Perfect II: The Art Of Living

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“Are you sure of this?” Enid asked him.

              Ethan turned around to mesmerize himself with the J.F. Kennedy Int. Airport. He watched a plane zoom into the clouds and disappeared into the pristine balls of dreams. He smiled at Enid and fixed his flat cap onto his head.

              He replied with a nervous grin, “Yes. Y-Yes, I am, Enid. I truly am.” Ethan snatched the valise away from Enid’s hands and patted her head. He pulled the suitcase standing beside her. “Wash your clothes, don’t wear the same turtleneck every day. Go home early, lock the doors and sleep by nine if possible. If you hear any eerie sounds, convince yourself that there’s a stupid ghost outside your room, okay?”

              Enid giggled, “Okay.”

              “You don’t really want to go?” Ethan opted to persuade but he failed. “Let’s have coffee before I took air freight.”

              Enid tucked her hair as the wind howled past her. She inhaled and exhaled a grin that urged Ethan to do the same. “I want The Da Vinci Sunday aroma,” he groaned and Enid giggled. “I’ll miss you,” she reminded. “I’ll miss you too,” he replied and pinched her cheeks. “Teddy Bear,” Ethan cooed.

Ethan noticed that he was wearing the same kind of outfit as Enid; black double breasted coats only Enid had hers with black chiffon maxi skirt that swayed with the wind. Ethan watched her scan the pages of her new book on their café’s table as he waited his order. For once in his life, he would be leaving the person who stayed with him unfalteringly.

              “Here’s your order, sir,” the cashier greeted and gave his cups of macchiato and a strawberry tart. Upon turning around, Enid was browsing her phone and as she unintentionally tilts the screen, Ethan got a glimpse of a slideshow on Enid’s phone. “Reminiscing, aren’t we?”

              “Jesse was such a strong kid,” she praised.

              “Yeah he is. So is his father,” Ethan added.

              Enid eyed him. The sunlight stroke Ethan’s face and showed his slightly rough complexion with hidden white heads. He sighed and smiled, wrinkling his face more. An oily facet of a broken diamond. He lifted his head and grinned wider at her.

              “I commend Skylar for his vigor yesterday. It’s… it’s unexplainable. Indisputably perfect. Unimaginable showcase of strength. That, I do not know how to teach myself.”

              Enid sipped little of her coffee and scoffed, “Ethan, don’t be a hypocrite.”

              “I’m not,” he countered.

              “Then don’t think you’re alone in this world.”

              “I know.”

              “Are you going thrifty with your words?”

              “I think it’s concise.”

              “You’re not concise. Ever.”

              Ethan sighed. “Enid,” he said and rubbed her hands. “I understand.”

              “What you understand?” she challenged that left Ethan in abyssal silence. “See? You don’t understand yourself.”