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Chapter II: Sweet Raining Summer Night
I was walking at the long roughly pebbled corridor, heading west towards my classroom. The newly paint wall was still producing a chemical scent irritating my nose. I have a glance of Jason�s face, walking beside me while still uttering about the yesterday�s incident in which he and Stacey had argued back in that gloomy cafeteria. I never saw Stacey so upset about the reaction of my boyfriend, his expressions and his touchy words, had almost persuaded me to be on his side instead on Jason.
�Why are you still talking to that no good fellow?� Jason frowned, he put his hands in the pocket of his jeans, I can hardly notice the students were looking at us while our conversation gets hotter, while he keeps on mentioning about Stacey and calling him names. �If I ever see him talking with you again, I�ll make sure that even his soul will have a mark of my anguish.�
�You�re so insecure about him, don�t you?� I asked with out even looking at him. �You know that he is only friend of mine, but his always there when I need someone, but you, you always have your excuses, going to this, going to that, taking care of this. You..�
�But I came first. And I�m doing everything for you.� he explained, his voice had loose the strength and became softer. It reminds me that, our relationship was tested from time to time. I recall the moment when he accepts me when Mark, his best friend, hadleft me. When he picked me up and comfort me, that�s the first time I�ve feel the real love. But that time was different, I was really young. And when Stacey came to my life, my love to Jason seems to diminish although I love him still. But my attention was divided, I�m fond of Stacey and I am thinking about my feelings for him.
�May be this is the reason why you had choose this schedule.� he questioned me suspiciously; I can see the tears starts to form in his eyelids.
�That was two weeks ago!� I clarified, while the sadness in his eyes, was directing my heart to stop thinking about Stacey. This scene was recurring again, every time there is a new acquaintance on my side, Jason always leaving me culpable on our relationship. But when Stacey came, my outgoingness ended, I reserve my self, prefer to stay alone rather than associating to a stranger. I only focus my interest either on Jason or Stacey.
�Didn�t I tell you before that you are the only one.� I added while he was still sobbing silently, rubbing his eyes to stop the tears from flowing down. �Stacey and I were��
�Were consolidated,� he continued. �He and his conspiracy had poisoned your mind, deflecting your love into his lust. I heard so much about him, when he flirted with Lea and the campus� forward girls.�
�So! You�re telling me that I am one of those forward girls.� I defended cause the injuring words from him starts to blemish my pride. �And how do you know about Lea, who is that Lea, maybe you�re also making fun with her.�
Our conversation had made my feelings bounce from different state to another. First I was defending Stacey. Then it turns me to be compassionate about his feelings when I saw the tears assembling in his eyes. But when I heard the malicious words coming out from his mouth, I decided to walk quietly, to stop the stupid dialogue, which might lead to a mischievous argument.
I was about to reach the doorway of the classroom when Jason, grab my hands. He looked at me gasping.� Sorry for the difficulty that I�m giving you. Let�s forget about yesterday ok� he said while his hands loosening. He enters my room and put my bag on the armchair.
�I�m sorry too for making you apprehensive upon my actions.� I answered. � By the way you might be late on your own class, you should be going now, I can take care of my self, and good luck.�
�Ok� he said while moving out of the classroom. �I�ll peep at you after my class, and��
�What?�
�I love you.� He smiled, walking away going into the direction of the stairs, while I was sitting on the armchair thinking about the last three words that he had mentioned a while ago. I see one of my classmates was smiling at me, it appear to me like she had heard my boyfriend�s goodbye.
I am not aware that I am constantly attentive to what was happening around me, after yesterday lecture with Stacey. I start to notice the change that is going on around me. Looking at every detail of the room and to the people that surrounded me. Some of my classmates are reading Hudyat, the campus authorized news paper, while the others are busy chatting about uninteresting matters about their crushes and secrets. I sit quietly, look outside the window, towards the green plain of the campus ground, to forget about Stacey�s theory and studies. The sky was threatening to fall upon the dry rough surface of the school, while the wind was blowing against my drifting eyes.
