II
The doorbell rang incessantly.
In my sleepy stupor, I managed to put on a pair of boxers back to
front before stumbling to the door to alleviate the offending party
of their impatience.
"Hi Tim!" Her exuberance, however lively, failed to tickle any of
my lulled senses.
"Chloe... er, good evening?" I was mildly irritated yet pleasantly
surprised to see her.
"We're going to the party now. Why do you look like you're sleeping
already?"
"Because I am!"
Fifteen minutes later, I was dragged out of the house because she
grabbed my keys and threatened to drive herself there in my car if
I didn't want to come along. Best thing was, it wasn't a threat for
I soon found myself sh[/i]itting my pants in the passenger seat.
Usually I'm worried about how much it would cost me to repair my
car should there be any mishap, but this time I wasn't. I was
worried for my life! I muttered, "Next time you drive, please let
me know. I'll tell my loved ones to stay away from the roads..."
and was conveniently ignored.
She parked the car between two lots and tossed me the keys with a
huge grin. I wasn't impressed at all. I got out of the passenger
seat and wanted to re-park the car but she grabbed my arm and led
me towards the crowd. I was livid. Jerking my arm away from her, I
exclaimed, "Chloe, that was totally uncalled for. First, you storm
into my place like the second coming, then you drive like a
lunatic, then you park like a spastic, and now you wouldn't even
let me park my car properly for you! And by the way, since when did
I die and you made heir to my car?" I was sure I broke a blood
vessel somewhere.
I had too sharp a tongue for my own good, but I was really upset
with the whole situation, which included being rudely interrupted
from my sleep. Why was I getting upset anyway? This is just so damn
typical of her. I had forgotten, and the revival of this memory
further infuriated me.
"I'm sorry." With that, she walked off toward the crowd, and I
couldn't tell if she was angry, or sad. I would have been able to
two years back, but not now.
I ran after her and pulled her back. "No, I'm not going to accept
that. I want to know, right now, why you did that. What in this
whole god-damned world compelled you to piss me off like no one
else can?"
The last thing I was expecting was a tearful hug from her, and
instincts commanded me to hug back. "I don't know bunny, maybe I
just wanted to test if you are still the only person in this world
that could love me just the way I am."
The peace I felt in her embrace nulled the booming sounds escaping
the club, the giggles of passers-by and the blaring horn from the
Subaru that we were blocking. I was so confused, for I knew that if
anyone else in the world had put up the stunt she pulled before, I
would have just left, and would probably never speak to them again.
But here I was, feeling peace, of all things, to be holding someone
that had betrayed me.
I led her back to the car gently, and grabbed a few sheets of
Kleenex. "I'm really sorry," she continued sobbing, "I..."
I stood there silently.
"I just wanted to act as if I was still your little baby that would
be able to get away with anything. I don't know what came over me,
bunny. I'm so sorry!" Thank goodness for my temperamental rhinitis,
since that ensured a healthy stock of tissues in the car.
I wanted smack myself for feeling a deep desire to console her, to
cheer her up, to protect her. I was fighting deep within myself,
pride versus passion, resentment versus affection.
"Say something Tim!" Her face displayed a convoluted mix of fear,
frustration and distress.
I hugged her, and closed my eyes. I felt her love, tainted with
unfeigned, heartfelt regret. She felt mine too, enervated over time
by pain. "Please forgive me. Please."
We stayed motionless for a long time. I was muted. I needed some
time.
