Ordinary night

He took one deep breath before he closed the box. Carefully, he tucked it neatly inside his closet, under his clothes where his daughter will not find it.
It’s almost time. He drove her daughter to school, and after kissing her goodbye, he went straight to his office.
It was an ordinary day, just like the previous days – home, school, office, home.
He still could not understand though what compelled him to get that box from the store the other day.
That night over dinner, he was happily conversing with his daughter. Asking her how her day was, what she learned in school, as he also told her of his own day’s account.
That was how it has always been. They were happy… just the two of them. He couldn’t ask for more.
Or could he?

After dinner, a brief bonding moment over their favorite show on TV, and her daughter went off to bed. He was left alone in the living room, sitting on his favorite chair.
It was supposed to be an ordinary night… just like the other nights.
But that night, he felt he wasn’t alone. There was someone, rather something, that was there with him… taunting him.
It wasn’t the first time he felt it, but that night, the “something” seemed to be more intense… persistent… stubborn.
Then, he felt that “something” enveloped his very being… he wasn’t his own self anymore.
Standing up from his chair, he went straight to his closet where he kept the box. He picked it up and walked straight back to where his favorite chair was.
Passing by the door of his daughter’s room, he took a peek and saw an angel sleeping… calmly.
He went back to his chair and sat down.
Carefully, he opened the box… got hold of the thing inside it. The light that comes from the outside hit the silver object, making it shine amidst a dark room
Holding it in his hands, it felt cold.
Lifting it up, he observed it from end to end, front and back… he felt it beckoned.
Slowly, lifting it higher until the nozzle touched the side of head… closing his eyes, and without thinking…
*BANG!*
Silence
Is it over?
And as he lay there on the floor… cold… swimming in his own blood… an angel sat beside him crying.

“Please come back to me”

Rommel sat at the end of the couch wearing a long, sad face…
*sigh*
He noticed the phone beside him… hesitantly, he picked it up, and slowly dialed a number. He wasn’t even looking, it’s as if his fingers have a mind of their own, knowing just which numbers to push.
*R-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-i-n-g*
He felt nervous as he heard the phone rings at the other end…
*R-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-i-n-g*
Rommel almost wanting to hang up
*R-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-i-n-g*
Third ring and still no answer, just one more and he will hang up
*R-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-i-n-g*
“Okay, that’s it. She can’t say I did not try,” Rommel said to himself. He was about to hang up when suddenly he heard a voice from the other line.
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
Rommel only sighed… he misses his girlfriend. They had a fight two days ago and she asked for breathing space. Now, he realized how much she means to him.

“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
He paused for a while, as he listened to the monotonous voice of the lady at the other line.
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
Rommel took a deep breath before he started to speak, “Hello Liza. I’m really sorry about the other day, I hope you can forgive me. I miss you, Liza. I need you.”

“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.” The monotonous voice continued without missing a beat.
Oblivious of the voice on the other line, Rommel went on talking. “Please, Liza. Give me another chance. I promise I’ll change. I’ll be a better man!”
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.” The message went on, even as Rommel speaks.
“Please Liza,” Rommel continued to plead, “give me another chance. I beg you, Liza. I love you!”
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
“Just tell me what I need to do to make you come back to me, Liza. I need you, Liza. I love you. Please believe me!”
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
“Please Liza,” Rommel’s voice was almost crying… he was in fact crying, “come back to me Liza.”
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
“Liza, please….” his voice now trembling
“We’re sorry… WILL YOU CUT THAT OUT. YOU KNOW I CAN’T STAND YOU CRYING! AND DON’T CALL ME AT WORK, DO YOU WANT ME TO GET FIRED?!”
“Liza, I can’t stand to lose you. I miss you. I love you, Liza.”
“I love you too, honey. And to be honest, I miss you too, but I just need some time off to think.”
“Please come back to me”
“Okay, you win. I’ll call you soon. Now, why don’t you be a good boyfriend and put down the phone so I can get back to work. You don’t want me to get fired, do you?”
“No honey, I don’t want that to happen. Promise you’ll call me?”
“Yes, I will. Now, can I get back to work?”
“Yes honey, you may. Thank you very much. I love you, honey.”
“We’re sorry, the number you are calling seems to be unattended or out of the coverage area. Please try your call again later. Thank you.”
*click*

The prolific writer

Roy was all smile as he reads on his PC monitor
“What’s with the wide grin?”
“Well, Holly just called me a prolific writer. Can you believe that?!” Roy replied.
“She did?! Why? How? When?! I mean, why would she call you that?”
Roy, in a rather exasperated voice said, “Well, for your information, she mentioned it in her post about the Versatile Blogger Award and bestowed upon me honor of being one!”
“Vers — ver— hahaha! wahaha!”
“What’s funny? Why are you laughing so hard?” asked an irritated Roy