I decided to have a walk, to prevent myself from my endless daydreams, and to wake up from my illusions. I went to the restroom, the floorings were awfully soaked, and the ambience is generating a bad fragrance. It reminds me about the disorderly manners of the female students, the graffiti on the walls are enough to condition my mind that not all the students on that campus were disciplined. I went in front of the mirror to look at my self, still anxious about the surroundings of the comfort room, so I encourage myself not to use the unpleasant toilet. I walk out spraying some cologne on my dress to relieve me from that sordid room that I went through. I constantly forgot about my agitation about Jason�s words.
While I was walking towards my classroom I notice that the bystanders were not on their places and the students, who was hanging in front of my classroom door were not there. I quickly march in the direction of my classroom, when I reach the eastside entrance. I see my classmates were sitting quietly disregarding annoyance from outside. I rush in to my armchair, not to perceive anyone or anything cause I thought my professor had already arrived on the contrary he isn�t.
I sit silently while a noise coming from outside was getting louder and louder. I saw a group of tall men were walking en route for the school gym. I heard some of the girls in the room were talking about the basketball team of the school, but I never pay attention to them and I continue my relaxation. I look around, I see that the male students were so calm and silent and the girls are dominating the scene. I look at the boys one by one and I was surprised when I saw that very familiar wavy hairdo, was in that classroom. It was Stacey, with his untidy white polo and loose jeans, he is gazing on the ceiling, and his irregular methods can be trace on his eyes. I checked my certificate of matriculation to see if the subjects was correctly encoded, and I was certain that it was accurate. I want to approach him but somehow he was not looking at me as if I�m not around, although I saw that his retinas were unnoticeably peaking at my direction. I remember the incident back at Rancho were he had an argument with my boyfriend. Perhaps he still feels the hurting words of Jason. And I intended not to disturb him and maybe he was not in the right mood on talking to me after what had happened.
We both sat quietly, while he was on his armchair, daydreaming by the window and I was on my armchair rereading every sweet messages and note that I�d receive from my friends. It was half an hour since I enter the room and yet our teacher was missing. I realize after reading my notes that Stacey might still be in the room before Jason arrives. But I�m just hoping that everything will work well. Another fifteen minutes had passed and we have three quarters of an hour left. Suddenly a guy, with a very prominent face rushing in the room toward a girl, perhaps it was her friend cause he was very closely connected to her by the contact of his hand was so passionate, but I perceived that it was not her boyfriend. Cause the femininity was noticeable by a single look on his movements and by the pitch of his vocal chords. He was stating some problem but I cannot attend to it clearly, I was at the back row while he and his companion was on the front. After staring for a few minutes on that feministic guy, I saw Stacey was attentively listening to them, his eyes where keen, his brow sharp and his body were extended at the direction of the problematic girlish young man. I can�t believe it that Stacey who was so private and piquant of intellectual understanding, was listening to nobody�s crisis. After a few seconds of snooping, Stacey transfer to an armchair nearer on his subject of interest, and transfer to another and another until he reached the vacant sit nearest to them. Upon seeing his discontented, he removed his hesitation to satisfy his curiosity and leaped from his chair.
�It seems you had an interesting problem, Jeffrey?� Stacey inquired in low screaming manner, as he moves directly in their direction.
�Oh! It�s Stacey� said the girl.
With my nosiness, I relocate myself and move from another armchair to check on the stuff that made Stacey alter his mood after eavesdropping on those couple.
�No it was just an ordinary problem� Jeffrey said, looking at the girl with his wondering eyes.
�No! I think your problem had occupied my mind� Stacey murmured, looking from head to put on his subject. �You see, you�re voice was so loud to overhear by any body else in the classroom, including me. And I believe if you really want to recover your belongings you might be needing my help.�
The agitated pairs sat quietly, neglecting all of Stacey�s words. I was attempting to divert Stacey�s attention by grabbing him away for them, for him not to be humiliated in front of the class. But he is insisting on giving them his helping hand.
