Author's Note:
Written on an otherwise off grid weekend, these excerpts are based off the contest series of entries I made years ago.
Idk. I might even write this into a full blown novel.
We'll see.
--
"Tonight. See you at 7."
I kept reading the text as if my life depended on it. It was, after many years, the first I'll ever see her since we parted ways.
And this time, I feel I shouldn't ruin it.
A second chance, after all, is rarely given to anyone.
I shopped early this morning. Kept changing suits and even ties. And occasionally reverting to the original thought of wearing a dress.
"You don't wear dresses," my younger self chimed in.
"Fuck off," I replied. "I'm not who I was before."
"Why"
"I changed."
It took a couple more seconds of silence for me to admit, that my inner voice can't talk back to me about what I'm supposed to do.
Not right now.
Not when I think I have the chance to get her back again.
"Reservation for two."
"Under what name?"
"Munez. Lara."
The receptionist smiled. "Yes. Table for two?"
I smiled back. "Yes."
"Down to the back," she pointed out. "Ask for the waiter to clear the way for you to access the table."
"Thanks," I answered, keeping my eyes on where the table is supposed to be.
Perfect, after all, is all I ever wanted.
Especially for this night.
I followed the waiter as instructed. We weaved across the aisles, and eventually, we found our table.
"Enjoy your night here at the Sheraton, Miss Munez."
"Gracias," I replied, nodding at him and later, eyeing the champagne chilling in the wine bucket filled with ice.
"Tonight. See you at 7."
15 minutes left, as I looked at the wall clock opposite where I was seated.
--
I arrive at the hotel, still dressed in a corporate suit I'm wearing always at the firm.
"Checking for a reserved table for 2. Under Lara Munez?" I ask.
The receptionist smiled. "Right down to the back, Miss. Our waiter will guide you to it."
"Thanks," I replied.
On cue, the waiter appeared on my side, and gently gestured his left hand to where I was supposed to be."
--
"I'm here," the text read.
My heart, once beating slow, came running fast as if I've run the 100 m dash all of a sudden.
--
"Here you go, Miss Myers," my gentle waiter said.
"Thanks," I reply, weaving the curtains aside to where Lara is.
--
"Hi," the voice said.
After many years, I still couldn't shake off the goosebumps it gave me.
"Hey," I replied.
Her face, unreadable at first, smiled as if we've never been torn years apart all our lives.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she says, settling herself and her brief case at her feet, beside her.
"Nah. Don't worry, " I say back. "2 minutes ain't that bad."
She laughs a little, "Keep spoiling me and one day, I might never show up again."
I laugh, "Thanks for doing so."
I might never live if I never see you again.
--
We ordered salad and steaks with cheese and wine. Later, we progressed to a bit of whiskey to soothe the nerves.
"THIS. I've never had them this smooth at my old bar," she declares. "It's as if they just added vinegar to water, and voila, whiskey."
"Cheers to non-vinegary whiskey," I toast. "For they keep ulcers in check."
"Amen," she cheers me back, downing her own glass clean.
I laugh, keeping her mood in check. "More?" I ask.
"Nah. Can you just walk me home?" she replies.
--
"To be honest, seeing you in a dress kinda irks me," she says all of a sudden. "I've always seen you in cut-offs before and now, damn, I see those legs and I wonder, how can anyone never tap that?"
I snort. "Really."
"Really," she snaps back. "I could have if you have let me."
"But I didn't."
"Yeah," she says, keeping the driver in check. "Could you pull us over right that bend?"
Slowly, the driver parked us where she did point us out. After a few arguments, I ended up paying the fares.
"I thought we're letting you go home, why is this the office," I asked out loud.
"Office is home," she replies, as we stride over to it.
"I would never make my office my home," I replied in afterthought.
She didn't reply. Instead, she kept walking in silence ahead of me, keeping two feet away from where I was until, she tripped and almost fell on the ground.
"Hey," I said, positioning my hand under her left armpit, "You okay?"
Our eyes interlock.
"Yeah, I—"
The surroundings, in all its blackness went mute.
And then, her mouth was all I can ever sense in this goddamn part of the world.
--
The air around me momentarily went limp as all I could ever breathe in was her breath and mine going in and out of each other.
Her mouth pressed against mine, my mind momentarily locked to all sensation.
Up and down, it didn't matter.
I stood there, on top of her, gasping for breath as if it's the only thing that's keeping me alive.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered.
I don't even know which is which.
I kept on going, gasping every now and then, keeping her with in line with me and how I feel.
Until, in short bursts, it kept going closer.
Higher,closer until I can't deny it no more.
She's all I'll ever need.
And that she's all I'll ever want in this life.
