Sunshine

LII

THE sky is slowly changing its colors. The colors matching the orange spectrum of the color wheel reflecting on the sea in its below that’s been quiet and behave today. The calm waves that splash its way to the shore matches their slow and quiet breathing. It was a quiet and beautiful afternoon. And probably one of the most beautiful way to welcome the night.

It wasn’t the sunset but the moon that she’s been dying to see. It was the transition of the orange skies to black that made her elated to watch. But of course she let the man next to him think it was really the sunset that she’s here for. Though they stayed on the beach even when the sunset was long gone, still looking up at the sky. But Carlos did not bothered to ask anything. is eyes was fixed on Stephanie, anyway.

Stephanie came home to her dark abode after being bathed with sunlight and sweat after so long.

The beach must have drifted her away. She could still feel its waves in her entity even if it was only her hands and feet that touched it. Who would have thought nature could touch even someone like her? But Stephanie has always been a sucker for beauty of whatever kind. And it’s the most natural for the greedy. The mercenary of the idiots who thinks everything should be in its possession for it to be godly. But Stephanie always kept her possessions to her fancy and bizarro. She never coveted beauty that shines on the light the most. We could say that’s where the restraint of her greed is.

“How’s your first day, Stephanie?”

And that’s when the smile one would have thought will be permanent melted. The face reflected on the mirror turned dark and hollow, as if it got drained of all elation and life. But it did not seemed like those were stolen. It was a borrowed and kind of undesired happiness, anyway. That made the owner of the reflection smile. Much to her satisfaction.

Stephanie did not need the reminders of the Queen Spear. Even with her borrowed name and identity she knows what her world is and how it should be. The Queen’s Spear’s worry over the sick and hopeless kid Stephanie was was useless. She and the Queen’s Spear is one. Darkness embodies them both. It is thanks to the darkness that she’s alive. And if her world, if ever, will be of mornings soaked with sunlight forever then that’s the day she will die.

The whole car ride with Carlos Ignacio, the beach and the smile of the man she haven’t seen for years― at least face to face. Stephanie always knew.

“I’m glad you still remember.”

She told her reflection one last time before she stepped out of the mirror as she took off her clothes one by one. She then stepped inside the shower, turned the faucet on, and let the water wet her body. She stayed still under the running water as she closed her eyes.

“Stephanie?”

That made her open his eyes. The voice called for her name once again. This time more loud and audible. Stephanie turned on the shower faucet more to say where she was.

“Can I come in?”

Of course that was an invitation. The door was left open. The frosted sliding glass door opened and revealed Adrian staring at her bubbled body. His eyes landed there immediately without hesitation. As if hypnotized by the alluring curves and the proud breasts that the bubbles desperately tried to hide, Adrian made his steps to the shower. Heavy and indignant. With permission from Stephanie’s eyes as they locked Adrian raveled everything his eyes is enjoying now. Still as careful as ever with his touch. It was a touch Stephanie liked. And that is why she always gave him the pleasure with the marvel she was.

Their lips met under the shower, drinking both the running water and their saliva as they let their tongues play to each other’s throat. Their hands are busy giving pleasure to the pearl and the soldier only becoming hungrier with the desperate touch. They couldn’t help but wet. They couldn’t help but wait helplessly. The tease and the waiting got painful as it went on. It was an annoying pain but it was easy to ease. Stephanie went down on her knees and let her mouth do the wonder.

Men is an adoration to a woman. A fool that could be leashed with a touch and kisses and a v****a. Men and s*x is another beauty that is worth coveting for Stephanie. The s*x from a man who is foolish enough to think she could give him a place in the world she’s building. But it was both a heavenly pleasure. If you set aside the pain.

The other is a threatening catastrophe. While the other one is a delusion of togetherness and love. Both makes you feel like a woman. A woman touched, cared for and loved. But everything is idiosyncrasy. A dream indulged to death.

You get to choose which of the fantasies you offer your life with.

JUAN couldn’t sleep at all. The night is already deep that the insects already started to sound loud and weird and sometimes scary but his eyes still remained opened. His ears listening to all the sounds. Tonight will be the last night Juan will see those old and stained ceiling and the last night he will sleep in this hard bunk bed. Though he wasn’t sure if his bed will be better than the one he ever had or if his new parents will let him stick fake stars to the ceiling to cover its stains if ever it had but he immediately assumed. After all he’s being adopted. And all adopted kids always assumes their lives will be better in their new homes even in just the slightest of it. As long as Juan won’t have to beg for extra egg for breakfast and extra cup of rice every meal when he feels to have more then that is already enough to think he has the best life.

His little fantasies of his coming new life got interrupted when he heard a small whisper of his name from outside the window. The thin curtains are drawn so he could only make out the silhouette of a head barely peeping on the jalousies failing to recognize it. But Juan still silently went down of the bunk bed, careful not to wake up any of the kids. He successfully sneaked out of the heavy doors.

“Olivia.” He whispered. He knows Olivia’s about to squeal his name so he immediately put a finger on his lips, telling Olivia to keep quiet which she nodded to. Any noise is prohibited as they’ll be scolded if anyone of the nuns sees them still awake and standing on the hallway still outside at this late hour. Worried, Juan pulled Olivia with him to the big sturdy tree they never knew what was called but became their usual place. The big tree behind the orphanage that no one goes to as the other kids believe ghosts lives there. But there wasn’t ghost in it. The tree became a witness to the 15 year old Juan and Olivia who just started to feel how it is to be a child, and how it feels to have a friend and a sibling to take care of that also cares for them.

