Film of Love

Trente-Six

“How’s your day, Aryn?” my aunt asked as we stopped at the parking area. She is really diligent about accompanying me to work and also fetching me after my work and doing those motherly duties. Well, what I can say she told me it such a nostalgia for her and she missed doing those things to her only daughter, Cosette who just graduated in college and now seeking for work just like me.

“It’s fine but it looks like it happened so fast and I never know that I’ve be reaching a month of stay here in Paris,” I said, as we walk up to the unit. I can’t believe myself that I am staying with them for a month when I felt that I am living with them for years now because on how they treat me like a real family. It not that I am a stranger to them but what I can say is that I am their relatives, me and Cosette being cousins but not as siblings.

“that’s great! It means that you’re adjusting so good in the life here,” she said. She smiled at me while getting out the keys from her bag which I find funny because I know that Cosette is probably waiting for us to return home or not unless she is running errands and not at home…in this kind of time. I looked outside and see that the sun was nowhere to be found and I shook my head because it is impossible for her to go out while her mom is also out.

“well, it’s still part of France but a way from the environment I’ve been living with.” I explained and she nodded her head understanding what I am trying to imply about the adjusting the life of a countrywoman in a city. The life here is so much different from the life I have in the countryside or in Honfleur. Recalling the town that I am rarely saying now is weird but there is a nostalgia whenever I am saying the name of the port city that I grew up with.

We arrived at the unit and I saw Cosette setting up the table for dinner. I am surprised that she is up and moving her body, she have this princess vibe but she is not like those spoiled brats in some movies out there. I know that she is just a lazy lady because she doesn’t have any work to think out of the square and be who she is by exploring any kinds of work. I’m not saying it because I am now a very experienced person but that’s what I just thought of her.

“Mom! Aryn! You guys are back and unfortunately I can’t open the stove,” she greeted us and start complaining on how she can’t open the burner and the reason is that it’s hard. Auntie Melinda rolled her eyes out on her daughter, sighed and proceed to the kitchen while I go to my room to change on my working clothes to one of my cozy and fluffy pajamas and I laughed at the memory on the cloth.

It was one cold new year’s eve but our house is cozy. I actually didn’t receive any gifts from my brother and neither I expect to have one from him—but as an older kind sister—all of them gave me one. wondering where I did get the money? Well, it’s from my saving since I was college and from my earning as an athlete. So back to it, it was nearly time for new year, our café is not open that time because we need to have time to celebrate it and it’s once a year and we should seize it. Recalling moments with your family is the hardest and very emotional but this moment of mine is not that emotional because it somewhat funny to think about presents.

Time is ticking and his courage also to give the cute pajamas are also in line. As we are all in the café area waiting for the clock hits 00:00. He is silently approached me with a paper bag, a Christmas one, in his hands and hand it to me. He can’t look at me in the eyes and his ears are red from embarrassment. I took it and thanked him, and look at him about a minute because of how touched and surprised I am to receive a gift, first gift, from him.

I hurriedly went up to my room without caring the time and excitedly opened the gift and cross my finger that whatever it is I will cherish it all my heart. This is a big deal for me like, we are not that touchy or something but we are close but as we grow up we tend to change directions, taste and as well us how we decide, discipline or time with our family.

I slowly open the paper bag and without looking at it, I put my hand inside and I felt a soft and furry object and the thing I think that time is a stuff toy. I pulled out and I saw a cute blue, stitch fluffy onesie and a letter, handwritten by him. I am mostly touched on the handwritten letter, it’s my first time receiving one.

I walked back at the café and hugged my brother, my parents were surprised for the sudden hug coming from me. I can see their affectionate eyes and went towards us and make a bigger group hug—as we stay in that position the fireworks in our neighborhood starts to pop off one by one and we hurry and get our ‘punks’, a firework that looks like an incense.

We are just inside because we don’t want to smell all it gases it emitted from the air so we decided to stay inside and open the exhaust fan.

I sighed and smiled as I remember that fruitful day that I unexpectedly happened and for the new year this year, sadly, I’ll be celebrating it with my new family in my dream city. I don’t know what will happen or how it will turn out but it will still be happening.

“Aryn!” Cosette yelled from the outside and I just replied. “I’m coming!” and went outside not minding the reason he didn’t gave it to me exactly the time of Christmas day. His embarrassment about this thing will remained a memory but that’s also the reason that I am being confident to go out and see what I am wearing. I’ll be proud to tell other people that it’s from my brother.

“Well,” Auntie stared at it again for a meantime and continued. “Your brother has a taste!” as I told them proudly. I glared at Cosette who is on the edge of laughing her ass out because of my beautiful outfit.

“Are you sleeping with that?” she asked. I just gave her a much more intense glare and said. “Yes, why? Do we have a problem here?”

“No!” she replied, shaking her head.

“Good!”

My auntie just deep breath and shakes her head as she witnesses again our playful conversation, but gladly she just being cool, but when you do it to someone’s daughter even though it’s your relatives can start a war. I’m talking about the Linton’s, Dem’s relatives are so sensitive and a bit of no humor not like Dem’s family that loves dark humor. I realized that maybe I get some bits of their dark humor.

“So what’s your plan tonight?” auntie changed the topic and asked me as we eat.

“I might start continuing what I did on the company earlier,” I replied.

Cosette nudged me and asked, “Is it hard?”

I glanced up and think about her question and minding what I feel about my work and then answered her, “Honestly, it is pretty hard and very new on what I did in my OJT!”

“Really? Why?”

“The company I am in have a different system,” I told her and explained to her about this so called ‘different system’. She gasped and seems amused as I am. well, I like the idea but its new.

“That’s so awesome!” she exclaimed. “Indeed! So…uhm...where do you plan to join?”

“A company? hmm…Levitate also?” she whispered but her mom actually heard it and snap. “Don’t tell me you will go there to find the guy you just met!”

“Mom, of course no!” she argued. A guy she met? Is she dating? Or is it…Tristan—because Tristan is a famous rookie and no wonder how she knew him at all.

“Is it Tristan?” I tried to give out some names but then her mom shifted her eyes on me. “Tristan? I think I heard it somewhere.”

“oh auntie, its actually—” I was cut as Cosette choked on her food. I don’t know if she did it purposely or not to stop what I am saying, I find out as she stepped on my foot hard while her mom is went in the kitchen to get her a glass of water.