The Strangers' Matrimony

CHAPTER 2: Her Worldview

"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature"  - 1 Corinthians 2:6

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After eating her breakfast, Sophia went into the kitchen to check her supplies. With a pen and paper in hand, she started listing everything. She also went to the bathroom to look into her essentials and make-ups. 

Picking a small brown tube on her make-up kits, she scanned the expiration date of a Fair skin toned colored BB Cream. It was already due four years ago. “When was the last time I used this again?”, she asked, trying to recall the last usage of the cream.  

Giving up, she shrugged her shoulders and threw the tube in a small w*********h can underneath the bathroom sink. Next, she grabbed and opened the black square shaped foundation and saw a cracked face powder inside. There are even smudges that fell in the sink. She closes the lid and turn-upside down to see the expiration date which is one month ago. She dropped it in the trash can, too. 

She then checks one by one all of her lipsticks and realizes it’s in different tones of Red. She stopped and stared at it for a long time.

'It’s been a while', she thought. 

She segregated those who already have mold to those who haven’t and threw the molded ones. Five pieces left and she stares at it again. Sighing, she picks up the other two pieces and throws it, too. Keeping only three soft-toned red colored lipsticks, she returned it in the kit. She continues checking and throwing the other make-ups until she’s satisfied. She only keeps the basic make-ups. She listed a few and nodded after being sure that’s all she needs. 

She went into her bedroom to check her closet. She scanned her clothes and decided to choose a simple white chiffon blouse and brown square pants. She hung the clothes in a hanger and put them back inside. Next, she picked a pair of black jerseys and pants then closed the cabinet doors. She also opened and closed the mini drawer beside her closet to get undergarments.  

She walked back inside the bathroom and took a shower preparing before going to the grocery store.

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A morning breeze greeted Sophia as soon as she left her apartment building. Breathing in and feeling the cool wind gives her inner peace.  

She started walking on the busy sidewalk confidently while clutching her red rectangular leather wallet on right hand. She silently looked around her and noticed a few people doing their morning activities: exercising, biking, walking, chatting with other neighbors, opening their business stores, and so on.  

This is how she lives. She always finds herself unconsciously observing other people and it’s easy for her to read their moods in an instant. She doesn’t know why and how. It was already part of her system: to see people’s emotions. This is also one of the reasons why she often socializes because she can recognize those who have ill intentions towards her. Sadly, she already met a lot of them during her 30 years of living in this world, that's why she only kept genuine people around her. This is one of the darkest sides of the world that she can see through her eyes clearly.

She stopped on her tracks and noticed an elderly gray-haired couple chatting and laughing outside a Parisian style coffee shop called Félicité. 

“Good morning, Mrs. Mathieu”, greeted Sophia after walking towards the old woman who was busy wiping on one of the outdoor tables. “Mr. Mathieu ”, she added, looking at the old man busy sweeping the front of the shop.  

The two looked at her and smiled excitedly. “Oh! Sophia! It’s you”! replied Mrs. Mathieu with a delightful beam on her wrinkled face. 

“It’s good to see you around again, Lady”, added Mr. Mathieu, smiling with noticeable crow’s-feet in his eyes . 

“Oh, Mr. Mathieu! It’s been not too long since we last saw each other”, commented Sophia.

“No, two weeks without seeing you around is already too long enough”, corrected by the old man. 

Sophia politely smiles in defeat thinking maybe two weeks without getting outside her apartment is really long for those who always work outdoors. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mathieu are one of the people she genuinely kept around her. She found them too kind, caring and friendly. She remembered that the time she first met Mr. Mathieu was the same day she was deceived by an apartment's bogus seller. She bought and paid three months in advance for the unit that she found once thru online, but then later found out that she cannot contact the seller anymore. The worst thing, it’s also the day of her moving when she figured it out. During that time, she felt stressed and ashamed standing and talking with the real owner of the unit. The bogus seller posted a unit for sale of the other people’s property. 

