by John Cabales
“Would you still accept her”
She added.
“I will never ever accept her anymore”
For a moment later there’s a knocked on the door Yhanna had open it and I heard she says “DAD” for the first time I will meet her father. Yhanna embraced her father and briskly gone back to the kitchen. Her father saw me.
“Oh? We have a visitor.” He said.
“Yeah he’s August the boy who Yhanna always talked about”
He laughed and comes to us.
“Hi sir, I am august” I said I give a hand.
“I’m Herald I’m Yhanna father.” we shake hands together
“What if you have your dinner here?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Annie Agreed.
I looked at my wrist watch. It’s 7:48 pm already. I accepted the offer. I called Mammoo that I will have my dinner in Yhanna’s. She said Okay.
After the dinner, Yhanna used to wash the plates. Her mom’s in their room w/ Micheal singing him a lullaby to sleep. Yhanna father and I were still in the table. We had a small talk.
“Yhanna says you helped my wife when she got sicked.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.” He said.
“I am willing to help, sir”
For a moment I saw a spark from his eyes going to down his face, tears.
“I am only a farmer never been in school we are poor I cannot take my family to the hospital whenever they’re sick” he shrugged w/ his tears.
“It’s alright sir. The important thing is that everything’s fine your wife is okay and we’re nothing to worry about.”
“Sometimes I really blame myself and I really hate myself because I cannot fill their needs. I cannot give them a beautiful life.”
I laughed.
“You don’t know the life of being a rich sir.”
Silence passed between us for a minute.
“You are so lucky. Because even though you don’t have a lot of money…”
I paused a while.
“You had still your family. And that’s what makes you rich”. I said.
Chapter Six: THROUGH THE RAIN
THURSDAY
After our class, Yhanna and I spent the time left to practice in my house and then Mammoo strictly taught us it was the last day of our practice so we need to become serious for the practice.
FRIDAY
Before the performances starts, Miss Swift tell her good luck and she also says do our best for it is our grade. The performances will be held on the stage.
We’re on the backstage I knew Miss Swift invited some teachers and students to be our audience. I know there will be huge audiences. But I hope a few will come.
A moment later, performances had begun but I feel a bit nervous. I’m nervous because Yhanna is not here. She never told me that will be late but I know she will never allow herself to miss this we practiced it. And we’re really spent hard time practicing it. And if she will not going to perform it with me she will fail. The performance starts w/ salsa. After the salsa Tiffany and Brett is on stage for the folk dance what an epic dance w/ this turn lovely partner. Or lets we say a two lovely couple after their dance performance John and Emy followed on stage for the Tango Theater Dance. Miss Swift had arranged the performance in order by number. There are 16 numbers and Yhanna and I were the last to perform. We’re 16th the last pair. Another pair for hip hop dance was called. Followed by ballet Tap Rumba.Francis and Caithe for waltz.A perfect performance. African pairs were called. Jazz Contemporary. Foxtrot. James and Carmeowas next to perform. I laughed to Carmeo. Lyrical Lyndy hop was followed. There’s only 3 dance performances but Yhanna is still nowhere I don’t know if you can call it still a late. The two pairs for Cha-Cha-Cha was called and my pulse gone stronger and stronger. After their performance samba square was the next. I’m feeling insane w/ my red long she cut and a striped blade necktie on my neck. My nervousness grow stronger and stronger. I do not know what will happen if Yhanna weren’t still here before the samba square ends and calls our name. I might be in a full shame. I think, my friends are already worrying about our performance. I lost my breath when the pain that performs samba square was done already.
The moment number 16 was called, I know Yhanna and I will fail the subject. There’s still no Yhanna Rose showed up. I am no option but to face the small crowd and apologize. The moment I stood on the stage, everyone’s eye focused on me. Wondering why I am alone and doesn’t have a pair. Wondering where my partner is. I saw Miss Swift rises on her seat. And finally I had spoken. I took a deep breath and these are the words that comes out w/ the flow of my breath.
“I’m sorry.” The audience starts murmuring. I looked at a corner and I saw a familiar face. I never knew she was going and witness our dance. I know she’ll feel bad. But let’s accept the fact anyway that Yhanna and I will be the only pair from our class that fails to perform.
“My partner is…” As I continue my apologize to the small crowd and miss swift I became speechless for a moment. Just one moment in time.Yhanna took her steps towards me. The audience was frozen including me. Yhanna is wearing the purple dress I bought for her. With the lights silver but sparks on it. she’s too beautiful. She’s different now w/ her make up w/ her purple pink lips shinning w/ her curly hair w/ her beautiful eyes. She is changed.
When she’s w/ me. She said her sorry. Before I let her explain I grab her arms and put it on my shoulder. And came her little grin. And the sweet music begins to play.
“You are too beautiful for me.” I whispered her softly as I stare my eyes into her while we dance the ballroom perfectly.
