An Illustrious Past

The Unexpected Visitor

   Going back to her senses, Leslie wiped her tears away.

    It was already cold, so she decided to go inside and wait for Zane to arrive. She wondered what took her so long, since it has been more than an hour.

   She directly went to the kitchen and fetched a glass of water to drink. Then, Leslie settled in the red couch of the living room, making herself comfortable.

    She let out a sigh. She thought of possibilities why her friend took so long but didn't bother to text her. She loved being alone.

    She drank the last drops of water in the glass and opened the magazine in the table. She entertained herself by flipping their pages. Sooner, she got bored..

   Leslie was about to turn the TV on, when somebody knocked in the door. Without any doubt, she hurriedly opened it.

   "Zane, what took---" She shut the door with a bang, shocked by the image she saw.

   

   She leaned on the door placing her hands near her heart. "It couldn't be...",she thought.

    The person knocked again, three times.Convinced that it was just her illusion, she opened it.

    "Hi Leslie."

    Leslie stood there in shock-unable to speak, unable to move and almost unable to breathe. That voice and that tone is significant. It is something she has always wanted to hear in years, something that made her life an incomplete masterpiece.

    She couldn't believe what stood before her.Then, tears were already piercing her eyes. PAIN is there again and most specially, BETRAYAL..
    She couldn't digest that the person she had known so long ago, is standing right on her doorstep.

    "...A---Adrian?"

    Adrian smiled gladly at her. She faked a smile, even though tears are in her face. Then, she looked away.

    He noticed the tears trickling down her face and wiped it with his figers. Adrian couldn't help himself so he hugged her-one of which both eventually missed.

    Leslie was shocked by his actions. She tried to be free from his hug but he was too strong for her. For a while, he didn't let go of the hug.

    Leslie thought nothing really changed in his looks, still the same man, same voice, same scent and body figure. But his heart? There may be a great difference from before. Yet she has exactly no idea.

   Adrian didn't want to break the moment but he has to.

   In a low tone of her voice, she said." What brought you here? "

   "I'm here to explain, Les."

   "Explain? What for? It was so long ago Adrian.. It was FIVE years ago!" She said, her voice giving in.

   " Les, I maybe away from you for five years yet the feeling never fades." He said.

   Leslie walked towards the living room and sat on the edge of the couch. Adrian followed her and sat on the opposite side leaving a great distance between them.

  Adrian studied Leslie's expression. He can see a lot of emotions and questions in her.He knew he couldn't answer them all at once.

   Adrian spoke. "How are you? You've grown much more beautiful as I have expected, Little Mouse."

   Leslie wanted to tell him that she's okay, but what's the point? Adrian would sense her lying anyway. And his complement made her heart jump, especially when he called her Little Mouse.

   "Look , " She responded. " Can we just go to the gist of everything that happened? You knew I'm emotionally unwell, Adrian. You don't have to clarify and you said you came here to explain."

   Adrian nodded. " First of all, I'm sorry. Sorry for giving you pain and for leaving you here without letting you know."

   Leslie burst into tears. "SORRY?! I felt pain Adrian, I felt BETRAYAL, and now you are sorry. You broke my happiness, you made me incomplete. You thought it was easy? Well, it's not!" She raised her voice.

   "Didn't you think it was hard for me too? Didn't you think it was also PAINFUL for me? It was, Leslie. You are lucky enough you have your family with you, but me? I am just with grandma. I missed everything back here, including you. I remember EVERYTHING about you." He cried.

   "You do?" Leslie felt conscience seeing him cry.

   Adrian nodded. He moved closer to her and wipped her tears, she also did the same thing to him.

    He sighed. " When we moved here years ago, my parents were already planning to send me to my grandma in France. Since they were not sure yet, I didn't spill a word. Until one day, they told me that all the papers were ready." He explained. " I was surprised and hurt, because I don't want to leave you. It was the 13th of February when they told me that, and they wanted me to fly immediately. I was hesistant to do so. I told my mom that I wanted to give you a Valentines you wouldn't forget and she agreed giving me two more days extention. Feb 14 is Valentines and Feb15 is that night with you. Back then,I couldn't imagine breaking the wonderful moment we  had and decided to keep it from you. I wasn't able to sleep trying to decide whether to call you or not. It was one of the hardest decisions I made in my entire life. Because , I know that no matter what I do.. You'll suffer from pain. You'll get hurt and I can't change the fact that I'm going away . So instead of dialing your number, I chose to call Kurt and tell him about the trip."

   Leslie turned to his direction and looked at him. She saw sadness in his brown eyes, tears and pain in him, the same way she felt at the moment.

   " Didn't you think it was best for me to know?"
    "Yes, but I also thought that once I call you, you'll try to stop me. And it'll only make things worse. It would be harder for me that way." He met her gaze and Leslie saw tears welling his eyes once again.

"If I could just decide for myself, I wouldn't go because I wanted to be with you. But it was my parents' will, I need to respect them. I have no other choice."