To Catch a Gust of Wind [COMPLETE]

Chapter 7 - Last Flight [#30]

As Rica and Rafael danced the moment away, drowned in the sweet embrace of their sensual fantasies, Thea Marie, slowly approached the couple. She tried to find her way among the dancing crowd, by squeezing herself in between the dancers. A few more steps and she was near them, standing and shivering a little, trying to control the pent-up emotions swirling inside her, begging to come out.

Let it out, woman. Bring the catharsis out. It might be good for you in the end.

Their eyes locked. Thea Marie's and Rafael's. Their eyes expressed a thousand things without saying a word. Thea Marie, transfixed by what she witnessed before her, did not take any step further, oblivious to the dancing and the music and the blinking lights that enveloped the dancers and all the persons inside the Civic Center. After a few seconds standing, staring at the two hugging a little more than what was usually being done during a slow dance, Thea Marie turned to leave. It was more than enough. She came because she wanted to confirm her suspicion and now that she got it, she wished she hadn't come to the party at all. What has become of me? she thought.

Yes, indeed. What have you become? Isn't it you who walked away just this afternoon? It's all over between you and Rafael. He will never go back to you and things will never be the same again.

"Care to tell me what you're thinking, Raf? You suddenly became quiet. Was it something that I said a while ago?" Rica asked Rafael. She didn't see Thea Marie. She was lost in the moment dancing. How could she not? She and Rafael were dancing with her face away from Thea Marie.

Rafael slowly turned carefully and stopped dancing. He looked at Rica. "Let's go out of here," he said. That was Thea Marie. She came to the party after all. Rafael thought it's now over between the two of them, but guessing the reason why she came, something might have changed Thea Marie's mind. And by the looks of it, it might not bode well for both of them. He saw Thea Marie turn away at the last moment as he was thinking of introducing her to Rica. Or would he?

Would you, man? Thea Marie saved you from embarrassment at the last minute.

"Let's go," Rafael said, holding Rica's hand and literally pulling her to follow him. He stepped out of the dance floor and walked to the side, Rica right at his heels. They found their way out among the crowd of boisterous young people sitting around a white linen-covered plastic table near the entrance. When they were out of the building, Rafael stopped and caught his breath with Rica behind him.

"You're crazy, Raffy, the party's inside not here," Rica said, obviously upset, one instant enjoying the music with a slow dance and the next finding herself outside the Center standing with the man whom she thought was crazy. Crazy enough to win her heart for the first time. Not that she fell in love for the first time. But this one was different, the circumstances that brought all these together, the timing, and the style of the man she was with tonight. The difference is overwhelming, enough to win a sane woman's heart but more than enough to convince an insane one. And she was hoping this one would survive the night and would be the last.

"Where to?" Rica asked, as if it mattered. She would probably go wherever Rafael wished to go, especially this night. Rafael thought for a moment but that quiet hesitation was not because he had nothing in his mind where to go, but because he was finding a way to say it nicely to a woman her heart he had just won. Or so he thought, one more move and you'd clinch the prize.

Turning to Rica, Rafael said, "Let's go to the ruins of the old church. We'll see what it has become through the years. Come on, Rica." She hesitated. Sneaking out of the party to be with Rafael was exciting enough but to go to the old church, she didn't expect it coming from the man beside her. But of course, everything about Rafael was unexpected, he's full of surprises. All the more reason she would want to be with him tonight. Perhaps it was her curious nature, or the mysteriousness of Rafael's character that piqued her interest in the first place.

Without waiting for her to reply, Rafael grabbed her hand and they strut briskly across the open space, crossed Zamora street, and walked the length of the street towards the Church of San Diego de Alcala, its silvery dome shining bright with the bluish cross on top of it. It's like it's inviting them into the church ground and do whatever they planned to do tonight. They entered through the opened metal gate and walked together slowly at first along the west side of the church. Looking around to see there were no loitering persons on this night, they continued to walk, following the concrete path to the ruins of the old church. They stopped when they reached the arched stone entrance. Luckily for the two, the iron gate was left open wide. Somebody had missed his daily task.

Rafael held Rica by the shoulders as they stood under the arch. Slightly, ever so softly. "Remember the first time we met here, under this arch, almost fifteen years ago. I feel like it was just yesterday, you and me, you talking to me for the first time. Remember what you said to me, how you played me with your penchant for poetry. That's how I'm feeling towards you right now. With you I'm always in high school, I have never graduated from Silay Institute nor have ever left Silay City for that matter. When I say S.I. is always in my heart, it goes especially for you."