Film of Love

Treize

After spending so much in a peaceful town, wherein sounds we can hear are the birds chirping from its nest and different shades of leaves are falling in the same slanted direction. Aryn is waking up firstly in the middle of a bustling city. Aryn finds it difficult not because of people it’s because of the car’s uproarious sound.

Aryn grunted as she stretched out her muscles and limbs. That’s is the first thing she do when she woke up. It’s become a habit since she is a former athlete. Back then in Honfleur she always does a morning job, every morning is she don’t sleep late because if she does she is hard to wake up and will feel lazy. Alarm clocks don’t work for her anymore and the only person who knows her very well can do the waking up tricks to her and that’s what Dem always does.

Speaking of Dem, she thinks about how she is or is she arrived at her hotel now? Without further to do she take out her phone and message Dem, a “good morning!” and “how are you?”. That will be her starter in conversion between Dem and her.

About a minute, she received a video call from her friend.

“Hello?” she greeted.

“Hello!” Dem replied as fast as she can. “I’m feeling great right now.”

“Are you answering the questions I send?” she uttered in disbelief.

“Uh-huh!” she just replied.

“Are you eating?” she asked curiously.

“Why? You want?”

“Lucky for you!” she just replied. She sensed that Dem may tease her if she answers it honestly.

“Hmm! That does not sound like you!” she seems to sense it. She smirked and shook her head in disbelief.

“I’m just genuinely saying!” she said as she emphasized the word “genuinely” to make her realize that she meant it.

“How’s the hotel food?”

“It’s fine! I’m actually on the balcony!”

“Yeah, I can tell that!” she said, feeling jealous over the fact that she has a balcony while she only has a window.

“Do you have a roommate?”

“Yeah, He is-”

She cut Dem from speaking and asked, “He? As in male?” She is much surprised on this than the fact that she has a balcony

“Just kidding!” Dem said. She is seriously just joking around her friend. Anytime, anywhere if Dem finds a time to fool around she will do it and you will be as surprised just like Aryn.

“My goodness, Dem!” she complains as she placed her hand in her heart feeling her racing and pounding hard, heartbeats.

“I thought they paired you up with a guy!” she said. “I am filing a complaint to the ministers.”

“Calm down, babe!” she said trying to make Aryn calm down her heart out. “My couch, she just laughed at you!”

“Oh, really?” she asked which made her more embarrassed than what she is feeling right now.

“Don’t worry, Aryn! I’ll take care of your sister here!” Dem’s coach and Aryn’s former coach yelled.

“Good heavens! What a start of a day!”

“Surprise!~” Dem sang. As she ate her French toast as her breakfast.

“I’m jealous!” Aryn brought out her inner feelings about this whole situation. Dem answered, “Why?”

“Well, when I was competing I don’t have that kind of treatment,” she opened up her childish thoughts.

Her former coach comes into the frame and said, “Well, that time there is no big company who sponsor in our town that time. We took this opportunity and hope for the best to all our athletes.”

“I understand!” she said. “That’s a childish thought of mine. I’m sorry!”

“Don’t be! As your former coach, I understand how you felt and you also prove that even there is no huge sponsorship like this you always bring us home a treasure and pride.” Her coach’s words made her cheer up at the same time sad. Figure skating is such a fun, and memorable experience for January. She felt alive whenever she plays the sport. She suddenly remembers how her name January loved by everyone. January is the 1st month of the year and in evaluations, she is on the top list of being qualified for a competition, which makes her name connected with that. Besides the connection, she also felt a huge pressure in her back as she always need to do her best.

“It’s sad and at the same time, it’s a pity that you don’t experience this. Alas! Whatever your choice in your path we will support you our no. 1, our January!” Her coach's heart-warming words made her tear up. All those memories, the sadness, the laughter, the smiles, and the screams flashes in her mind.

