The Longest Weekend [Part 5]

For Non-members of Medium, you can freely read HERE

This is Part 5 of a Short Story about a chance encounter between two wounded souls over an enchanting weekend.

Read again Part 4 (Click the Link Below)

The Longest Weekend [Part 4]

This is Part 4 of a Short Story about a chance encounter between two wounded souls over an enchanting weekend.

medium.com

Once again, with their heads somehow leaning on their knees, they were just staring at each other. He was the second man to have stared at her this close. There was something in his eyes that made her want to believe in something once more, something she was still oblivious to. Somehow, she envied him. She wanted to be in his shoes and feel way freer than how she was now. She felt so weak and selfish next to him. This man had been through so much, yet here he was, beside her, so alive and so full of control.

For him, there was no better moment than this. Her fragile self seemed to exude more hope and more spirit than he could ever hope for in his lifetime. For two days since he met her, he realized, he had been at his most alive. One single spot missed, and he could have been somewhere else or with someone else right now. Or maybe, even found his way back to the mountains. But there was no way he could imagine not being with her now. With this little woman who, with her tiniest of smiles, could give him an ocean of emotions. And now, with her staring back at him, it was nothing short of heaven.

While her gaze never left, she was just silently listening to the breeze from afar. Suddenly, she felt the undeniable warmth beneath her skin. Without cutting his gaze, he reached for her left hand, which was resting on the sand. He lightly placed his hand just above hers. Except for the fear that she might move away, he couldn’t think of anything. But all the fears faded when he felt her hands open to welcome his palm. Gently, her tiny, soft fingers entwined with his so effortlessly. It was the most beautiful dance any body parts had done. Almost losing control, he tenderly held onto hers tighter, tight enough to let her feel that he wasn’t going anywhere. And as if she heard what his eyes and touch were telling her, she pressed back onto his hand and said, “Thank you for everything!” Without a sound, he just nodded.

For minutes, they just sat and held hands, allowing the serene beauty of the moment to conquer their souls until the sky turned starless. A light drizzle made them stand up and hurriedly run towards her cottage. They laughed again. Then silence. Then they laughed a little more. He lightly patted her elbow to brush the sand off and bade farewell. Scared to say anything that would spoil the night, her impulse made her move towards him and tenderly pop her arms around his waist to hug him gently. It was too quick that he was not able to hug back, yet it lingered in him. He saw her walk towards her door. She entered, turned to him, and nodded for the last time. He heard himself sigh. The last few hours gave him the heaviest of emotions that he had not felt in years. Now, he felt empty inside. Walking back towards his room, he could still smell her. And as he tucked himself into sleep, he could still feel her hands on his.

She woke up to the sound of birds chirping from outside. She realized she had forgotten to close the bay window she had been leaning against moments before Derek’s departure. The open window invited in the sea breeze, which had likely contributed to her perfect sleep. Glancing at the sun high in the sky, she checked her watch on the night table. It read 9:45 AM. Just the right time, she mused, finding herself reluctant to leave the comfort of her bed. Memories of her sweet moments with Derek brought a smile to her face. Everything about that night felt like scenes straight out of a movie. However, she reminded herself not to dwell too much on it, knowing she was still in love with someone else — or at least, she liked to believe she was. “He’s not going to be here for long,” she sighed, feeling a pang of ache deep within her.

Gathering her bathing essentials, she noticed a note by her door and picked it up to read.

“A sunshiny morning, isn’t it? It’ll be great to spend time under it. I’ll be waiting in the lobby for you when you’re ready. See you later…”

Part of her brain cautioned her not to get too excited about what was happening. But this was precisely why she was here — to enjoy, laugh, converse, meet people, and experience life outside the gloom she had been hesitant to emerge from. Setting the note down, she proceeded to the bathroom.

It was just a few minutes before 11 o’clock when she arrived at the lobby. Sitting on one of the lounge chairs, she scanned the area for Derek but didn’t spot him. Suddenly, she turned to her right and found herself face to face with a bouquet of peach gerberas adorned with hints of baby’s breath. Looking up, she met Derek’s beaming face.

“I wasn’t so sure if these were the right flowers you mentioned last night, but I hope you’ll like them,” he said.

She felt almost scared to take them from him. This was the first time she had received gerberas from anyone. Kyle had sent her countless expensive bouquets of roses before, but never gerberas. And Derek had indeed chosen the right color — a delicate blend of peach and light pink, complemented by tiny white and purple asters. Touched beyond words, she hesitated for a moment before accepting them from him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“They’re so beautiful,” she remarked, unable to tear her eyes away from the gerberas. She held them dear, even after they were placed in the van. Though she knew Derek’s gesture was likely just a simple, sweet gesture from a man she barely knew, she couldn’t help but be awed by it. “They are true,” Derek agreed. “When I saw them, they immediately reminded me of you.”

“I’ve always thought they represented me too,” she replied. “I just wish I were as pretty as they are. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m perfectly content being myself. I’m happy the way I am, even if sometimes I tend to sound like I’m complaining a lot.”

“You should be happy being you,” Derek reassured her. “You’re just as perfect as you are. I’m sure he felt lucky to have you, no matter the reason he’s not with you right now.”

It felt comforting to be near this man, she thought. It wasn’t just his kind words but also the familiar feelings and memories from her not-so-distant past that she no longer hesitated to revisit. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this wasn’t healthy — to be with someone and occasionally see another face in him. “Where are we going, anyway?” she asked.

“Will that be your first question?” he teased.

“Oh, no! Of course not!” she defended, to his amusement.

“So, you better not ask questions if you want to save them up for something else,” he reminded her.

“Oh, I see,” she paused, pondering his words.

