Chapter 4: The Starting Point

Shocked travelled down to all her veins, it took her some time to fully digest everything served right before her eyes.

Contemplating. Thinking. Shocked.

She found herself driving her car. There was nothing she got except adrenaline, the rush of feelings and emotions and tensions combined is the only thing she can feel by the moment. Twisting the keys, starting the engine and she left the cafe in no time.

'Sir, where will I drop you?' the taxi driver asked.

'Where are we now, Sir?' he ignored the question and asked instead.

'Uhm we are currently passing through the Magsaysay Park.'

'The park. I'll get off here.'

'But Sir, it's late now, I think you should go home considering your condition.'

'Stop the car now. You do not know what I am capable of and what I am not, so do not tell me what to do.' answering in a hard manner the driver has no choice but to stop the taxi. He then paid for the fair.

Tall tress, dim lights, few people, little indigenous houses, he is quite familiar with the place for his family used to have picnics there on Sundays after attending the mass on San Pedro Church.

'Who want some hotdogs?'

'I want some, with mayo and ketchup please!'

'Okay, for a while. Here you go, son. Enjoy. Don't run too much.'

'Thanks Mom.'

Holding the hotdog sandwich carefully with his little fingers, he was about to take a big bite when someone pushed him from behind and accidentally dropped the hotdog, as he was about to cry, a girl offered him a lollipop. A girl with a bright smile met his eyes for the first time.

Laughters and giggles filled his memories as he travelled down memory lane. It was fun yet painful at the same time.

He suddenly bumped into something hard. He caressed its rough surface, suddenly wind came blowing and he heard the sound of the waves and smelled the scent of the ocean.

It was calling him, it is enticing, it is convincing, the little voices encouraged him to come nearer. The sand went from dry to wet. The sounds went from quite to loud and his feet is slowly reaching for the waves.

From his pants to his shirt, slowly and slowly got wet because of the ocean.

'Atleast, this dead end is not that 'dead' after all' then a smirk is drawn from his face.

'STOP!'

Panting. Heavy breathing. She is trying to cath her breath as she shouted the word.

'Sir, stop, don't move right there! I'll get you.'

'What? Who are you? Leave me alone!'

But she didn't listen. She removed her shoes and jumped in the water. It was cold as his stares but she didn't care, for all she have in mind is saving the cold hearted guy.

'Let go of me! Leave me alone!'

'Sir, I know you just got dumped by that woman in the cafe but you should not be doing this thing.'

'You heard us? And what do you know about us.'

'I may not know everything but whatever it is, it will never be an enough reason to end your life.'

He was puzzled.

'You just lost one woman, me, my puppy just died yesterday, he was everything to me, he makes my house feel like home, he just showered me with love I never received from someone before.'

'I lost a person, you just lost a pet.'

'I know, but you felt the same way with your woman right? The point is, they are both important to us. Our pains may have different roots but we are feeling the same heaviness.'

Then it hits him. This girl right infront of him is his opposite. They are both struggling and is in pain, but they are handling it differently.

She just stepped at her brake, brace herself and continued travelling life, while he stepped on his brake, get out of the car and decided to be stucked in the out of nowhere.

'Do not ever think of killing yourself Sir.'

'Wait, what? Killing myself?'

'Ye-ees, that's what you are trying to do right?'

'Who told you?'

'This, I found this at the table where you sitted.'

She read the words written in the paper.

"You are the sun to my rainy days, the Fridays of my life. You are my coffee that I need in the morning, and lastly, you are the air that I'm breathing, without you, I will die. I will never make it without you. "

-Narciso

P.S I love you.

'That's it?'

He cannot explained it but he felt like bursting inside. He cannot help but to let out a loud laugh.

'You are Narciso, right?'

'Do I look like some who's name is Narciso? No, and I would not write things like that.'

'But why are you here? Your women just left you, you have a reason to end your life here.'

'It is none of your business.'

The wind suddenly grew stronger. They started to shiver. Their clothes are wet making it a hundred times colder than the usual.

'Hey! Sir? Where are you going? You're just going to leave me here? I saved your life!'

'There was nothing to save in the first place and yes I am leaving.'

He took big steps away from the shore. It's becoming colder and colder so he decided to leave immediately. Then he heard the women sneezing from afar, he stopped and felt a little guilt of just leaving her there.

'I have an extra jacket, if you are cold then follow me.'

In an instant a person held his arm.

'What are you doing?'

'Assisting you, careful, there's a step. By the way, I'm Laura.'

'Let go of my hand.'

'Why? I am helping you.'

'Let go.'

'Fine, tell me your name first.'

'I will not.'

'Then I'll hold you until it's safe for you to walk alone.

Safe for him to walk alone.

Like music to his ears. It's been years since he heard caring words. He was used by walking alone after he lost his family, walking by the street, walking by the porch, even the walk in life. He was alone. But now, someone is holding him, supporting and encouraging him. Uttering words he never expected to hear from a stranger.

Will he still walk alone?

Or will he walk with someone from now on?