Does cheers whenever she landed perfectly from a double or even a triple axel, those smiles whenever her names were being called. The laughter sounds beautiful whenever they practiced or teased each other’s mistakes. She felt and think that she will never feel it again anymore. She is hoping that she and her name will be written in the history books. The youngest to take home a gold medal in the Olympics years ago. She never knew that what she hoped for, came true.

The only thing she is will leave is her name and her outstanding performance. the call ended a bit faster because they were called to attend the conference for this year’s Olympic competition.

She also decides to wash her face and go out of her room.

---

“Good morning, Auntie and Cosette!” I greeted them. Auntie Melinda was in front of the stove while Cosette was sitting at the table holding her phone. She waved at me and instructed me to come and sit beside her.

She is so cute, I’d say. She is wearing a cute, fluffy pinkish hairband with a stuffed animal on it. She looks young and cute as she wears no make-up. How I wish I look like that.

“Is that your face when you woke up?” she asked. I am not sure if I’ll be happy or shocked or offended. I just thought about how could I have that kind of morning face.

“Why?”

“It’s just that it looks beautiful and clean,” I tried to hide my smile as she complimented me, but I need to return a compliment.

I said, “You look pretty...”

“Really?”

“Pretty ugly!” I burst out laughing at her face. She is now standing while pouting because her mom also laughed at my joke.

“HAHAHA-I’m just kidding!”

“Oh? That’s so funny!” she sarcastically responds with a fake laugh.

“Don’t you guys observe how close we are now?” Auntie pointed out from the kitchen. Yes, I observed it too.

“Yes, mom!” she said. She was astonished beyond a doubt that we all become close like a few minutes. Like I just arrived yesterday but it feels like I’m living here in their apartment for a decade now.

“I think all of us are compatible but I don’t even know your age!” I exclaimed. I never know anything about her except her name and her mother’s name.

“How about we play the rock-paper-scissors game?”

“that’s boring!”

“you didn’t even let me finish,” I said. “If someone wins she gets the chance to ask what she wants to know about her.”

“Oh!~” she murmured under her breath but still can be heard.

“Well, let’s do it!”

“In the count of One! Two! Three! Rock-paper-scissors!” I began.

I pulled out rock and she pulled out scissors. I got the chance to ask her a question.

“Whats…your age?”

“One year younger than you!” she said.

“Really? That’s why you look way younger than me.”

“Thanks for the compliment!”

“Yeah, whatever!”

This time she pulled out paper and I still pulled out rock.

“Alright! Seems like it’s your turn!”

“What is your favorite season? And why?”

“Winter?”

“You hesitate!” she pointed at me.

“No? it is my way of answering, though!” I excused.

“Why?”

“Is that also came with your question?”

“Of course!”

“Well, it’s because it’s the only time I can skate outdoor under the lights of the stars because the water in the river freezes up and hardened that we can skate above it.”

“Really? Are you perhaps a figure skating?”

“That’s enough woman!” I stopped her because her turn is finished as soon as we answer the question.

We played that game a few times until breakfast was served. I learn new things and personalities, same for her. After a hard breakfast, we ate I volunteer to wash the dishes. Her mother also spread out chores and Cosette was so happy that she has some chores moved out from her list and was given to me. I accepted it as it’s the way I see paying them.

After I finished washing the plates and cleaning the countertops and the table, I went back to my room to get a warm shower. I’m on my way to the bathroom when Tristan texted me if I could meet him, and I said yes. He told me that he will be waiting below.

I finished all my work, I proceeded to the living room and told Auntie that I’ll be leaving and seeing the man he saw yesterday. She allowed me but she want me to text her which I will do.

I finally arrived on the ground floor and even before I can text him, he spotted me immediately.

“Good morning, Aryn!” he asked. “How do you feel?”

“It feels new but at the same time felt great,”

“Alright! That’s good to hear!” he said and nodded his head. “We can continue this when we are in the car.”

“Where are we going anyway?”

“Well, you’ll see!” He said as we fasten our seatbelts and drive away from the apartment. I can’t wait as I have so many questions and advice I want to hear from my dear friend, Tristan.