�Ok, Jeffrey this is your last chance.� He said with audacity. �Fifty-two-ten cost about two thousand pesos and a decent bag, it think it is more seven hundred. If you try to seclude every details of your affair you might as well loose your important possessions.�
Stacey walked away to return to his armchair while I was still on his side but by luck,
Jason had entered the room and grabbed me away from him. Suddenly we became the attention of the class.
�How many times do I need to tell you to quit fallowing my girlfriend.� Jason scowled with the scary look upon his eyes. The bruise from his right chin was glowing red.
�Oh my god Jason, stop bothering us� cried Stacey �How many times do you need to interfere with your girlfriend�s public affair. We are on a study right now and you are not welcome�
�How dare you insult me in front of my girlfriend?� Jason shouted while Stacey was packing his things. Jason was about to smash him but the guys from their chair had jump upon him, to hold his aggression.
�You�re the one who was humiliating yourself in the public.�
�You blabber!� Jason ejaculated while forcing the students to discharge him.
�Ok! Ok! Guys, release him� Stacey commanded like the most dominant man in the room. � If you really believe that I am a no good back stabber, is that what you call it, ah, no, a girlfriend stealer. You hit me as hard as you can, I�ll just stand here.�
�You!�
Jason looked furiously on him, he grabbed my hands and I, very much alarmed to another unwanted occurrence and so petrified to do anything, had fallowed Jason out of the classroom hurriedly. Stacey still standing, very mortified about the situation, was looking at me while Jason, rushing out of the room, was still on his spicy temper. I thought for the moment that it is better for everybody to be separated, to have an ample fresh air, to remove the burning emotion on both side, I decided to go home unconnectedly, with neither one of them, in our own different ways.
I was alone in my gloomy bedroom, on that afternoon, lying on my bed while thinking on resolving the incrementing dispute of Stacey and Jason. I keep on cross-questioning my self about Stacey, when I was introduce to him last summer of 2003 when Jason was away and I am so jaded to continue the monotonous existence of my life. But if I did not allow him in my life from the beginning, maybe life is better and harmonious with only Jason to be count on. On the other hand, Stacey was so humorous, with his comical attitude, always carrying his happy energetic thoughts with him, enough to make my day complete and satisfied. He is the shock absorber of my life, and all of the difficulties that I had encounter cannot be resolved without his helping hands.
I didn�t wonder why a girl of my age, can easily be acquainted to him. With his communication skills, and his enchanting charisma but instead of taking advantage of the gift that he had received from god. He was so private, like he was on his own stage, playing his own role. He talks hilariously but the inmost part of him was really complex to justify. And his multiple characters that I had witnessed were tremendously intriguing. He always remind me that one life time is not enough to gain all of the knowledge in the world. To load the unfulfilled attic in his head was his goal after disregarding his love for me.
But I miss the times when he and I were on the phone talking from night till dawn. When he told me, that the happiness that I gave him was immeasurable. It was still clear to my mind the night when he convinced me to flee with him just to talk to him. It was raining that night and the wind was blowing against the quarters, the roof of neighboring houses was creating a creaking noise. It was dark and dreadful night, I was really agitated, I didn�t know how did Stacey influence me to stroll out of that foggy night.
I was walking silently looking at my parents� room. To be certain, I move slowly, opening the door of my parents� cabin to check if they were sleeping, it is hard for me to breath thinking of delinquent action and disobeying my parents just to talk to Stacey. For my sake, they were in the middle of slumber. I was really glad when I found them sleeping, with their hands embracing one another, cause I don�t have a good reason to explain if they discover me peeping at them at the middle of the night.
I enter their tranquil bedroom and look for the key to unlock the main door, cause my parents were an awkward believer, they usually lock the house inside by a dead bolt to prevent the burglar from entering. First, I check the round flower vase, the favorite hiding place of my dad, I took it up slowly and gently cause it is so fragile and my mom precious it very much. But on my effort I didn�t find the key in it.
�Relax Louie, relax� I told myself, hearing the alarming snore of my dad.
Wondering where my parents might have hid it, I crouch softly towards the cupboard at the corner of their bed room, ducking as low as I can, I reach the surface inside of that dark cabinet, the books cluttering around had give me an impression that it wasn�t there. Still hoping to find it as quick as I can, I move back to the door, the dimming light was making the situation difficult for me to unravel the hidden key in their room, it irritates me, the unpleasant red light was encouraging me to give up this adventure.