Without knowing what to do next and having a little cash with her, she decided to search around the area. Together with the staff of the courier service company she contacted for her moving, they went to one coffee shop nearby to discuss any adjustments. She tried her best to stay calm in the situation and make a new arrangement when the courier service mentioned that they also had another schedule after her and needed to go. She wanted to cry at that point but then, an old man went near their table and greeted her. The old man volunteered himself to assist as he knew of an affordable apartment rental in the area. In despair, she agreed and then later found out that he’s the owner of the referred unit. At first, she thought she was deceived again by a business man, but then later realized that he is telling the truth as their apartment is truly the cheapest one. Also, having a long conversation with him helped her to know him more, realizing the person is really a kind one. She even met his thoughtful wife and daughter later at night after being invited to have dinner together with the family as a welcome greeting for her. Good thing her misfortune turns into a blessing in disguise that day. 

“Oh right! Sophia”, called Mrs. Mathieu reaching her left hand to hold. “I am planning to cook Boeuf Bourguignon tonight. Have dinner with us later, okay?”, she invited. 

Sophia smiles in gratitude. “Thank you, Mrs. Mathieu, but I already have a dinner appointment with my Grandma”, she replied.  

“Oh really! Then how about dinner tomorrow?”

“I’m meeting my best friend, too.”

“Good! Good!”, interrupted Mr. Mathieu. “It’s good to hear you’ll be going out tomorrow, too”, said he, smiling as if hearing good news. 

“Stop teasing him, Mon Mari”, commented by the old woman to her husband. 

“Come on, Ma Femme. Of course I’m not teasing her. It’s just that she needs to socialize more. She’s also not married yet I haven’t seen any guy visiting her place, too”, he said.

“It’s none of your business if she’s dating or not, okay.”

“But, she needs to get married soon so we can see cute little squishy munchkins running around here!”

Sophia laughed stiffly hearing these same lines every time she’s meeting Mr. Mathieu, he always asks when she will get married and have babies. “I’m not that desperate to get married quickly”, she answered honestly. 

The old man looked at her. “Don’t give up easily, Lady. You still had a chance to get married”.  

“I know I had, but I don’t want to rush on that thing. Choosing my future partner is the most important decision I am going to make in life so I am being careful of it”, explained Sophia. “Currently, I haven’t met anyone who had the same beliefs and moral values as me. Don’t worry if I meet someone you’ll be the first one to know”, she assured. 

The couple looked to each other first and at her, nodding their heads in unison and confirming they understood her.

“But, I will not stop reminding you of getting married as soon as possible”, stated Mr. Mathieu, stubbornly. 

“Stop it already”, reminded Mrs. Mathieu, shaking her head in disbelief.  

Sophia beamed at the old couple. Actually, she’s really considering getting married, too. She’s also aware that her calling is becoming a wife and mother of someone. But, the thing is that she still believes in traditional ways and waiting on God’s timing. She hated seeing people carelessly rushing into marriage then later living a nightmare with their partners. She also had a lot of acquaintances having the same dilemmas in marriage life later because they choose their partners based on physical appearance, status, peer pressure, and feeling lonely. She strongly believes that Attitude and Personality still matters the most as you will be married to the person’s soul and not what they have physically. 

Sophia’s attention was caught by someone waving at her from inside the shop’s cashier area. It was the couple’s daughter, Amélie, who she heard about getting married three months from now on. The brown-haired with a bob cut and slim woman is five years older than her. She waved back with a big smile as a greeting. 

“I’ll go ahead now”, said she softly squeezing the hand of Mrs. Mathieu in which the woman reciprocated in the same manner. 

“Where are you up to?” 

“In Supermarket to buy groceries?” 

“Well, be careful on your way, then. Have dinner with us sometime this weekdays”, reminded Mrs. Mathieu.

“I’ll check my schedule if I have free time”. 

“Don’t check”, interrupted Mr. Mathieu waving his left hand in dismissal. “Have dinner with us this coming Monday night”, he declared. 

Again, Sophia found herself in a position where other people are setting plans for her. She just smiled, not knowing what to say anymore. She’s knows that they are just concern on her social life, and if Mr. Mathieu decided on something, you’ll really be shy to say no to him. Sometimes she wondered if it is easy for all the other older people to dictate what someone needs to do in their life. Mr. Mathieu and her Grandma Susan are just the same. Is it because they already live long enough and have known what to do in handling life? She can’t help but to respect older people as she was raised that way, too.  

Sophia carefully let go of Mrs. Mathieu's hand and walked away while waving her hands towards the couple as goodbye. The two elders waved back at her, too. 

Old people really do have their own charisma. 

+++  To be continued  +++