Chapter 43: Jeremiah Dominique (Part 1)

Jeremiah

"Mom, I'm home!" I yelled as I welcomed myself home. Steve and Kyle were in cram school, Trini was on a playdate with one of her friends from school so it was the only mom who was home now. Dad usually stayed out at this time of the day.

"Welcome home, dear. Do you wanna have something for snacks?" She asked, coming out of the kitchen while wiping her hands in a towel.

"Thanks, mom. But I'm good." I smiled, walking up to my room.

"Okay dear, you take a rest. I'm sure you had a long day at the food court,"

"Yeah, it sure was a long day,"

My family was what one would call a typical normal family. I had a loving, playful mother, a strict father, and three kid siblings who were nothing but trouble. Me, being the oldest of the family, had the most responsibilities.

I was an artist and also, worked part-time at the food court in the mall. Art was my passion. I loved art ever since I was a kid. I remember I used to draw sketches of different people and objects or well, even sceneries! People loved my drawings and used to pay me for making these sketches for them.

My mom always encouraged me to follow my dreams - to do what my heart felt was right. Dad...well...he wasn't much of a help. He wanted me to join the army when I was twenty-one but I refused him on his face, saying that I didn't like getting up early and being ordered around. As much of an honorable job it was, being in the army required a lot of patience and discipline - which I didn't have.

Clearly, I was more like my mother - playful and fun-loving. Dad was mad at me at first but later understood that not all his kids would turn out like him. We would have our own passions, our own dreams, and desire. Lucky for him, Trini was the only one who wanted to join the army as soon as she stepped into her twenties.

Steve and Kyle were yet to decide their paths - however, I was sure they'd figure out something as soon as they got out of school.

I shut my door, tossed my bag on the bed, and just stood on the balcony to enjoy the sunset. Sunsets were the best part of the day. The setting sun filled the sky with a lot of its colors before getting to bed. This was actually what my mom used to tell me when I was a kid - that the sun even needed to sleep so that it would be energized to fill the next day with its light too. I used to believe that until I knew the real reason behind why the sunsetted.

I let out a breath.

"It's beautiful,"

After a few minutes, I quickly took out my sketchbook from my bag and busied myself in coloring the sunset. Most of my sketches and paintings contained sketches of the sunset. I was so obsessed with it ever since I was a kid. Until a few days ago.

Just a few weeks ago, I had gone to 'DELICIOSO' for a snack where I saw the chef. She was...beautiful. She had sea-green eyes, brown locks, a fair complexion. Ever since I saw her, she was everything I could think of. But never in a million years would I have made the first move. She was just too good for me. Since then, all I did was made sketches of her in my secret sketchbook. I never really showed that sketchbook to anyone - it was safely kept in a secluded corner in my bookshelf.

Surprisingly, just yesterday, I learned her name. Charlotte Robinson. It was a cute name - it had a British flavor to it. After all, she might've been named after Queen Charlotte of England. Just one glance, and it was like I memorized her face. Every sketch was hers. She had this white, dazzling smile that any guy could fall for. I didn't know that love, at first sight, existed in real life but after seeing her - I started believing that. Every single day, I used to get up with hopes to just see her.

I realize I sound like a crazy stalker at the moment but I couldn't help but watch her when she worked. I could just watch her all my life without getting bored. I may have managed to get a few pictures of her on my phone and then paint her in my sketchbook.

She had become - what you would call - my muse.

---

"I cannot believe it!"

I watched Trini jump on my bed while I fixed my messy hair in the mirror. She was so excited when she found out I was going out on a date with someone, and well not just anyone.

The chef I saw weeks ago, who I couldn't shut up about.

That's right.

Ever since my family got to know about her, she was all I could talk about. I would blabber all day long about how beautiful she really was and how excited I was for this date. I didn't know if I should even call this a date - it was more like, me getting to know my muse.