I move out of my parents� radiating dark room thinking whether to continue the escapade with Stacey. I sat on the soft yellow feathery couch in front of the television, looking down at the telephone beside me. Irresolute if I will call him or not, I picked up the phone, pressing the dial pad slowly to contact Stacey to tell him that I can�t go out, but the moment I look at the clear white wall, towards my dad�s office, I was terrified when I saw the twinkling eye of the mask carving, hanging beside the door of his antique gallery. In my inquisitiveness, I hike slowly to the wall, without making any noise, leaving the phone hanging on the brown writing desk. My heart was pounding bit by bit and every second that pass is like a year of struggle. When I reach the mask carving, I notice the twinkle I had saw was just an ornament, for the eye to be realistic, it wasn�t located properly. I push it to correct the position but something was blocking it. I pull the eye out and place my left hand inside in the eyehole of the brown mask to check what was blocking the eye to be in the right position. My fingers were twisting inside cause the hole was small enough for the little sphere ornament. But with my exertion I finally reach what was the source of the problem, it was a steel. I try to stretch my finger but it is too short. Realizing that hole was too deep for my finger, I took a stick from the newly varnish table beside that strange mask, and place it to see what was in that hole, in my astonishment it was the key chain, and the key that I was looking for was attached to it.
I was glad and the feeling of uncertainty was removed from my heart. I walk towards the house main entrance, noticing the phone was hanging. I place it silently on its charger and move gradually to the door leaving the silent room out of my mind. To make sure that I will not be detected, in case that anyone in the house will be awake in the middle of the night, I left my usual sandals and use my outdoor sneakers. I close the rusty gate slowly to avoid a creaking sound, and walk to my destination.
I was walking on the watery road, and the light from the lamppost was blinking, the humid fresh air was blowing in my face. The jacket I�m wearing were half wet and the rear end of my pants were stain by the splash. With my haphazardness I forgot my umbrella and the notes that I must give to Stacey. That dark street was giving me an impression of loneliness and I wonder why does Stacey choose this kind season for our secret convention. I figured a very familiar shape leaning at the electric post. It was Stacey in his favorite blue jacket and a pair of half loose three quarter pair of pants. The big fashionable chain was shining from the back pocket of his short. He was carrying a black umbrella and another umbrella was folded and clip between his armpits.
�I was really glad that you came.� He said with his passionate voice was continuously repeating in my eardrums. He smiles and lends me the black umbrella he was holding and unfastening the other one. �You look like a model in your pink jacket. I guess you had a hard time on evading your quarter.�
�Yah, you say so. Do you carry a cigarette with you.� I asked while we wander the saturated street of Riverside. �I was about to call you, to tell you that I can�t go out, by luck I found the key inside that devilish artifact of my father.�
�Ah, ok.� He said while he took a pack of cigar from the pocket of his short. �Are you alright?�
�I�m ok now.�
�You look nervous, here take a one�
�Aren�t you going to restrict me?� I asked lighting the cigar that he provides.
�Restrict from what.� He replied while turning his black cap sideways.
�You know, like Jason when he use to tell me to quit smoking.�
�I am not Jason after all. It�s your life, as long as you�re happy on what you�re doing�
he explained, rotating the umbrella he was holding. � I�m always on your side. But..�
�But.. What?�
� But you must be thinking that I don�t care about my girlfriend.�
I smile and look at him, when I heard the words that he said.
�Hmm, girlfriend.� I said with a far away expression from my face.
�Yeah, honey.�
�Honey?�
�Nah, what should I call you, baby? Ah, sweetheart?� he said while his pretty lips were extending and his eyelids were stretching.
�Stop it.� I replied naughtily, looking at him sideways. �Although I told you last night that I love you, yet..�
�And yet?�
�Nothing.�
�But you mean it, isn�t it?� he cried, looking directly in my eyes.
