The Life of Her

He Caught Him

I saw her tears as she silently wailed during nights before she sleeps. How long are you going to suffer? I wanted to ask her, but my feet were glued on the grounds. I was a coward – a man who’s still in his zone. I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I didn’t protect you.

A Flashback: The Day He Saw Everything

“What’s taking you so long, Trent?” Mother asked as she kept knocking on my door. Her voice raised.

Dad invited us for dinner in Hotel de Fuentes. We’re going to celebrate their wedding anniversary there. We decided to go with our own to the hotel, since dad’s workplace is far and he’ll surely get caught in the heavy traffic later on. I wrapped my scarf carefully around my neck. I was wearing my red sleeves and fitted jeans.

I opened the door for her and there I saw how beautiful she was. Mom was wearing an old rose, lacy dress, paired with her black high heels. Her lips were patched red and her accessories were even good on her. She was dazzling. He blinked at me twice as I stared at her.

“Is there something on my face, son?” She anxiously asked.

“No, Mom. You’re beautiful.” I smiled and hugged her.

She was shocked by the sudden compliment that her cheeks reddened. She chuckled and hugged me back. “Thank you, my Trent.”

“Are you feeling better?” She added and placed my scarf properly.

“Yes. I just took my meds a while ago. I just hope I won’t get colds again this night.” I joked around.”

“You shouldn’t.” She patted my head. I offered her my arm and she gently wrapped her hand around it. I assisted her in walking down the stairs up to our garage. Mom immediately went inside the car, started the engine as I opened the gate for her. She drove outside and parked over the side.

She waited for me.

I locked our house and made sure that all the windows and doors were closed, especially the gate. I hurriedly paced to her and took myself in the passenger seat. She turned on the radio on and we listened to some country song – she was quite a fan of that thing. The heavens were dark, birds started to move around.

People started to hurry, moving back to their houses. The wind was blowing hard from outside. Dried leaves rushed on the streets together with the dust. Dogs began to howl.

“This going to be a night of raining.” Mom commented, locking her graze on the road.

I turned my head and looked over the window. We just passed the abandoned house. It still creeped me out even I saw it already a couple of times.

“It is surely. Is the hotel just near, Mom?” I asked her.

“Probably it will take us about thirty minutes to get there. I just hoped we won’t get stuck in a traffic.” Mom replied.

I opened my brown bag, which got a lot of pockets on its side. It was the thing I usually wear before when I go to school. Searching inside, I grabbed a bar of chocolate which I brought yesterday.

It’s been a year when we moved out here, and it was fine.

The air is fresh, people were friendly, the traffic is just a bit of a jammed. Yet, mom is hoping that I could make a lot of friends in our neighborhood and not just online. I pouted. I opened it and munched it slowly. I missed this taste. It was our favorite. During our childhood, Lucas would use to go every day in that store, would ask the cashier if it’s available and would buy a box of it.

I was enjoying it when, Mom suddenly stepped on the break. I looked at the road and saw a woman, in her forties, wearing a long green dress suddenly crossed. She was wearing a black scarf and dark shades. Her lips were bright red. She wasn’t looking at us, instead, she kept her gaze on what’s in front of her.

“What’s wrong with that woman? The light is still one.” Mom pointed over the red light and horned.

The woman didn’t turn her head. I guessed she can’t hear us also. I held Mom’s arm. “I think she cannot hear us, Mom.”

In a moment, Mom realized what I was talking about. It has also begun to rain. People rushed on the street, trying to find shelter. Umbrellas were now opened. It was beautiful. My pen suddenly fell on my feet. I bent over and directly grabbed it.

As I slowly raised my head, the woman vanished in our sight. The street was empty. I glanced over the pathways and there was no one to be found. It’s like all of them disappeared in a single snap. Mom also did notice and she was deeply yearned.

She’s not crazy. We are not.

She turned to look back and identified the same vehicles that were following us. I saw her shrugged in her seat as she brushed her fingers through her hair.

