WRITTEN BY: Forever_Rimaine
PROMPT:
PROMPT BY: Rhelee
Maine entered the courtyard of her school for the first time in 10 years. She was on the upper quadrangle where their JS prom was held 11 years ago. She remembered when her best friend Kate's parents had older brother Richard Kate's date, not knowing that Maine's prom date was Kate's boyfriend. Later, they switched dates so that Kate could be with her real boyfriend and Richard with Maine, his girlfriend.Maine remembered the full moon night, when this same quadrangle was decorated with fairy lights all over, the theme was a carnival night.
Richard looked handsome in his dark suit as he held her cold hands and danced with her, drowning her with his chocolate brown gaze. They were inseparable, hands separating only to eat, and join again when they went around the different booths.
A fortuneteller was reading palms and cards. They patiently waited in line for their turn, wanting to know if they had a future together.
"Maine, can we agree to still be together regardless of what the fortuneteller tells us? After all, hula lang naman diba? Pwedeng magkatutoo, pwedeng hindi."
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and caressed her face, stooping to kiss her on the forehead. He pulled her hand to make her lean back against him, treading his fingers through her long hair.
It was finally their turn. The fortuneteller made them shuffle the cards, cut several times, then choose 14 cards that she arranged in a certain pattern to read.
"Ngayon pa lang, nakikita ko na nagmamahalan kayo ng tapat. True love yung namumuo sa inyo, mahirap tibagin pero magdadaan sa pagsubok. You will both need to be strong."
"Magkakatuluyan po ba kami?" Maine asked, her hand tightening in Richard's grasp.
"Posible naman. Pero bago kayo magkatuluyan, maghihiwalay muna kayo. He will need to travel forward through time to look for you, and you have to travel back in time to look for him."
"Ano po? Para niyong sinabing hindi kami magkakatuluyan," Richard said, irritated that the fortuneteller was talking in riddles.
They took Kate home first before he drove her home, wanting to kiss her goodnight without his sister hovering over them. Nervously, with their hearts beating fast, they lean towards each other. His hand gently raises her chin, his lips meet hers for the first time, savoring the feel of her soft hand framing his jaw, and her mouth slowly opening to welcome his.
The squeals of a group of women brought her back to the present. She walked around, entered one of the building wings and turned to go up the stairs, to see if the small chapel was still in the second floor. She smiles as she saw the weathered door slightly ajar, pushing it further to enter. The same smell of incense and fresh flowers invade her nostrils, and she is brought back again to the time when she was here to bid him goodbye 10 years ago.
"We're flying to Sydney next week," She said tearfully, sharing with him that she'd been accepted for a scholarship. He put his arm around her and kissed her temple, trying to soften the situation that would set them apart with such hopeless finality.
Many nights then she cried herself to sleep as her relationship with him slowly, achingly disintegrated, unable to withstand the test of distance between them.
Soon Richard also left the country to follow his parents in Canada. Maine opted to stay in Sydney when she found out Richard was no longer in Manila. Their relationships with other partners came and left quickly, never quite working because the bar was raised so high.
And then, on one business trip, she meets him again on a plane stopping over at Singapore.
It was like the past nine years never happened, feelings were just as strong. She gave herself to him that night, making good her promise that he would be her first. He made love to her with a passion that excited and frightened her, and it is she who tried to calm him this time. The few hours layover revealed what they knew all along, their feelings for each other remain unchanged.
"There's an upcoming silver jubilee event a few months from now. Are you going home for it?" He asked while he idly caressed her breasts as she leaned against him on the bathtub, submerged in fragrant water.
"I didn't know there was one. Is Kate attending?"
"Yes, we're going home for it."
"Then I'll make time for it. Send me the details?"
She twisted to face him then, putting her arms around his neck, rocking her body over his, straddling him for the last time before they go on their separate flights.
She prays with eyes closed. Earnestly, she prays he will come to meet her here. It was only last night that she remembered the fortuneteller's words.
"He will need to travel forward through time to look for you, and you have to go back in time to look for him."
She travelled from Sydney, several time zones ahead of Manila time to be with him. And if he travels from Canada, several time zones behind Manila time, they would have fulfilled the prophecy of that fortuneteller.
The chapel door creaks open, and she turns to see him with a bouquet of chicken nuggets, squid balls and isaw, her favorite snacks. She laughs and cries, walking from the pew to meet him. His hand pulls her closer to him.
"Maine, remember what the fortuneteller said?"
Without waiting for her answer, his lips claimed hers, and everything in their world is right again.