“I am too simple for you.” She whispered me back.
My nervousness had really gone when she came in and we dance.
“And that is the reason why I like you.” I don’t know how my tongue pronounced those words involuntarily. But all I know was I meant it. I really meant it.
I saw her eyes in doubt. She didn’t say something. Instead she looked down on her feet. Her eyes avoiding mine. I don’t know why.
When our performance is perfectly done, everyone gave us a big round of applause. They were screaming “perfect”. I guess they liked our performance. Or they liked us. Yhanna and I our chemistry.
When we get back into the backstage,Yhanna still didn’t respond for what I have said to her we still in the stage Dancing.
Mammoo cooked me delicious food for what I did. She always says that it was perfectly amazing and apologized me for something she did.
“Sorry if I didn’t tell you that I brought Yhanna a beauty salon.”
“Mammoo, it’s still fine if Yhanna doesn’t were make ups and she doesn’t need any beauticians. You got me feel very nervous. I thought I will become so shame.”
“Okay sorry for that” Says she in a low voice. “But I knew you liked it, didn’t you?” she continued.
I’ve become a hush for a moment.
“Alright, she’s too beautiful. She amazed me. She’s wonderful in her looks. And…” I stopped to think some words to describe her.
“And you’re in love.” Mammoo fills my incomplete sentence.
I bowed down my head.
“Honestly yes, I’m really in love with her. And I’d never feel something like this before.” I confirmed.
I’ve never thought that I will be captivated. I’d never thought I could fall into a girl I didn’t like. I’d never thought that my evil plans for Yhanna will be destroyed. I’d never thought that I would miss her eyes after that night’s performance. I’d never thought that I wanted to be with her. I’d never thought that Francis is right. I’d never thought that Mammoo is right too. A person who lives life simple makes them
beautiful. And a simple person makes us fall by heart. And it’s true. I am truly in love. I love Yhanna.
When I finished my dinner, I went to my room and I spend half of an hour recalling the moment I held Yhanna’s eyes. The moment we danced. The moment when I said she’s beautiful. And the moment that I told her my real feelings. I don’t know what she’s doing now. I don’t know if she got angry with me when I told her I’m falling in love with her. I don’t know if she loves me too. But I wish she does. Yhanna is a simple girl and that what’s made me fall in love with her. 3 hours after our dance and I missed her already. I want the night to quickly turn into morning to see her in school.
A moment later I fall asleep. And I am dreaming about Yhanna. I am dreaming that I kissed her in the lips. It’s so soft and the rain falls, I tell how love her. She becomes quite for a little and my heart beats fast as I heard the words I’ve been praying and the pouring rain was falling hard as I kissed her again.
When I wake up my eyes feel sore of the morning light out of my open window. I forgot clearing it before I’ve been slept. I looked at the clock it’s 7:05 am and it’s Saturday. No class, I am wondering why my clock didn’t alarmed. I guess Mammoo had turned it off. I jump off of the bed mattress and then went directly into the shower after shower Mammoo had already prepared a breakfast for me.
“Mammoo” I started at her while she’s w/ me having a breakfast. “I am planning to apologize for what I had said to Yhanna. I think I was wrong for telling my feelings for her.”
After the breakfast I ordered Joe to wash my car as I wait the chocolate cake Mammoo had baked. I am having thoughts on how to apologize to her. On how to say it correctly without offends her. When Joe’s finished washing my car, Mammoofastly baked the chocolate cake. She wants me to personally give it to Yhanna. Before I went into their house I stopped into a flower shop and bought Yhanna white roses.
When I’m already in their house I parked my car in a space lot, as always. And when I’m in front of the door I had slowly knocked on the door. Yhanna opened it. She was standing in front of me. I am holding a paper bag on my left. I choose to hide the flowers behind my back. I hope Yhanna is not angry at me.
“Hi” I said w/ a smile on my face. I’m nervous, really.
“Why are you here?” she said at me. By her voice I cannot tell she’s angry or what so ever she’s calm. She is peace.
“I’m sorry Yhanna” I said after a quick paused.
“For what?”
“For what I said”
“You mean we could be together?” she stares at me for a moment.
“You are not real” she whispered.
“What do you mean I am not real?”
“You”
“Me?” I shrugged.
“Yeah” she looked down her feet “Everybody in school talks about you. And I hear that you’re playing girls feelings and I believe them.”
I took a deep breath.
“Fine! I play girls, I hurt them. But when you step into my life, I became real.” I bit the upper part of my lips and looked down. I put down the paper bag w/ a chocolate cake inside that had Mammoo baked for her. And then look on her eyes again I want to give the roses but I think it’s going to be bad. Maybe she will throw it if I will give it.
“Yhanna. I am really in love w/ you” I whispered.
She didn’t respond or say anything. Instead she went to her garden. Her garden w/ full of Myrtles, I followed her in her steps. Still the roses behind my back. I can smell fragrance again so sweet and real. Like my feelings for Yhanna.
