An Unfinished Story…

A short story I wrote while I was waiting for my hunny... Someday, I will write a book... Someday...

An unfinished story…

“It has been two weeks already since she last cried…”

This was the thought that lingered in her mind as she sat on the bench, listening to the sound of flowing water from a fountain nearby.

She was all alone. Though in an unfamiliar place, she found it comfortable sitting along the length of a wooden bench, feeling the wind as it touched her face and blew her wispy hair around her head. It was refreshingly windy that afternoon and it created a serene and somewhat surreal feeling around her. Maybe it was because of the ambiance created by the nearby coastal area… or maybe it was just the lack of sleep inducing a hypnotic state.

Though peaceful as it seems, she was still focused on her fingers. She always had that undesirable habit of digging her fingernails into her cuticles and the skin around her nails, creating multiple hangnails and small bleeding nicks and wounds. Her fingertips looked raw and abused. She is well aware of this habit and she also knows she does this, immersed in subconscious state, when in deep thought, troubled or anxious about something.

Though her eyes were weary and in need of slumber, her mind was incredibly alert. Everytime the sound of footsteps grew louder, her eyes gazes up to catch a glimpse of a face, hoping it was someone familiar.

Ayahnla was waiting for someone.

When she realized that she was alone again, she snapped back to her previous thought.

“It seems like it has been a long time since I cried. But it has only been two weeks.”

Two weeks… two weeks yet something inside her warned her of an upcoming storm. Something in her heart stirred with hints of sadness and fear of the unkonwn… something that tried to fill her chest and choke her breath until her eyes felt damp.

Her eyes were drying up because of the strong breeze. But at that moment, she felt them blinking fast and trying to prevent a tear or two to come out.

“Stop being so melodramatic!” Ayahnla was telling that to herself. “You’re a big girl now. You should be more logical and objective.”

It was a good try, but no matter how much “self-uplifting” words she comes up with, the same emotions are bothering her. And with this thought, the sound of Mak’s voice echoed over and over again…

“I want to consider this option because I want us to start already. It is for our future and I want to be with you for the rest of my life… though I don’t want to be away from you. I love you hun.”

His words were trying to comfort her. But Ayahnla’s mind was already focused on the part where they will be away from each other for a long time…

Ayahnla shuddered. She was trying to whisk away that thought. She knows that Mak was making sense. All she had to do was swallow the painful thought of being away from each other… of not feeling each other’s embrace… of missing the soft caresses, sweet kisses and the warmth of each other’s complimenting smiles…

Ayahnla snapped back to reality when she heard footsteps coming her way. She looked up to see if it was him. It was just the janitor passing by. It was a close call… she doesn’t want him to see her like this.

She looked at her watch and saw it was already four in the afternoon. Mak said the meeting will be over by around this time. With all the strength left within her, she sat upright, fixing her blouse and her hair. She wiped her eyes with her fingers and took a deep breath.

As soon as she fixed herself up, she heard footsteps going her way again. This time, there was a certain cadence to it, like it was almost running. And even without looking, she knew it was him.

“Hi hun,” Mak said with a concerned tone. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As they walked to a nearby mall, they talked about Mak’s decision on whether to leave or not. After laying out all the cards on the table, He asked her, “Do you want me to go?”

Ayahnla was silent. But in her mind it was chaos. In her mind, it sounded like her voice was saying 100 different things all at the same time. She could barely process what she wanted to say. Her silence was the direct opposite of what’s running deep in her thoughts. She can’t bare to look at him because she knows she would cry.

“If it is for us, I don’t want to hinder you from it.” Ayahnla slowly answered.

“No! I don’t want you to go.” The voice in her mind echoed.

“It is for the best, right? I want us to start too.” She added.

“Please don’t go. I don’t want to be away from you.” The voice in her mind added.

They were walking side by side while they talked, with their fingers entwined with each other. Ayahnla could feel Mak’s grip tightening with each answer. Somehow, she felt that it was his way of saying that he knows how she feels.

For how long were they silently walking, Ayahnla could not remember. No more word has been said, yet it seemed that they were silently talking to each other… silently comforting each other.

“No one and nothing will come between us.” Mak whispered to her ears as he stopped and looked in her eyes. “Always remember that. Nothing is for certain right now. It’s either I will leave or not. But no matter what happens, I’m with you…”

Ayahnla looked in his sad eyes and saw that he meant everything that he said. Somehow, what Mak said made her feel better. But deep in her heart, there was still an undeniable feeling of sadness.

The skies were a bit dim that afternoon. It  was a warning of an upcoming rain. Yet throught the clouds, there was a ray of sunlight shining down, casting faint shadows of builings and poles… and of two people in a tight embrace.

...

 With lots of drama,