Second Chances (Kathneil FF)

Second Chances - 11

Second Chances - 11

They are not even bashful staring at her openly, she thought indignantly.

They look like the Schwarzenegger and DeVito Twins she watched on HBO the night before, standing watch while she carried out her classes like that.

Who was she kidding, she sighed.

Decked smartly in a polo shirt and black denims, the smaller of the two men watching her, was a far cry from the old portly Danny Devito. Although shorter than the teary eyed guy who appeared by her side at the pool earlier, this guy was still two or three inches taller than her 5 foot 3 inches frame.

His sweet innocent face, made studious with the dark framed glasses he was wearing.

He only appeared small because of the towering guy beside him.

You, she scolded him in her mind.

Why am I not surprised to see you beside me just now.

And despite her denial of not knowing what he said, she actually understood his words.

Clearly.

Inessa, is it you? Is it really you?

It's me, Kevin.

Don't you remember me?

I was born and bred a Malaysian, for god's sakes.

I'm a Portuguese decent but can only speak English and Malay.

Yet, I can understand the Philippine's national language word for word?

How can that be?

Oh, how I wish you were here, mommy, she thought sadly. You would know what this is all about. Who this man is.

Unfortunately though, Anita only started having dreams about the boy after her mother passed away.

He clearly knows me, she frowned silently as she guided her students along. And I him.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone I knew, he had said.

Like he got the wrong person.

Yeah, right, she snorted. And I'm the Sleeping Beauty.

She sighed again, glad that her classes were giving her ample time to mull the situation over.

It was apparent that her two goonies were not letting her out of their sight.

To the point of them taking turns disappearing. Possibly to the gents or lunch.

Anita herself purposely did not go out to lunch, asking instead for Kamila to bring her something to eat for her breaks.

Lucky for her the games room had their own restrooms. Another point for her not to leave her sanctuary.

They could just come in if they wanted to, Anita, she told herself. Besides aren't you even excited that the boy of your dreams have morphed into your real world. Into a fine young man, no less. Made you feel less than a cougar, doesn't it?

She nearly giggled to herself.

She was, in actual fact, excited.

Giddy from the unexpected meeting. Dizzy from the unexplainable situation.

Question is, what do I do now?

Pretend I don't know him?

Which is true. I really don't.

Come clean with him?

Hi, nice of you to find me. I've been dreaming about you the last 2 years.

Run?

He could be a serial rapist for all I know.

But you know he's not, Anita. In your heart, you know. Elst you won't be dreaming of him. Unless, subconsciously you do like these dangerous types. But he doesn't look like he's dangerous. Cute, handsome even, but not the dangerous kind.

Anita mentally knocked herself on the head.

Rambling, Anita. You're rambling again.

Anita tried to school her over active imagination. And think back on her 'knowledge' of Kevin Rodriguez.

Her nameless boy now has a name.

From her dreams which she now equated to her memories of him, she assumed they were close.

For the longest time.

And seemed to lead a very eventful life.

Snippets of her dreams showed them growing up together, going through one adventure after another.

They argued all the time, yet were always there to support one another.

And love.

The feeling of love was always apparent in her dreams. And the depth of their feelings for each other seemed to be bottomless. Friendship and loyalty that eventually blossomed into love.

From her dreams, they led lives that were both challenging and comfortable.

Sometimes beautifully dressed, other times just in rags.

Images that at times often dumbfounded her, because the disparity seemed too great somehow.

And who in the world is Inessa?

Why does he think I'm her?

Does she look like me?

Is she the person 'he knew'.

Which means he really got the wrong person.

But then, why do I dream about him?

And the last dream, the one where she fell into the stormy seas, was that our last meeting?

She shuddered involuntarily at the image, making one of her students look up at her.

She smiled sheepishly.

"It suddenly got cold," she said, continuing to show the right paint strokes to use.

Only one way to know, Anita continued her earlier train of thought.

Always one to take the bull by its horns, she made up her mind.