

While walking, i realized, I am starting to like the semi-rural, suburban living at Mt. Clermont. We have been here, for roughly two weeks and I am slowly adapting. Mom has not finished organizing the house yet. I had to hover for an hour lurking at around five different boxes to find my pair of gray socks this morning. Our house this time is a simple, suburban house right in the middle of Drickin St. There is one main road that distances Drickin St. from Impel St. where Mt. Clermont College is situated. I just have to walk for around twenty minutes and I am home.

My watch says it's 3:10 PM. I started traversing the field at the back of the school yard. Within my view point is the road where I will be heading to cross the main road through a pathway. This is the whole Impel St. I am walking on. At the end of this, I need to cross left where the small pathway awaits me. So i started walking alone while whistling once in a while to fight boredom. Finally, after around five minutes, I reached the pathway.

The small pathway is made of reddish brown bricks. It is cleared by pine trees and small bushes on the sides that serves as facade to huge tree varieties, eucalyptus and ferns. Rose vines, violets and jasmines, enliven the sight. Ah, a nice sight, I thought to myself. I continued walking. Both my hands on each pockets of my sweaters. Occasionally, I can't help but appreciate the nature that sorrounds me. Amber leaves falling on my feet. Green, luscious leaves of huge trees of different varieties. The perfect union of pine and eucalyptus scents drifting in the air afloating my feelings with peaceful imaginations. I can have an affair with nature for all of my life.

Oh..affair! The thought of it, suddenly startled my peace.

I never had an affair since Mary and I broke up. That is what i know. That was in Grade 9. She was my first love. But she was just too hard to understand. Well, I guess all women are. Like Mom and Darie. And... ah well, she. Mary was much worse than mom. And with constant transfer, I don't think a good relationship will ever work out. But, actually, yes! If only two people really want it to work out. Distance will be far from being an issue. Neither of us wanted it. But it happened.

I kept on remembering 'Belle' I mean, Elizabeth. Or, Belle, whoever she is. I thought she resembles Mary in some aspects. The striking silence...the deep, penetrating eyes, lady-like motions from simple flipping of hair to scratching of face which i saw from the right corner of my eye...the mystifying air that sorrounds her. Belle, visited my thoughts with my every breath of carnal scents of pine and eucalyptus. I instantly removed her from my mind. I knew I was not attracted. But for some odd reasons, she is here. In my mind. Just curiousity most probably is the closest word I can associate this.

I reached the middle of the pathway. Time was 3:22 PM. Two old bench made of good wood in brown varnish paint with black steel railings are erected in both sides of the pathway, a mark that signals it is the middle of the pathway. I thought i can relax and watch nature silently. But the thought of her, made me feel uncomfortable and so i did not stopped. I continued walking and I watched as my soles flirted with the brickstones on the pathway. The soft sound of the wind and rustling of leaves from the trees in chorus with the innocent chirping birds was a mid-afternoon bliss! They brought my mind to peace once more.

My imagination now brought me to lousy horror movies I watched from childhood. I smiled sarcastically at the thought and made a deep sigh. As I sigh and look up, the sun caressed my face. The sunrays penetrated my skin like needles on this hot, mid-afternoon. The needle pain made me close my eyes once again and the world moved like a sloth around me. My eyes stay closed to feel the sun heating my pale skin. I love it. The wind blew hard and the leaves made a whistling sound. The birds chirped louder and flew away, giving a stillness to the sound of the nature around me. Wonderful sound of stillness that magnifies when you stood silently and feel it. I love the peace, the silence, the calmness that nature brings me.

There are indeed, some things happening in this life that we cannot understand but nature has a way of understanding. I never thought I needed this stillness.

The wind blew harder and the rustling leaves made a whistling sound. Sweet, soft whistles like a female's voice to my ear. I closed my eyes firmer as I bask in the sun and hear the sweetness of the sound. I stay still, but consciously concentrated to the sound of the wind and the sweet whistles that the rustling leaves seemed to create. My peaceful stillness was awaken when I realized, indeed, I am hearing whistles on top of rustling winds! Sweet whistles that seem to travel with the wind coming closer towards me.

I opened my eyes slowly and the whistles continued. I made careful, little steps, as my ears focused on the wind and the rustling leaves and the whistles that travel towards me. My right ear concluded it was coming from its side. My little steps became careful, fast steps conscious not to trip or make a noise while nature is observed on the corners of my eyes. The sweet but eerie whistles seemed to walk fast beside me but I do not see a sign of presence from either side of the pathway. It grew louder and louder as I near the end of the pathway. I reached the main road where there are no sound of rustling leaves or trees or chirping birds but a sound of an approaching truck.

The whistles stopped where the pathway ended. It seemed to be, just like me who is waiting for the truck to passed by before crossing the main road. I ran fast to the other side of the main road as soon as the truck passed by. I turned my back to watch the silence of the pathway where I came from just a minute ago. Trying to observe any form of strangeness but there was none. The sweet, clean and affectionate music that the whistles made did not cross the main road and reach Drickin St. I breathe in heavily and breathe out the heaviness to compose myself.

I am breathing. Fast.

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Up Next: Chapter 3: One August Thursday

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-LL. B, Thomas