random englot short stories

Highway Don't Care

"If you don't want to talk, then don't!" I spun around angrily and marched toward the door of our shared apartment.

"What, are you going to walk away again?"

Again? When did I ever walk away from her? Ugh, why must she be so hard-headed all the time?

"I'm not walking away, Charlotte. I'm going to P'Daad's house," I retorted, still making my way to the door. Because obviously, I will not be able to get some sleep in here.

I could hear her angry footsteps behind me as she followed.

"If you ever walk out of this room, just know you're never coming back in."

I stopped and slowly faced her, a sarcastic smile betraying the incredulity I felt inside.

I scoffed, "Then enjoy having this apartment all to yourself. Goodnight."

I walked out the door, got into my car, and drove away.

----

It's been three days since that fight with Charlotte. It's always like this--our fights, I mean. If I don't apologize first, our problems won't get resolved.

Charlotte has this habit of isolation. Whenever we have an argument, she gives me the cold treatment and cold shoulder. Sometimes, I don't even know what I did wrong for her to act that way, and it's frustrating because it feels like she wants me to figure it out myself all the time.

I'm not a fortune teller, obviously.

So now, if she's not going to talk to me first, then I won't either.

As I drove with no particular destination, I opened the windows to inhale the scent of the grass outside. I cruised at a moderate speed down an avenue--something I do to relieve stress.

There's something relaxing about the smell of freshly bloomed flowers from the Narra trees and watching them sway in the wind. Just an almost empty two-way road, the afternoon rays, and the scent of trees. Tranquility.

It's a long avenue, a road toward a neighboring province that I have no intention of visiting. I just want to drive around until I feel better.

I reached for the radio and turned it on to add to my stress relief.

"...and what nice weather it is today in the country of Thailand, isn't it, partner?"

"It sure is, partner. A perfect day to set up a picnic in the park or go for a drive, eh?"

"Speaking of a drive, for those on a road trip today, I know just the perfect song for you!"

Then a country song started playing on the radio.

Wait, I know this song. I've heard it before on the car radio as well. Although I'm not really into country songs, especially from white artists, this one has an allure that relaxes my ears.

As the intro started playing, I couldn't help but bob my head along to the moderate beat, my fingers drumming on the wheel with it.

I couldn't really sing along because of the low key of the male singer, so I just bobbed my head. But when the part with the female singer came along, I didn't waste any time and sang along with her.

"I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby!" I sang, and as the chorus hit, I just laughed.

I listened to it as I drove, feeling a bit lighter as the song played.

The highway won't hold you tonight.
The highway don't know you're alive.
The highway don't care if you're all alone.

I started to increase my speed, going from 70 to 90, and the gust of wind against my face at the open window became more intense as it kissed my skin.

My eyes were on the road, my left elbow propped on the open window of my car, and I turned up the volume of the radio a bit louder than before.

Just as the second chorus was about to start, I took a deep breath of the country air before I screamed the lyrics out.

"The highway won't hold you tonight, the highway don't know you're alive, the highway don't care if you're all alone. But I do, I do!" I laughed, realizing I hadn't been able to sing the entire second chorus due to lack of breath.

So instead, I just screamed, "Whoooooo!" and then laughed.

Ah, I need this at least once a month. I need an escape, away from the bustling city, away from the traffic, away from the chaos of my relationship.

And Charlotte? my mind suggested.

At the thought, the smile on my face fell.

The highway don't care.

I clenched my teeth.

The highway don't care.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

The highway don't care.

My eyes suddenly shifted away from the road to my phone sitting on the passenger seat--a seat that should be occupied by the stubborn woman who suddenly invaded my thoughts.

But I do, I do.

"Ah, damn it," I cursed as I reached for my phone and just held it. "No, I won't apologize. I won't reach out to her first."

I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby.

I released a sigh.

I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby.

Then I opened my phone and dialed her number.

"Oh, the hold you have on me, Charlotte Austin. Why can't I stay mad at you for long?" I said as I brought the phone to my ear.

Call me a reckless driver for not using a wireless earbuds, because maybe I am. But I couldn't help it.

I miss her so fucking much.

It only took one ring before she answered the call. I smiled, knowing full well she was as down as I was.

For all I knew, Charlotte Austin had been holding her phone close to her for days, waiting for my call.

"Baby," I said.

She didn't answer.

"I'm sorry," I said sincerely. "I miss you, please talk to me."

The outro of the song played with one last, I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby.

I smiled at the perfect timing. Charlotte heard it, and that's exactly what I was trying to say to her right now -- I couldn't live without her.

"For whatever I did wrong, I'm sorry, and you know it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings or upset you. I would never do that intentionally, you know that."

Silence.

"I wish you could just tell me what's wrong so I would know how to fix it."

Still, there's no response.

I slowly drove the car to the side and pulled to a halt.

"I love you. I miss you. And I'm sorry," I whispered. "Am I still allowed in our apartment?"

I heard her sigh, then her shaky, breathy voice--one I missed so much--came through the speaker, making my heart jump and my lips curve into a smile.

"Just come home to me now,"

Without further ado, I revved the engine and made a sharp U-turn, almost beating the speed limit to get back to my home.

Sure, the highway might not care, but I definitely do.