�I mean what?�
�You mean it, when you said you love me?�
�Hmm� I was trap by his question and I decided to walk silently without answering his last inquiry.
�What?� he replied, I saw the sudden change from his facial expression as we walk towards the dark and lonely plaza of the village. We look for a place to stay and he, in front of me had guide to a shaded bench beside an old-fashioned lamppost
� That is the bench that I was taking about� he pointed with his girlish like forefinger.
I walk slowly towards the shaded wooden bench, fold my umbrella, and I notice that my names were carve on every side of the bench.
�I wrote it absentmindedly when I�m sitting alone on this forlorn bench yesterday.� He murmured, sitting gently on the bench. I sat with him and I notice the distance was spacious enough to make an impression that we�re in a middle of misunderstanding.
�About last night.� I said, moving towards him to fill the gap between us. �I really mean it when I say I love you, but you know our situation.�
�I know that you already had your boyfriend� he replied, staring at me, his eyes were twinkling and so sincere about his words. � And I was really afraid when this vacation ends. When you and Jason will be reunited.�
�If only you came first and perhaps you�re the only one.� I followed.
The rain starts to fall harder on the shade of that wooden bench. The wind was propelling loudly. The covering was enough for the two people, who were taking advantage of that stormy night to gain absolute privacy. I discover that even the most talented young boy that I know was a man with beatable feelings. We sat quietly for a minute while the water was splattering against us.
�If only I came first.� He said, breaking the long silent while looking up at the foggy sky. �But at least I met and had chatted with the only love of my life. And I am glad to know that she�s willing to go out with me in the middle of the night.�
�Only love! How about�.� I said but suddenly, he grabs my hand fervently.
�Louie If I need to dissect my heart in front of you, I will do it just to prove that the only person inside was you. I will show you that your name was mark upon the walls of my veins.� he said mentioning my nick name while his hands were holding my hands gently. �If you can only hear the beat, the beat that I was longing to feel, the beat of your name. I don�t know how to say it. You�re the reason for everything�
I can see the exploding feelings through his eyes, my heart starts to pump faster and generate a sense of belongingness. Somehow I realize that my feeling for him is growing faster than I expected, even though I still have a commitment with Jason.
�Stacey� I said while withdrawing my hands away from him. �But what about Jason, I can not leave him, we had tried our best to save our relationship before and I guess this is another one of that struggle�
�It�s our struggle not him although I don�t want to give you a burden but..�
�But what I am doing is unjust to him, and especially to you. You know that I can�t give you my full attention. And when this summer ends I will choose between you and him.� I said touching his soft tender face gently, while looking on his eyes. �And maybe..�
�We both have suffer from this love� he said while he wipes my tears away from my face. � But why on earth!� Somehow we can�t fulfill the emptiness, I know it�s unfair to him but you feel the same about me. Didn�t you?�
We are both sobbing at that moment but my conscience and my obligations to Jason were stronger than every melodic word that Stacey and I were sharing. He shifted towards me and wrapped his arm around me. I lean my head on his shoulder. I can feel his cotton like face was inclining on my head, and his voice where so smooth and harmonious.
�Let�s forget about this feelings. Cause I don�t want to see you sad because of my melancholic words.� He said, swabbing up my hair away from my cheeks, I can still hear the weeping sounds from his nose. �By the way did you listen to the compact disc that I gave you.�
�Yeah, its you isn�t it, I can recognize your voice clearly.� I said, encircling my arms around his waist. �I need you around ha! is that the song that you wrote for your cousin? It was great. Why don�t you sell it? You had a good composition, you know.�
�No, I don�t want to, did you heard the song stay? Stay I want you to stay, I need you to say, you�ll stay� he sung, with his cute and audible voice.
�Yes, I like it but I want you to sing �Seatbelt�.�
�Ok. Hmm. Ehem I�m dreaming that we dream together��
The music that he sung had filled the melancholic air of that harsh night. The words that we had exchanged that night was so memorable, his plans and goals, my dreams, everything was perfect. He said that he wanted to be a very wealthy man and with my approval, I told him that I want to be a successful business lady. We had a thought of accidental meetings at some luxurious hotel when we have reach our dreams.