“Hahaha… so — sorry.. haha… I ca – I can’t help it, wahahaha! I can’t believe you fall for those stupid memes! Hahahaha!”
“Look, it may be a stupid… I mean a meme, but we both know that Holly wouldn’t give me that award just for the sake of passing it on. You know that! You know she meant what she said!” Roy is now mad.
“Hahaha! Yeah, I know that. Still, it’s a meme. wahahaha!”
“Hey! All this time, I’m trying to claim my place in this writing thing. Now, here’s an author with a reputation, giving me an affirmation that I’m doing something right, and you’re trying to hose me down?! Thanks a lot!”
“Oh, so sorry buddy, hehe… I just can’t help it. Okay, I’ll stop now hehe… so what does this award ask you to do now? I’m sure there is something you have to do, that’s how these memes work.”
“Yes there is… there are, actually,” Roy replied. “First I have to thank Holly for bestowing me the honor, which I did when I visited her blog. I have to mention seven things about me, and I have to bestow the same award to 15 other bloggers.”
“Hmm… you already have the list of seven things to make a fool of yourself?”
“Why would I make a fool of myself? They shouldn’t necessarily be ridiculous. Maybe something out of the ordinary, but not outright stupid,” said Roy.
“And what would those seven, out-of-the-ordinary things about you could be?”
“Well, let’s see…” Roy tried to think, “first, I still love watching cartoons, in fact I still couldn’t get enough of Looney Tunes! Second, I always talk to myself, especially when I have no one to talk too, and third, I hate telenovelas! They make mortals come back from the dead. They absolutely insult my intelligence!”
“Those are not out of the ordinary! Those are regular stuffs! Many grown-ups still watch cartoons, a lot of people talk to themselves, and most normal people hates telenovelas! Come on, be more creative man!”
“Okay, how’s this?” continued Roy, “I still have this fear of the thunder, especially when it’s followed by a sharp crackling sound of lightning. Reminds me of the darks days of the Pinatubo.”
“Getting better, proceed please. You have three more to go.”
“I don’t really like accounting, and until now I still don’t understand why I took the course!”
“NORMAL! Surprise me with your last two”
“A slice of banana cake would always satiate me anytime, especially when it’s accompanied by black coffee”
“Ho-huum…. Boring! Last chance”
“At this very moment, I am actually nursing a broken heart.”
“You don’t say! Really, tell me about it. Come on, come on.”
“Oh, stop acting silly, as if you don’t know. Shall we proceed?” said Roy
“Okay, now you should pass the award to 15 other people. Are you up to it?”
“Gee, actually I am not,” quipped Roy. “I haven’t really been going around lately. I know three versatile writers but I don’t think they are accepting memes – Jena is busy shepherding the Clin Chem Bloggers, Zorlone is currently Lost in Phonpei, and I don’t really think he wants to find his way back. He seems to be enjoying himself. And Jan… Jan isn’t really writing lately, and I dare not ask what he does to exhale at present.”
“So, that means you’re not going to pass that award right now?”
“Well, if those three I mentioned are willing to accept, I will be more than glad. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t pass it, not at this time, at least. I hope I don’t disappoint Holly,” said Roy.
“Oh don’t worry. It will take more than ignoring an award task to disappoint that woman… err I mean, lady.”
Just then, Roy’s daughter, Angel walked out of her room, “Daddy, who were you talking to?” she asked.
“Oh! No one, sweetheart. I was just… I was just… just talking to myself,” replied Roy with a smile.

Beautiful in my Eyes ...

Tess’ cellphone signaled an incoming text message, “Happy Birthday Tess! I hope you have no plans for your birthday, can I invite you for dinner?” the message read.
It was Arnold. It’s been a long time since she talked to him, nor replied to his text messages. She didn’t understand why she replied now, “Thank you Arnold. But I don’t celebrate my birthday and you know why.”
Arnold’s reply to her didn’t take long, “I know Tess, that’s why I am asking you out. We should remove the sad memories attached to your birthday. Please Tess, just this once?”
Irritated, but a smile managed to escape from Tess’ lips. Still the same old persistent Arnold, she thought. But she knows he’s right, she should be happy on her birthday.
“I guess you’re right. Okay, pick me up at 7 tonight,” she texted to him.
“Thank you very much Tess. See you tonight” was Arnold’s reply.
Thirty minutes before the appointed time, Arnold was already ringing the doorbell of Tess’ house. After seeing her mother, and asking permission to take Tess out for dinner, the two went on their way.
“So, where are you going to take me for dinner?” Tess asked.
“You’ll see,” was Arnold’s brief reply.
As Arnold was driving, Tess noticed the place where they were going. “I don’t know of any restaurants here,” she said.
“Because we’re not going to any restaurants!” said Arnold.
“So, where are we going?” asked Tess again.