“I guessed they just ran as fast as they can so they won’t get wet with the rain, right? Yeah, you’re right, Kristen.” She blew.

“You’re right, Mom.”

I forced myself to believe that they just paced somewhere in different directions that they suddenly vanished and it was not a phenomenon. I gulped. The light turned green and immediately, Mom drove to our destination.

The rain was getting heavy. Her phone rang suddenly. It was Dad. She answered the call and we listened to him.

“Hello there, Hon. Are you going? I’m currently going out of my office. I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Yes, we’re on our way. Please don’t get yourself wet in the rain. Did you bring the jacket I asked you to in the morning?”

“Yeah. It’s here. I’ll call you back again when I’m near.”

Dad ended up the call and we continued to drive. Mom was smiling during our trip. She surely is excited. She drove fast and she was right– thirty minutes in order for us to arrive. Luckily, we weren’t stuck in a traffic.

By the time we arrived in Hotel de Fuentes, the rain had stopped. Mom put on her astounding, spotless shoal around her shoulder. I opened her door and offered her to carry her peculiar, furry white pouch.

Mom told me that it’s the same place where they met each other during their high school years. It was a competition, and Mom and Dad were one of the candidates representing different schools. Mom shared that when Dad took a glance on her, it was love at first sight. I chuckled. They were lovers back then. Dad used to visit her during lunchbreaks and would pick her up when she’s done with school. And so, the rest is history.

Her phone rang again and she immediately answered it.

“Hello, dear. Are you near?” She asked.

I heard a soft chuckle from the other line and I saw Mom’s face blushed. I smiled beside her. I let them have their moment and just glancing in different directions.

The air was cold and I could clearly see the waves moved back and forth below the stars and moon. It was 6:30 in the evening.

Hotel de Fuentes is one of the wonderful, seaside hotels in this place. It was my second time around here, yet I’m still amazed with its intricate designs from their rooms, hallways, restaurant and most especially the ballroom.

I saw someone moved from the distance. It was a guy wearing a fitted grey V-neck shirt and black pants. He’s carrying a box of cake as he glanced over his right shoe. A woman, clothed in her lacy blue dress just passed him, holding a bouquet of blue roses, and patted his back. They smiled to each other. I tried to narrow my sight and somehow recognized his face. Is it him?

I moved several steps away from Mom and mesmerized by the sea for a minute and the moon’s reflection on it. It was peaceful. I closed my eyes and felt the cold breeze slowly wrapping itself around me. I glanced again at him but he was gone and thought that he just went inside the hotel.

Mom just finished her call with Dad. I heard her walked to me. She slowly wrapped her arms around me and gently leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Having a good time?” She asked.

I nodded silently and brushed my fingers through her hair. “Is Dad coming, Mom?”

“Yes. He’s coming. He’ll be here at any moment, he’s just in the middle of the traffic currently. He told me that we’ll take a look at the menu and order what we like first.”

I looked at her. “Is that so?”

“Yep. Let’s head inside. I don’t want you to get a cold.” She looked over the sea and breathed the fresh air. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I smiled. “You go ahead, Mom. I think I just saw Lucas entering the hotel. I’ll catch up to you okay? Or, I’ll just call you.” I gave her bag back to her, kissed her on the forehead and started to walk.

“Are you sure, Trent? Wear your scarf properly. Get inside directly once you’re done talking with your cousin, okay?” She worriedly uttered.

I chuckled and waved my hand high. “I’ll sure do, Mom. Take care of yourself. I’ll be back.”

I paced myself in my cousin’s direction, hoping that he’s still there and that it’s him. I turned my head in an instant and saw Mom getting inside the hotel. The parking lot was already filled. I saw the security guard attentively roaming around, holding still his baton. Post lights began to shine in different directions. I heard the birds twitted harmoniously.

I glanced over the cars, hoping to see my cousin’s presence, not until someone pocked me by the back of my shoulder. I turned my head and saw a spine-chilling, wide grin from him. I straightway took a step away from him, as I heard my heart pounding loud. What the hell is wrong with him?!