After all these weeks, I finally had the courage to make the first move through a letter obviously. I was a bit too shy to just ask someone out on a date who I've never met in my whole life. Honestly, I did not wanna sound like a stalker (although, I believe I did sound like one). I was hoping she did not think the same.

"Believe it, Trin. It's true,"

"I know, I know. But the thought of you finally asking her out seems like something out of a dream, don't ya think?"

I turned my attention to a 'jumping figure' on my bed.

"I still can't believe you're just seven,"

She smirked, doing the best impression of me. "Believe it, Jerry. It's true,"

I shook my head, laughing. "God, you're so unbelievable at times!"

She retorted. "I'm your sister, after all."

Both of us chuckled at her last statement. I would admit, that I was slightly nervous about the whole meeting Charlie and all, however, after talking to Trini I relaxed a bit. Trini, even if she was only seven, had the wisdom of an eighty-year-old. Usually, she would come off as the cheerful, bubbly, overly giddy kind of a girl in front of the world. Only a few get to see her being wise.

Her family was in the category of the 'lucky few'.

"Anyways, you know the rules of the house right?"

She posed a soldier and said, "Yes sir. Finishing homework. No going out. And troublemaking is a big no-no,"

I nodded. "Exactly. Mom and dad aren't home, Kyle and Steve will be home soon so I want you and your brothers to be on your best behavior. Is that understood?"

She saluted. "Yes, sir."

I ruffled her hair. "Good girl,"

I walked out of my house towards a bright afternoon!

---

Just kidding.

I was headed towards Andre's cafe, is all.

As soon as I got in, I was welcomed by the warm atmosphere of the cafe. The lighting was dimmed yellow and there were a few happy couples scattered throughout the cafe, enjoying each other's company. I smiled to myself, watching them and thinking - this would be a perfect moment to capture in my sketchbook.

However, I stopped myself immediately when I remembered what I was here for. I was here to meet Charlie for the first time in forever. Now the real question was-

Would she show up?

My eyes scanned the cafe and lucky for me, she did, in fact, show up. She was sitting on a table beside the window and glancing now and then towards the door. I had no idea why but as soon as I spotted her, my face broke into a grin. I could not explain what was going inside my head. It was like a dream come true.

So I took a deep breath, as I did not want to come off as someone who was an overly-excited stalker kind of a person. I quickly rubbed my sweaty palms with the fabric of my jeans as I made a beeline to where she was sitting.

"Hey, I'm surprised you showed up," I said, trying my best to sound as casual as humanely possible.

She smiled. "I do not stand people up,"

Honestly, this was the exact moment when all my hormones went into overdrive. God! She had such a sweet voice! I could listen to her voice all day if I had to.

Pushing the lovestruck thoughts at the back of my head, I laughed. "Well, I like that. Not everyone would come here just because it was written on a piece of paper. By the way, the name's Jeremiah Dominique."

"Charlie. Charlie Robinson."

Charlie.

It was a pretty cool name.

Although it didn't quite match with her. Everything about her was sweet. From what I had discreetly seen on the days that I followed her, I would've never pegged her down to be so sweet. At times it felt like the one I had followed and the one I met wasn't even the same person!

That was completely crazy of me to think about. Of course, she was the same person! There would be no way in Hell that someone else would have the same face and name!

I propped my elbows on the table.

"So do you wanna head out or are you comfortable here?"

"I would love to head out."

"Cool,"

I swung my backpack over my shoulder and we walked out of the cafe. We kept our heads low as we walked towards a nearby park. The signboard said, 'MILLAN PARK'. There weren't many kids around. Just a few of them were there along with their parents. A couple was sitting on a nearby bench, giggling and enjoying themselves. I had no idea why my attention was captured by only happy couples around.

Was it weird that I thought this was some sort of a sign?

Maybe.

Or maybe it was just to show how much I wanted what those other happy couples had.

The happiness.

The love.

It was so pure.

Pushing those thoughts at the back of my mind, I inquired, adjusting my backpack, "How long have you been here in the neighborhood?"

"Quite some time." She answered.

