Sunshine

XLV

THE night has come again for the world to rest. As the clock continues ticking, the night got deeper. It is in the silence of the night that makes you want to shout. Because that’s when the only time you hear nothing except yourself. But that’s also the time where you ask for the sound you’ve been wanting to hear because you want it to keep to yourself. Either with cries or moans, there are sounds that keeps you alive and awake amidst the sleeping world.

The moon must have some kind of magic. Where it made the people it shines to more honest to themselves. The night got chiller as it started drizzling, then turned into rain bringing a little of gushing wind making the roofs sound extra noisy. But some must have actually preferred this kind of noisy night. As it muffled whatever sound they are making in the deep night.

The soft satin blanket formed in a shape of two people keeping them warm as they hug together in their nakedness. The sheets and the mattress also kept them comfortable as they try to finally drift themselves to sleep. There is always this beauty and wonder with sleeping next to someone could offer. It is how they kept you warm even in the most coldest nights just by lying next to you.

“Do you know how o play chess?”

There is also wonder with how nights could bring either the most silly or most serious conversations while sharing blankets. In those conversations words were spoken in a whisper like you’re afraid to disturb the silence of the night.

“A little? Why? You want to play?”

“Nah. I’m just asking if you’re aware how it works somehow.”

“Well I guess I am? What about it?”

The woman suddenly pulled herself out of the man’s arms next to him and sat on bed. The blanket that covered her got pulled down, revealing her breast to the shivering wind. But that didn’t bothered her.

“Stephanie? Why?”

Adrian asked, now also sitting down and pulling the blankets to cover them both. He asked again.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“My chess pieces are acting up against me.” That was what Stephanie Costales said. Adrian Dela Vega stared at her in confusion, but then it all melted. He now looked at her with worry.

“Are you worried? Scared?”

“Can I say I’m scared to you?”

“I told you. You can be a woman to me. Just be a woman to me.”

And then there. Just like her nakedness Stephanie laid herself bare. She stripped off all pretensions she put up the entire night and showed the man in front of her one of her truest forms tonight. She was certain he will see all, the process and the change as he only had his eyes on her.

Stephanie almost looked like a child. Needy. Longing. Loving.

“Please own me.”

Like someone pulled into an abyss Adrian put himself close to Stephanie and sealed her lips. It slowly moved in a rhythm matching each other. The rain got stronger and also their heartbeats are. They were once different entity but now they chose to be one. They joined their bodies together as they pledged with their moans and sighs they will now live for each other.

Since that night Adrian dedicated himself to love and protect the woman in his arms at all costs.

THE night slowly dawned to them after they spent the sunset together. Noises that tells you its finally time to rest the day is slowly coming out. Singing to you, reminding you. It is also as if the world suddenly turned slower because it is now willing to let you rest. But then your body might have rested already but your mind just ceases to. As the night gets deeper your mind wonders, perhaps on good old memories.

From how much can you remember from your young self? Were they still memories you could describe like the back of your hand? Or now just fragments close to be forgotten? What about the people in them?

Little by little, one by one on their own both had flashbacks from the fragments of their memories. Those are memories they will never talk about but know they once shared, though they aren’t even sure if their memories matches with each other. But what’s important was who, the people in them. And they are now facing each other, remembering each other. And that was more than enough.

The silence they shared in comfort got interrupted by the sudden downpour. The old apartment unit got easily cold with the strong winds. The windows that broke themselves a long time ago started banging to the walls and to each other. It was noisy. It was scary for some too.

“Olivia, are you okay? It’s getting cold.”

Juan stood up from the corner where the door is, where he had been staying since he arrived and took of his jacket and walked straight to where Olivia is. It was easy for them to find each other because he only had to walk straight.There Juan found Olivia is already sleeping in her seat. He put his jacket over her and sat next to her, watching her in the darkness.

Connections made by your young self don’t really withstand time. It’s probably because the immaturity the young age has. It’s also because of some factors like time you don’t have control with. Too many things cuts connections and ties. But what if feelings never changed?

“I so hate how this world raised us. I’m angry.” Juan told the sleeping woman. His hands wanted to reach her hair but he held himself. “So let’s just take our revenge, Olivia. Just don’t be like this.”

Revenge. A word that contains so much weight and pain and misery and regrets. But revenge could be something very needed to be done for survival. It could be the drive and weapon to survive, and it could the way to survive. Either way revenge should be directed to someone or to anyone. You direct it to the person who hurt you the most, who broke you the most, to the one who left you hanging and almost got you killed.

But what if it was the world you want to take revenge to? Who you should be angry at?

“I’m sorry” was what he wanted to say, but he said these words instead.

“I’ll do everything for you.”

Juan fixed the jacket on Olivia and stood up by the window still banging itself. He felt the rain on his face. He stared at the rain watering Kahilom at the moment, silently thanking for the blessing the land is receiving. He fished his phone and clicked the number that got registered as restricted.

He felt stupid now that he understands Carlos. The way he almost went berserk just for Alex. The way how his best friend did everything for the wpman he only knew in the past. Because he is now about to do the same.

“Let Olivia get off this. I’ll be in your command.”