The Four Summers with Mignonette

The Second Summer

He went to college in the city and took up Architecture since he loves to draw with exact calculations from the lines up to the most minute details. Drawing was his escape since he was little. It allows him to take control at least on something.

He put out all his effort and time on his studies until he graduated and afterwards started preparing for the Board Exam. Yaya Yolly was aging, and it was just right to let the old woman be with her family. He moved to a smaller apartment his father bought for him as a graduation present together with a Volkswagen. His parents had always been like that, they showered him with so many material things as if those could fill all the missed Christmas, birthdays, family days, graduations and other important dates that he spent with his Yaya Yolly instead with them.

One day, while he was walking under the drizzles which was very unusual for a summer, she saw a woman in neon green shirt dancing under the rain. The girl called him just when he was about to make a turn. It was Mignonette. He froze and for a moment couldn't grasp the kind of emotion that suddenly filled him. There was bitterness, pain, and happiness at the same time, and he was too exhausted from the review to deal with it, so he quickly turned and walked away. He was having a hard time with the board review and seeing Mignonette after 4 years made him anxious even more.

He was in the middle of his readings when someone knocked on his door at 4 AM. Annoyed, he opened it up and his expression even darkened when he saw Mignonette, wearing the usual smile he was always fond of. She shouted Happy Birthday. He was surprised but he hid it. He had been so busy that he forgot his own birthday, but she didn't. He was about to close the door, but Mignonette slid fast in. She gave him a tight hug. He wanted to hug her back, but he warned himself. He can't afford any form of distraction or was he just scared to lose control of himself again and end up yearning for the same woman who was in front of him.

Mignonette started preparing the cake. He took his chance to look at her from behind. She had changed a lot. Her hair is short with vibrant red and blue colors. She also got a butterfly tattoo on her nape. Her body was more defined and curvier. To him, she was even more beautiful with some oddities that make her who she is. A bark broke the silence between them. It was Dulce. Mignonette picked up and hug the dog. It started licking her and waggling its tail. The pooch seemed to still know her owner just like how his heart knows the very same woman that could make it beat so fast.

He went back to his study table and pretended to read. After some time, Mignonette finally decided to leave.

He really thought that he wouldn't see Mignonette again but surprisingly, she was at the gate of the review center the next day, waiting with the same bright smile. He tried to ignore him, but she's just so persistent just like how he exactly remembered her to be.
Sometimes she would just appear in his apartment to cook, do the laundry, and clean. There are moments when he couldn't refuse so they would just eat together, exchange little conversation then she would leave without goodbye after. There are also some midnights or daybreaks while he's reading that she would just pop up with a cup of coffee and lay on the sofa while watching him until she falls asleep and when she does, he would always look at her until he falls asleep on his table. It always felt like he was chasing time when he is with her.

One mid afternoon, while Mignonette was watering his 1 and only cactus indoor plant, he decided to let go and just talk to her, and just like that, she was back in his life again. He tried asking where she went but she would always cut him, and he will lose the courage to ask further, afraid that she might disappear again. They would sometimes walk in the boulevard while holding each others hand and it gives him the warmth he always longed for. How he wished life would be as simple as watching the sunset and eating the street foods they both enjoy but he knew things will never be like that.

One night, he received a phone call about Mignonette being rushed to the hospital. His number was the last number in her call register. In fear, he rushed to check on her, but he was horrified to learn that Mignonette has suffered a complication of self-induced abortion. The information was too much for him to process. He suddenly couldn't recognize her that moment. Despite all, he couldn't leave her without anything. He paid the bills and made sure she was taken cared of. He also asked the hospital to reach one of her friends, Lara, so someone would look after Mignonette.

He did not see her after the incident. He was confused on what to feel about her. He wanted to know what happened, but he wasn't ready. She suddenly became a total stranger. He couldn't fathom how the girl with tender heart whom he had known could do such a thing. Did she had a boyfriend all along who bailed out on her? Was she trying to use him? He wasn't sure if he feels sorry for her, or hurt, or repugnant.

Mignonette tried talking to him, but he was not on the right frame. He wanted to focus on his review as the exam was nearing so he chose to compartmentalize his thoughts and priorities. Still, she followed him anywhere. She would wait for long hours just to see him but he would avoid her intentionally until one day she just stopped and disappeared. It was a relief at first, but he started missing her. Yet he knew he cannot deal with her until he's done with his personal stuffs, so he tried to remove her temporarily in his system.