“Here,” said Arnold as he stopped the car and quickly got off, and went around to open Tess’ door to help her alight from the car.
“Where’s this?” as she handed her hands to Arnold and got off the car.
“Welcome to my place,” he said.
“Your place? You live here? Alone?” came Tess’ series of questions.
“Yes, I live here, and yes, I am alone. Come inside. Make yourself comfortable,” as he guided her inside the house.
“So, you’re alone… and I am here with you, alone…” Tess said, while still standing near the doorway.
“Why? Is there a problem with that?” asked a puzzled Arnold.
“Hello! Just in case you didn’t notice, I’m a woman, and I am here with you alone!” exclaimed Tess.
“Haha!” Arnold laugh, “Have you forgotten who I am? You know you’re safe with me, Tess. We’re here to celebrate your birthday, remember?” he continued, “now, why don’t you be a good girl and sit on the sofa while I go prepare our dinner,” winks Arnold, and disappeared in the kitchen.
A relieved Tess went in and sat on the sofa. She knows she is safe with Arnold. He never tried anything… which she felt makes him kind of boring sometimes, actually. “Oh well, at least I’m safe,” she murmured to herself.
Then, suddenly it became dark.
“Arnold, why did you turn off the lights?” Tess asked, although she cannot see where Arnold was.
“I didn’t turn off the lights, Tess. I dimmed them,” he replied, and lighted the candles on the table.
Arnold emerges from the dining room, bringing a bouquet of flowers, and approached where Tess was seated.
“Happy birthday Tess,” and hands her the flowers as he kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you Arnold,” replied a smiling Tess.
“Come on,” Arnold gestured to Tess, and offered his hands again to assist her. “I hope you like what I prepared for you.”
Tess gave her hand to Arnold and followed him to the dining table, where he prepared a simple table setting for two, complete with candlelight.
“Hmm… Dinner by candlelight. How romantic!” exclaimed Tess.
Arnold assisted Tess to her chair and he sat opposite her. As if on cue, a sweet, soft music played on the background, while Arnold poured red wine on Tess’ glass.
“Red wine, just what the doctor ordered!” said Arnold.
Tess was smiling as she looked at Arnold and asked, “Arnold, are you trying to seduce me?”
“Seduce you?! No Tess. Seduction is hardly my game. That’s too childish and short lived. The only thing that I want to do right now Tess, is to make you feel special… because, you are special,” as he raised his glass and said, “Happy birthday to a very special lady.”
All she can reply was a smile.
She noticed Arnold to be different today. More composed and relaxed. He seems to be more confident and secure. A far cry from the intense and excited Arnold he knew just a few weeks back.
“And thanks to you, Tess” her thought was interrupted by Arnold’s voice, “I now know that not all pasta are called spaghetti.”
Soft laughter filled the air.
“I don’t suppose you were the one who cooked this fettuccine, right?” Tess asked Arnold.
“Tess,” Arnold replied, “I did say I want this to be special, right? What would make it more special than everything here being prepared personally by yours truly? Just don’t expect five-star standard please, I’m not a chef.”
“Not bad, really” said Tess, as she took a sample of Arnold’s cooking. “You really surprised me, Arnold… all these efforts, I am really elated. Thank you.”
“Anything to make this day special for you, Tess.”

“You’re my peace of mind, in this crazy world…”

Arnold looked at Tess, as the song Beautiful in My Eyes started to play… and he saw the sweetest smile and the most angelic face he has seen in his entire life.
A wordsmith just a few minutes ago, Arnold was suddenly lost for words. He didn’t know what to say, as he gazed at the beauty in front of him.
His hesitation however, was just brief. Arnold stood up and approached Tess, and once again offered his hands and said, “May I have this dance?”
Tess smiled, held Arnold’s hand as she stood up… and they dance to the beautiful song…

“You’re my Monalisa,
you’re my rainbow skies,
and my only prayer is that you realize… “

“Happy birthday Tess,” said Arnold who’s now facing her so close as they dance. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“Thank you very much, Arnold… thank you for everything,” replied Tess, as she looked Arnold in the eyes…

“You will always be, beautiful in my eyes,
and the passing years will show
that you will always grow
ever more beautiful… in my eyes”

Barely two years after her separation from a failed marriage, the scars are still fresh and the doubts in her heart yet undiminished. But that night, Tess feels calmer… relaxed. In the arms of Arnold, she felt safe… she felt special… she felt loved.
Arnold was just happy, holding in his arms… and so close, the woman of his dream. He knows there are no guarantees… she’s not yet ready. Tomorrow may be a different story. But it really does not matter to him now.
What matters is at that very moment, he is holding her so close to him while they dance.
All he wants is for Tess to be happy, to make her feel that she is special… and with Tess resting her head on his shoulder while they danced, he knew he was able to make her feel that… even just for that very special moment…
…and it’s all that matters to him.

“and the passing years will show
that you will always grow
ever more beautiful… in my eyes…”