The Voices You Hear

... when old umbrellas are disposed

Strong headlights flashed in front, almost blinding her. But she grinned, knowing already whose lights they were. She signaled back with her own lights. There was still a light downpour outside and she stayed inside her car, waiting for him. She got her lipstick from her bag, pulled down the shield above bearing a mirror and touched up, puckering her lips. Red goes well with her, she knows it. And she knows it drives him crazy.

She hears a tap on her window, and she opens her door to step out. He was holding an umbrella and she immediately went under it, holding on to his arms and purposefully stumbling on to his chest.

"Oh thank God you came, Richard! I thought I was going to have to stay in my car the whole night!"

"You should have called the towing company."

"I already did but I told them to wait until I transferred to your car."

"Ah, ok. Uhm, here's another umbrella for you by the way."

"Huh? We can share this one, it's ok."

"But this one's my girlfriend's umbrella so it's rather small, it won't fit both of us, we'll get wet. Take this other one, it'll be easier. It's beginning to pour hard again."

She took the other umbrella and opened it, a little in shock hearing what he just said. He led her to his car. She was about to go to the passenger side when he opened the door to the backseat.

"Here, my girlfriend's sitting in front."

She settled inside and saw her smiling at her from the rearview mirror.

"Hi! I hope we didn't keep you waiting."

He sat on the driver's seat, shaking off excess water from the umbrellas he was holding before closing them and carefully lifted it over to the back seat.

"Richard! You still got her wet! Be careful."

"Oops, sorry Andrea. This is Maine, my girflfriend. Love, I think I have tissues under your seat."

"Andrea, here, take these."

She handed her a box of tissues, pulling out several and wiped Richard's face.

"Love, you better take off your shirt, it might dry on you."

He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his toned chest and arms. She playfully pinched his pudgy belly, wiping him dry, before giving him an extra shirt from her bag. He chuckled as they very subtly exchanged tickles while he put on the shirt. Their passenger at the back seat just stared, disgust already heating her head in spite of the cold airconditioning inside the car. She pulled out some tissues and wiped her face, adjusting in her seat, when something poked her bum.

"Ow! What the fuck is this?!"

"Oh, you found my pen! I was looking for that since yesterday, right, Love? I thought I dropped it in the office."

The passenger took the pen from underneath her and handed it over to Maine. She shrieked.

"Ugh! It spilled ink on me!"

"Oh, sorry, the ink has been bleeding for some time now. But it's a very reliable pen, mind you. I just keep replacing the ink, you see?"

"Yes, I can see that. The ink is on my fingers, too."

"You're staying in the same condominium building, Andrea?"

"Uh, yes... you still remember where it is?"


"Sure."

He made a sharp turn, making her tumble in the back seat, and something falling on her feet.

"Ouch!"

"What is it, Andrea? Are you ok?"

She felt for the object that fell on her, and lifting a water bottle half full.

"Oh, are you thirsty? You can take a sip."

"I'm fine. This thing just fell on my feet, that's all."

She placed the water bottle back on the seat beside her, and just stared out the window. The rain has considerably slowed down, and there was slight flooding on the streets. The couple up front were exchanging side glances and smirks.

"Oh Andrea, I heard you're the Finance person on this new account that Richard's handling."

"Yeah, my boss has full confidence in him. He loved their presentation and what he did for our parter company. So, how long have you two been together?"

Maine looked at her from the rearview mirror, turned to Richard who smiled back at her.

"Almost six months now."

"How'd you two meet?"

"In the elevator. He thought I was going to attack him with a pen."

They both laughed, thoughts going back to that day. He reached out to touch her cheek, and the faint scar on her jaw.

"And I gave her this scar over here."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"It's a long story, but I'm sure glad that day happened."

"Hmm."

She looked out again as he turned towards the condominium building. He parked in front, stepped out and opened the passenger door to let her out. Maine turned around and smiled back at her.

"It was nice meeting you, Andrea. Stay safe and dry now."

"Uh, thanks."

"Love, give her the old umbrella, she might need it again."

Richard took the umbrella that she used and handed it to her. He walked her to the entrance of the building. She grabbed on to his arm, but he politely took her hand and put it down.

"Andrea, please don't do that. I'm with my girlfriend."

"You used to like it when I held on to you."

"Used to. Past tense. Besides, you're the one who left me, remember?"

"But I'm here now, Richard. I want you back."

"Seriously, Andrea? You're telling me this now? Look, all we have right now is a professional relationship. You're our client, and inasmuch as I would like to bank on what we had in the past to get ahead with this account, I will have to pass it on to one of my capable staff."

"Richard, I will let you take control of me again, I promise. We can make this work..."

"But I don't think it will. It will never work, Andrea. I realized that when I met Maine, because with her...what I feel for her is more than what I've ever felt for you. I'm sorry."

Back in the car, she was trying not to appear as if she was spying on them, but she can't help but look out the window.

"Where are they, dearie?"

"He walked her to the building."

"Girl, you should have joined them. She might jump on him again."

"She actually did, but he took her hands off his arms. She's a grabby bitch, isn't she?"

"Her red nails alone are a bitch."

"What are they doing, dearie? Why isn't Richard back yet?"

"They're talking. With a pretty good space in between them."

She turned around to the back seat and beamed at them.

"You guys did good. I'd high-five you if it weren't too obvious."

"And if we had hands. Sheesh, girl."

"Glad to be of help, dearie. Good thing you passed by Richard's place to take us with you."

"It was his idea to take you. And I'm so happy that we did."

"Wait 'til I tell Remy about this, he'll be so jealous, Ha!"