His plans when he had his own family. Just like when were talking at the phone endless train of thoughts are flowing in and out of our t�te-�-t�te.
It was quarter past three when I look at my watch, I ask Stacey to walk towards home cause my dad was an early morning breaker. In a few minutes I am on the starting point of my adventure with Stacey. We were standing beside the rusty gate of my house and I observe that the stars were brightly scattering at the sky. Suddenly I remember that words that he told me, �when the sky is clear, he was happy and when the rain is falling he was sad.� I just realize it but before I mention it.
�See, the sky was clear� he said, holding my hands at the front of the white painted house. �It only means that I am very much satisfied on staying with you. Look at the stars they are watching two problematic couple above this enigmatic world�
�Ok, hurry up, do you have anything to say� I said nervously while looking towards the main door of the house.
He holds my hands tightly and stares at me. For a moment I feel that the earth had stop from revolving and I can vibrate the palpitating veins from his fingers. My hearts start to pump fast again like when we�re at the plaza. I look directly in to his eyes while giving him a sign to feel my lips by his little red lips. He moved his head towards me. I close my eyes and gradually I feel like his pointed nose was touching the tip of my nose. With my eyes half open I start to feel the tender of his soft kind lips. To show my feelings and my belongingness to him I just gave myself up, his arms at my back supporting me. And my hands are gently and passionately around him. For a few minute the overwhelming emotions that we sense from each where fulfill by those obsessive kisses. I forgot about everything that happened to my life on that very moment.
I almost forgot that we were at the front of the house when we heard the cock was howling. Still with in the middle of completing the unfulfilled sensations. He move his lips away from mine, I was looking at him and I can see the satisfaction in his eyes and me very contended was smiling at him.
�Good bye� I whispered opening the creaking gate.
�I love you� he replied, while walking away in backward manner.
It seems that he was waiting for an answer so I whispered that I love him more than anyone else. He stops from walking and smile at me. I was opening the door of my house and I saw him still on his position, I wave my hands and enter the house. I replace the key back from the place where my dad had hid it. Noticing that they were still sleeping soundly I went back on my room and look out from the window. Seeing Stacy turning from the road that we had walk in our adventure, I fell hard down on my bed reminiscing the tender kiss that I ever felt from my entire life.
Upon recollecting that experience that afternoon, I realize that for a year, I was unconsciously struggling with Stacey. Even though that we choose to separate our ways by giving up the love that we feel from each other, and to fulfill my promises to Jason. We became a constant friend. He was never afraid to share his feelings and doubt with me and I was gladly enough to surrender all of my secrets on his authority. I was still in the middle of my memoirs when mom with her irritating voice had struck the serenity of my thoughts.
�Louise, somebody on the phone is waiting for you.� She shouted, down from the stairs.
�Who is it?� I replied, getting up from my bed.
�He never mentioned his name, he is a guy with a tender voice.�
�Tender voice?� I asked myself, fixing the squashy pillows.
I rush down the stairs to answer the unexpected phone call. I wonder who will call at the middle of busy hours. Choosing between Stacey and Jason I conclude that it was Jason. I knew that Stacey won�t call, he might be in the market, shopping for dinner. I picked up the phone with my brows pointing at each other.
�Hello!� I said angrily.
�Hello� he answers, I realize upon hearing the voice that it was not Jason. The only man I knew with a very calm voice on the phone was Stacey. �Not on the mood to talk to your friend�
�Stacey?!�
�The only one.�
�I thought you were somebody so I prefer to use my irritating mood� I explain sitting down on the feathery couch.
�Hmm. Ok, I just want to tell you to fully charge your phone cause I�m going to call you tonight. I had a plenty story for you, if only you had a time to listen.�
�Ok� I answered.
�That�s all, so goodbye and take care�
�Take care either!�
I was puzzled by his sudden call. After remembering about my adventure with him. I realized that perhaps he had found something very important or he might introduce a solution with his dispute with Jason.
If you have comments or suggestions about the novel you can Email me at [email protected] I will be glad to listen to your advice.
Thanks for Reading!!!
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