I found myself in the garden. With Yhanna, I am behind her for five inches. She looked up the sky. Her hair moves by the flow of the wind.
For a moment, I speak.
“What can I do to make you believe that I really love you?” I asked her.
Her head still up in the sky.
“Nothing August… he” she paused while her eye’s still in the scary and blue sky. “I’ll depend on him.”
“What do you mean him?”
“God.” She whispered. “You’re love is real.” She said and faced me. “If it will rain.” She continues.
I laughed w/ disappointment.
“Yhanna, its weather! “It’s predictable.” I sighed.
“And I know it won’t rain today because I had watched the weather forecast this morning.” I added.
“Yes, it is predictable. But you cannot predict what God’s will.” She walked against me and went inside their house. She thanked me for the cake and the closed the door. I am standing alone in her garden. With the heat of the burning sun.with a blue sky. With a clear day. I’m hopeless because I know it won’t rain. But I wish it will. Hope and faith. That was in the back of my mind as the rose’s falls from behind my back.
I walked into my car and turned the engine on. It starts to run. But slowly. God knows I’m really in love w/ her. God knows it.
I’m only a few meters away from Yhanna’s house when the engine stops. I don’t know why. It still has a gasoline. I checked if it’s the wheel but it’s not. I check the engine and I didn’t saw something wrong. Why is this happening? As I’m about to get angry w/ my car. I heard a big sound of thunder. The blue sky quickly turned into a dark gray w/ black clouds covering the sun’s face. And then a few drops of water fall gently. And when it falls so hard I get inside of my car. And Yhanna’s name flashes of my mind. And this rain was God’s. I briskly gone out if my car and then ran. Going to Yhanna’s house. I don’t care about the rain, pouring hard. I don’t care about the people around me. All I care is Yhanna.
A few distances away from their house, I saw Yhanna. Running and coming into me. Like me, she didn’t care about the rain or the people around us. When our body touched, I hugged her so tight and she.
“This is God’s will.” She said.
I hold her hands and look over her eyes.
“Yes, it is because he knows how I love you. Because he knows that I am real.” My eyes are now in tears.
Streaming down in my face w/ the rain.
She’s crying too.
I touched her lips w/ my thumb. It’s soft.
“I love you, Yhanna.” I whispered and kissed her lips finally. In the pavement.In the middle of the pouring rain.
Chapter Seven: UNEXPECTED THINGS
After the morning class, I called my friends for lunch. Especially Yhanna.
“So August, what’s the big news?” Say Francis.
“I had never introduced a person who is not important into me.” I said. Yhanna is beside me. I know Francis is happy because he knows that he is right.
Their attention is focusing on me. “YhannaRose is my now my girlfriend.” I smiled. They clapped their hands for me and Yhanna. Especially Francis. Tiffany kisses me. “Finally, your heart is captivated.” She said.
After our class, I drove Yhanna home. I want to see sure that she’s safe all the time. I don’t want everyone to hurt her. As long as I am with her. I’ll swear that she will never hurt.
As I am home, Mammoo talked to me.
“August, she really changed you.” Mammoo embrace me.
“Yeah. I don’t know what will happen is she will be gone from me.”
“But that’s not ever gonna happen.” She said.
“Why don’t you plan a dinner here in the house w/ Yhanna and her parents. You know I want to meet her parents. I’m sure they were lovely parents because Yhanna grew up w/ her good attitude and I can see it on herself.” Mammoo added.
“I think that’s a good idea, Mammoo.”
“Yes, of course.”
“And you’re right, Mammoo. Yhanna parents are so nice I’m sure you’ll be glad to meet them.”
Mammoo planned the dinner and she likes to be the one to cook. I went into Yhanna’s house and invited them for the dinner.
“Mammoo wanted to meet your parents” I said.
“
I’m ashame and my parents , too”
“No reason to be ashame” I hold her hands and kissed her arm.
“your are my girlfriend”.
“Okay, When?” she agreed finally.
“Tomorrow. I’ll pick you tomorrow’s eve w/ your parents, is that okay?”
She nodded.
“Mammoo is so excited to meet your parents”
“I hope she will like them”
“I know she will.”
“And I hope she like me too”
“On the very first day she already did” I whispered to her and I kissed her forehead.
When I am about to go home, Yhanna please me to stay for a five minutes she grab my hands and I’ve walked to her garden and we sat for a long minutes there.
“You love myrtles?” I said.
“Yes. I like its sweet scents”
“So am I.”
Twilight turns into a full night. The stars are burning in the night day. There’s no moon. We layed down our heads into the grasses, while our hands holding together seems like we don’t want to be far away from each other. We wanted to hold each other’s hands forever. A few moments takes as our eyes on the night sky a falling star shines. I looked at Yhanna face she closes her eyes.
