Friday, July 1, 2011
Chapter 3 - Forever With You
It was the sunlight streaming through the window that awakened Michelle. “Good morning sunshine”, she softly whispered to herself as she stretched.
When she turned her head to the bed beside hers, she saw her friend Nikole still sleeping soundly. God knows what time she came in last night. She herself had immediately fallen asleep after only a couple of minutes. Anyway, she was glad Nikole had a good time. She really appreciated the fact that it was Nikole who arranged everything so that she can take the time off from her work. And on top of that, her friend came with her on the trip too all because Nikole was worried about her. And that thought put a genuine smile on her lips.
Deciding to make the most out of the vacation she has, she tiptoed to their shared bathroom and got ready to face the world. She suddenly felt positive, and then she knew that she was on her way to recovery. And just by knowing that gave her a sense of exhilaration. Nikole was still asleep even after Michelle showered so she decided to leave a note and go outside.
Went out to eat breakfast. Will explore the culture afterwards. Don’t expect me anytime soon.
-Michelle
Michelle found a restaurant almost a block from the cottage that they were renting. She quickly found a seat that faces the beach on the patio of the said restaurant, and ordered some pancakes with fresh orange juice.
She is a sucker for sweets while the only sweets that Nikole can digest are chocolates. Sometimes she even wonders how in the world they’ve become friends. She usually has a sunny disposition while Nikole, when provoked, can become a modern Amazon warrior. Nikole liked salty and fatty foods while she loves sweets and prefer a balance of flavors on her meal.
Yannick knew that he should be sleeping because he didn’t have an ounce of sleep the night before but he was very excited with his “mission” that he couldn’t stay still. And as he stood on his hotel room’s balcony he saw a figure that made his heart go into overdrive. Only one person has made him feel like that.
“Well, hello there Bambi Eyes,” he softly murmured.
And like a bolt of lightning, he tore out of his room and into the beach. He felt slightly anxious just as je reached the lobby of the hotel because he might be too late to find the out just where his “Bambi Eyes” had gone but he immediately spotted her walking towards a restaurant.
Yannick stayed stayed at a distance so as not to arouse suspicion from the girl. God knows the last thing he needs is the girl thinking that he’s another weirdo who’s following her around. He waited until the girl was seated and was already waiting for her food to be served before he stood in a corner at the restaurant and drank the sight of her. Approaching her was not part of the plan. Hell! He didn’t even have any plan to start with. That’s why he was also surprised when he found himself walking towards the table where she’s seating.
While waiting for her breakfast order to arrive, Michelle busied with herself with comparing Nikole’s and her other difference preferences. After a few minutes, she felt somebody standing on her right side. She slowly lifted her gaze to look at the person who was standing beside her. And what greeted her was this guy who had an “I’m lost” expression suspended on his face.
Being the good soul that she is, Michelle asked, “May I help you?”
“Uh… Yes! Actually I just want to ask if I can share your table.” Yannick was very surprised that he can even speak coherently when just one look from the girl had all his insides jumbled.
“Huh?” was all Michelle could do to respond. With an enormous effort, she took her eyes from the guy who’s standing at her side and surveyed the restaurant. Indeed it was already slowly getting filled with people who also want to take their breakfast.
“Most of the tables are already occupied by families and I don’t feel right about sharing their table. Not to mention the fact that it’ll be very awkward to me and to the family as well,” Yannick immediately said in defense when he saw that the hesitation in the girl’s eyes.
Michelle saw that the stranger had a point and besides she was just alone at the table, and what harm can sharing a table do? They were in broad daylight, surely the guy doesn’t mean her any harm. And of course she can always scream should the gorgeous stranger do anything offensive to her. So with a shrug, Michelle motioned for the guy to sit right across her.
Yannick didn’t even know he was holding his breath until the girl indicated that he can take the seat right across her. He knew he was testing the waters more but he mustered all the courage he has and said “Uhh… Do you mind if I just sit here,” indicating the side of the table on the left side of the girl. “That way, I won’t get in the way of your view,” saying the last sentence with a crooked grin.
“Yeah, sure! Suit yourself,” Michelle answered rather immediately. She didn’t know what else to respond when the stranger who’ now sitting beside her looks so devilishly handsome.
Once the stranger was seated, Michelle let her imagine roan free again. And was quite surprised by herself because that was the first thing that Nikole does while passing the time. She went back to comparing their difference and almost opposite personalities and characteristics.
Yannick couldn’t help but look at the girl who is now seated beside him. And what amazed him more was the play of emotions on her face. One minute he saw her eyebrows knitted together as if she was concentrating on something and the next minute the girl’s face showed an amused expression. He knew he looked liked a psycho looking at the girl with such interest so he decided to introduce himself.
He cleared this throat first—more to settle his nerves than to catch the girl’s attention. Nonetheless it still caught Michelle’s attention which made her look at him.
“Hi I’m Yannick,” he started, praying that the girl will pick up his intent. When he saw that she might ignore him, he hastily added “It’s only appropriate that I introduce myself to since we’re sharing tables.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. My name’s Michelle,” and shook Yannick’s outstretched hand. She actually wasn’t planning to get friendly to anybody much less a guy but she didn’t want to embarrass the guy now sharing her table, so she met him halfway so to speak and introduced herself also.
“Michelle,” he repeated as if testing how the name will feel on his lips. And he must admit that he liked the way her name slid on his tongue as if it was the one name that he will never get tired of uttering all his life.
One the other end, Michelle felt some kind of electric current pass through her body when Yannick said her name. She doesn’t want to put a name to it because she just met he guy, nevertheless there’s no denying the feeling.
“So why are you here?” Yannick tried to start some sort of conversation with Michelle. Now that he’s sharing a table with her, there’s no way in heaven or hell that he’s going to let this kind of opportunity go.
He was rewarded when Michelle answered, “I’m here to de-stress and get rid of all the toxins in my body. How about you? What brought you here?”
“Well, I just wanna relax and unwind. You know, have a change of scenery.”
“Hmm… Makes sense since Boracay has something to offer to everybody.”
Yannick was about to say something else but he was interrupted when the waiter came bringing in Michelle’s breakfast. After a few minutes, his order also came.
Michelle was about to comment that she only ordered one serving of the blueberry pancakes and the glass of orange juice when she saw Yannick signaling the waiter to put the food in front of him. And that’s when she realized that they both had the same order for breakfast.
When the whole situation dawned on Yannick, he raised his eyes from his plate just to stare into Michelle’s face.
After a few moments of total silence Yannick asked “Uhh… Let’s dig in?” just to break the awkwardness of the situation.
“Yeah, let’s,” Michelle answered and took a bite full of her pancakes. But what Yannick didn’t know was that she was just as affected of the situation as he was. Never in her whole life had she ordered the same thing with a family member or a friend but now this devilishly handsome stranger who asked to share her table just because there’s no more vacant table available had EXACTLY the same order as her right down to a T.
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