“Nah, you can ask anything. I’ll know when those questions are popped, anyway. So don’t worry,” he reassured her.

As they drove, she noticed rice fields stretching out on both sides of the road, with the rolling hills of Bohol in the distance, resembling large molehills side by side. She glanced at Derek.

“You wanted this, right?” he reminded her.

“You didn’t have to…” she began.

“Ssshhh… we know you wanted to,” he interrupted gently, lightly rubbing her chin with his thumb. And so they continued to fulfill her day’s wishes, as she had mentioned the night before.

They reached the highest peak in the entire island province. Despite the jacket she had brought, she still felt the cold, while he remained comfortable in his plain white shirt as if it were the hottest summer he had ever experienced. He would rub his palms together and place them on her face or hold her hands to give her enough warmth to stay a bit longer. They took pictures of each other and had others take shots of them together. A few groups of local and foreign tourists were also present at the site.

“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t high enough to touch the sky,” he lamented.

“What are you talking about? It’s beautiful up here. I could almost touch the clouds. See?” she joked, moving her arms around the misty surroundings.

The sight of her turning around innocently reminded him of himself when he first saw the Grand Canyon. It was the first time he felt freely happy. He can stare at her like this until she gets tired.

After stopping for lunch at a restaurant along the way, he led her to a famous hanging bridge. It took a bit of coaxing to get her to walk the entire length of the bridge. He felt the faint tremble of her cold hands against his own. When they reached the middle, he motioned for them to sit down. She seemed hesitant, but he gently guided her to a seat, letting their legs dangle over the edge, pointing towards the river below. There was no one else around, which made her feel both nervous and grateful. Nervous because they were suspended in the middle of a bridge made of ropes, with no one nearby to help if something went wrong; grateful because the bridge didn’t sway unsettlingly as it often did when crowded. But then, it did sway a little, prompting a startled scream from her that echoed through the serene surroundings.

He tried to suppress his laughter as he felt her grip tighten around his arm. She chuckled nervously, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Relax,” he said reassuringly. “This bridge has been here for ages without any accidents. Besides, we’re perfectly safe.”

“Well, except for today, when two geniuses decided to sit in the middle of a rope bridge,” she retorted sarcastically, which only amused him further.

“Here, try not to look straight down. Just sit up straight. Look at that point over there, do you see it? Now, close your eyes slowly,” he instructed gently.

In the ensuing silence, she fought the urge to open her eyes and flee. But something inside told her she was safe. Gradually, the sound of the river reached her ears, like a soothing melody. She felt herself becoming one with the river, flowing freely along its course, brushing against the lilies on the banks, diving into its depths. She surrendered to the sensation until she felt a warm touch on her cheek, and she opened her eyes to find Derek wiping away a tear.

Quietly, they made their way back to the van. He let her walk ahead, feeling a pang of guilt for bringing her there. It was as if he was reopening her wounds. Lost in thought, he lagged, until he felt a gentle hand slip into his own. Looking down, he saw her tiny hand, carrying his effortlessly. She had a powerful effect on him. She smiled at him, and he nodded, grateful for her understanding as they walked hand in hand.

After spending a few hours visiting all the places on their itinerary, he led her to a small park. It was populated mostly by local people, with children running around energetically. She noticed an old church nearby but trusted her companion to lead them to something enjoyable.

“Here,” he said, moving behind her and covering her eyes with his hands.

“What’s going on?” she asked, sounding concerned.

“Just a little surprise for you,” he replied, gently guiding her forward with his hands on her waist. After a few steps, he released her and uncovered her eyes.

Before her lay a picnic set, complete with a blanket large enough for two. On it were a basket filled with her favorite chocolates and sweets, another basket containing siomai and dumplings from her beloved Dimsum Restaurant, and soda cans. And just when she thought she couldn’t be any more delighted, he revealed a familiar-looking book: her favorite novel, The Lost Valentine. Her reaction was a mix of joy and tears; she had received a paperback copy as a freebie from Hallmark but lost it during her first month at work. She had been unable to find another copy since it had limited distribution.

She allowed herself to sink onto the picnic blanket, clutching the novel tightly. She vowed never to lose it again. Across from her, Derek was unpacking some of the dim sum treats. Without hesitation, she embraced him, holding him tightly until she finally let go and asked, “Why? Why are you doing all this?”

“And yes, that’s my first question.”

“Maybe for selfish reasons,” he began. “I like the feeling of helping people, of making them smile. When I first saw you smile at me, I wanted to see it all the time. So, I promised myself that I would do whatever I could to keep that smile on your face for as long as possible.”

“Still, you didn’t have to. When I told you about all the things I wanted to do today, I didn’t mean for them to happen right away,” she said, still feeling unworthy of his gestures.

“Come on. You said you wanted to buy your favorite flowers, visit a place closest to heaven, try something scary yet peaceful, and eat all your favorite street food and chocolates. None of that was too difficult, except for finding that book. The man I asked to look for it last night almost gave up. You should thank him instead of me.”

“This book means so much to me. It helped me hold onto hope for love. The story is about having faith in the love you share with someone special, even in the face of distance and waiting indefinitely,” she shared.

“I’d love to hear more about the story,” he said.

“Your wife is incredibly lucky to have you,” she confessed, filled with admiration.

They shared a meaningful gaze before he offered her a siomai. The food was surprisingly delicious, and they enjoyed a light meal together in the park. She read some of her favorite lines from the novel to him, and they exchanged thoughts about them. As twilight approached, they decided to return to the resort, already feeling full from the Dimsum and agreeing to skip dinner.

That was Part 5 of this short story. Click below to read Part 6.

The Longest Weekend [Part 6]

This is Part 6 of a Short Story about a chance encounter between two wounded souls over an enchanting weekend.