I felt my face went pallid. The moment he saw my unreadable expression, he vigorously surged in laughter, holding still his stomach. I took a deep sigh and made a poker face. Crossing my arms, I waited for him to cool down.

He was catching his breath and tried to look at me directly. “Y-You…You could have seen yourself in the mirror, bro!”

“Oh, yeah? How about this-”I immediately grabbed him and flicked his forehead and tickled him on his sides.

“A-aahh! S-Stop that!”

Now I was the one laughing at him. Then, I stopped when I heard him telling me like he’s about to pee himself in his pants.

He was catching his breath again as he bent down, hands both on his knees. He sweated.

“You’re unbelievable!” He punched me by the shoulder.

I sneered. “You started it first. By the way,” I glanced over the window where I can see a bit of what’s happening inside the ballroom. They were many guests who’re wearing their dazzling long gowns, stilettoes, high-heeled shoes, bows and sleeves. The stage was filled with balloons and flowers, as well as the pathway. “What’s going on inside there?” I asked him.

He gazed to where I was gawking at, and pointed his thumb. “Oh that. It’s my friend’s birthday. I was somehow expecting that he will only be celebrating his day at his house.” He chortled.

“Is that it?”

“Mhm. How about you? Why are you in a sudden outfit tonight? It’s not your type.” He teased.

“It’s Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary.” I answered.

“Really?! That’s good to know. I’m happy for them and send my regards to Auntie and Uncle, okay?” He glimpsed at his back and saw a girl in her scarlet turtle neck dress, looking in our direction, patiently waiting for him as she stood in the entrance door. She waved her hand to us and smiled sweetly.

I saw Lucas blushed as he recognized her. Here we go again.

He looked at me, now with a red face and sparkling eyes as if he had seen a goddess. Way to go my dear cousin. I patted him on his back. “I obviously understand you. You have to go and don’t miss the spot on the runway!” I slapped his butt to make him moved.

“Take care, bro.”

“Likewise.”

We laughed at each other. Lucas led himself to the young lady while I waited for them to get inside. When I couldn’t trace them, I stared over a couple who was taunting with each other beside a car, below the post.

The woman gracefully wrapped her arms around the man as she placed small, feverish kisses on his cheeks down to his lips and neck. She was wearing a black leathered jacket paired with her tight, glossy leggings and a wedge shoes.

She has a sleek body and a pretty face. The man chuckled and was enjoying their time, but then he was anxious - kept on peering in different directions.

He suddenly devoured the woman's lips and gave her a wild, deep French kiss. I bit my lip and felt awkward as I saw them. I was about to leave the place when I heard the man's voice.

"I can't wait to bring you home." He said with his husky voice.

The woman flirtingly giggled, tracing her long fingers on his chest. "I'll wait for that. You should go, your wife is probably waiting for you." I saw her rolled her eyes.

The man laughed a bit, but it was frigid. "Maybe one more minute will do." He clasped her face and they do it again, now panting between their salacious kisses. His hand traveled on her lap, raising her shirt a bit, so he could feel her flesh. I heard her moaned.

I felt my ears reddened together with my cheeks, but as soon as a car suddenly flashed its lights in their direction, as it passed, anger rushed through me like a striking blast.

"Let's have fun again tonight, love."

"I bet you'll love to see me again on top of you."

"I'll bring your clothes."

"You sure she didn't see it?"

"Yes. You don't have to worry."

I clenched my hands and I began to walk to them - it was heavy and in my head, I was hoping that it's not him and it's just my wild imagination playing with me at the moment.

Every step was inane and arduous. Grinding my teeth, I stood in front of them. I saw clearly how he stopped kissing her, raising his head and looked in my direction. I saw how his eyes were alarmed as well as the woman's. She gasped as she tried to hide herself at his back.

I winced as I looked at her and gave in a dreadful smirk - disgusted.

"Dad..."