"But I saw you everyday working at the restaurant." I quietly muttered under my breath. I used to see her every day at the restaurant. Had she not been here since her childhood? Wait, that didn't make any sense. Maybe she started working a few days before I walked into DELICIOSO. That would be it. That explained it.

"Wait- you always saw me working at the restaurant?" I was quickly taken aback by her question.

Shit! Did she hear my muttering?

Damn it, Jeremiah! You're such an idiot!

"Yeah," I stared at the ground, admitting sheepishly. "Not exactly working, but I would follow you discreetly a few times." I kinda lied about that part. I just saw her working in the kitchen one time and then I would discreetly follow her. That one time was enough for me to tell me that I had to keep coming back. You know, that weird imaginary force that kind of pulled you towards your destiny or something like that.

Yeah, that.

She gasped. "Why would you do that? That is so creepy!"

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Now she really thought I was a creeper!

I'm not. I assure you I'm not!

Tell that to her, you idiot! Not your brain!

You're right. You're right.

However, I didn't tell her that. What I did instead was something that I would've never done. I know it feels crazy and I know a lot of people would call me crazy for this very reason. But you know, something about Charlie made me wanna do all those crazy things for her. Just for her.

And God! It's just been one date!

One date!

"For this," I took out my secret sketchbook, opened it to a random page, and showed her. Her eyes widened in surprise to see a sketch of herself, smiling. She was awed when she saw how accurately I drew her. The crinkles by her eyes when she laughed, her dimples that formed on her cheeks, the sparkling eyes - everything about the sketch was amazing. When I say, I was really nervous - I actually mean that I was sweating bullets out of nervousness. If she didn't like the sketches, I would've regretted this impulsive decision of mine. However, the reaction of exactly the opposite of what I feared.

"Wow," She said. "This is beautiful."

My smile widened at her awed expression and I excitedly turned the pages to show her more portraits I made. Honestly, this had been the first time I had ever shown this sketchbook to someone. And this was the best decision of my life! Best of the best!

I couldn't explain the giddiness that was building up in me.

I could run to the top of the building and just scream my heart out and then come back here. But I held all those feelings back and stayed as calm as humanely possible.

"I'm glad you liked it, and I'm sorry I drew all of them without your permission. I was just-"

"'Tis okay, Jeremiah. I liked these drawings." She smiled at me.

Stop, please stop!

Don't do this to me!

I won't be able to control my feelings anymore!

---

"Hey, Charlie?" I called her, with a sad smile on my face, as soon as she almost got to the door of her apartment. Come on! You couldn't blame me for just wanting to be with her for some time more.

She turned back. "Hmm?"

Do it, Jerry!

You might not see her again!

This is it!

What the damn hell are you waiting for!?

"I had a great time today. Do you...um...wanna go out sometime again?" I wanted to close my eyes for a while and just hope for the best. However, all I could do was cross my fingers and hope for the best.

She smiled.

"Why not? When do you wanna go out, again?" This was exactly when my eyes lit up. A part of me thought she might not wanna go out with me again and the other part of me desperately wanted to see her again. I couldn't explain the feelings that brewed inside me when I saw her sea-green eyes and that perfect smile that she wore all the time. She seemed so different from all those times I secretly followed her. Like a whole different person.

She was...

Perfect.

"Are you free next week? There's a place I have in mind." Yes, I knew exactly where to take her the next time around.

"Umm, yes."

"Cool." I smiled.

The next thing I knew I leaned a bit and kissed her cheek saying, "It's a date, then."

I could see her cheeks heating up by this sudden gesture and honestly, this was also something that I did on impulse But realizing the effect that little kiss had on her, I winked and simply without exchanging any more words, walked out of the building, chuckling to myself. Usually, I was quite shy when it came to girls. On any other day or even before today, I wouldn't have done anything like that. However, as I previously mentioned, she made me wanna do all those things - break all those rules for once and live this life.

We only lived once, after all.

So why not take all the risks and seize the moment before everything was lost?