“Why are you still awake?”

Juan asked. They are now talking in their normal speaking voice as they know none of the nuns and the kids will hear them. After all they are now in their little safe haven.

“The nuns will check the girls tomorrow. I practiced but I still can’t tie my hair well.” Olivia took a comb and a hair tie, a new set Juan gave to her a few weeks ago out of the bag she hanged on her back. In her usual puppy look she only gave to Juan her entire life she asked. “Can you tie them for me? Before you go tomorrow?”

“I think I need to teach you again.” Juan took the comb and tie. Olivia sat on the grass as Juan stood in the back of her, pulling her now long hair gently fixing it. Juan also did the necessary explanation as he stretched and twisted and turned then finally tied Olivia’s hair.

“There, you’re done. You can do it alone next time, right?”

Juan turned around to be in front of Olivia and also sat on the grass. That’s when he noticed Olivia’s crying instead of listening to his tutorials. Usually every time Olivia cries Juan panics. Like a worried brother wondering if he made his sister cry and somehow blaming himself. But tonight it’s different. Tonight he cried with her.

“I already told you, right? A woman who can tie her hair alone is the most beautiful and strong woman.” Juan managed in between his silent sobs. Olivia nodded to it but her words contradicted.

“But I still haven’t learned and now you’re leaving.”

“You will remember, Olivia. We will remember.” Juan pulled Olivia in a tight embrace. He let her cry on his shoulders. “But if ever, if ever time will come you need someone to tie your hair for you just because you can’t or even just too tired to do it then I’ll come running.”

Juan gave a light kiss on Olivia’s head. He didn’t know what was that kiss for but it made him cry harder. Now his sobs uncontrollable.

“I’ll come running if you need me the most.”

They cried the rest of the night under that tree. Under the tree that will forever be a memory to them. They drifted to sleep hugging each other. Their arms and the rumbling leaves and the soft humid grass suffice as the bed, blanket and the pillows they lacked.

It was a good night sleep.

OLIVIA opened her eyes abruptly. To which she immediately regretted to as it only caused a sharp pain on her head. She slammed herself again on the bed and closed her eyes. After feeling the pain go away he opened her eyes again, now slowly. She also took the time to process everything around her looking around. The room is empty of people aside from her but the mess on it suggest she wasn’t alone the entire stay. The other side of the bed is also a mess. She didn’t had to look below the blankets to find out the mess that she is right now. She groaned and went up, picking her clothes off the floor.

Olivia woke up in an unknown hotel room again.

Olivia got dressed with her clothes from the floor. Her eyes flew on the few thousand bills on the bed. The random men she can’t even remember that she f****d every night always left first, leaving behind bills like right now as if she’s some of a w***e they need to pay. But she did not mind. After all she provided service. Though that was out of the intention. She took the money and pocketed it.

Olivia proceeded to the comfort room, to the sink and washed her face. She looked up and met her reflection on the mirror. Seeing the same wreck she’s been seeing the thoughts she had last night before she f****d some random guy again came rushing to her again. She looked at the face in front of her still dripping of water, eyes bloodshot.

What did you do after realizing your life is your debt to Whoever is out there?

Olivia ran out of the hotel room without turning back.

OLIVIA fell on her knees, running out of breath. The flight of stairs will forever be long to apartment unit 309. She stayed crouched as her hands held her knees hard as she slowly caught her breath. After she calmed down, she slightly kicked the door open.

“Juan…”

She whispered. She did not notice but her eyes started to water. Olivia looked at Juan who was sitting on the far end of the apartment sleeping next to a burnt out mosquito coil slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes immediately widened.

“Olivia!”

Juan abruptly stood up, staggering on his feet to her. Olivia was taken a back by the sudden embrace. “Where were you? I was so worried!”

“S-Sorry.” Was all Olivia managed to say. The hug broke as Juan pulled himself away from Olivia. Juan just realized what he did. He cleared his throat out of sudden flight of shame over the hug.

“Where were you?”

Juan repeated. Olivia only stared at her, giving him confusion.

“You are always at the right timing, brother.” Olivia said after staring. She still hasn’t broke the eye contact. “I think you are the one I really need to tie my hair back.”

Suddenly Juan didn’t like the sound of that. But he guessed he was just overreacting. He swallowed. “What do you mean?”

“You must be the answer God sent.” That only caused Juan more confusion. He knew Olivia since they were kids. They were kids who never believed in God or whoever they say that someone out there.

“I just asked Him. What I should do to repay Him for this borrowed life. I don’t really believe in Him, you see. But the fact that we’re standing face to face right here right now in this perfect timing just seems like a miracle I can’t ignore.”

Juan wanted to say no. It wasn’t a miracle that they met because he’s been waiting for her in this same spot. But he only got silenced when Olivia handed her something wrapped in a red handkerchief. No, it wasn’t red. It was once white and clean.

“Police Corporal Valencia. I’m surrendering myself. I tried to kill Mayor Romualdo Costales.”