"Let me grab a beer for a moment," Trae said, walking away from Calum.
"Make sure it's just a moment," Calum replied. "We have a lot to talk about."
It was their first time seeing each other since Calum's detention, and while they missed each other, Calum still couldn't stand Trae's manic laughter.
Instead of checking his phone, Calum decided to take a walk. A park was just a block away, and it excited him. He was sure Trae would take his time grabbing a beer, his talkative mouth always finding someone to chat with inside the convenience store.
Calum paced casually but quickly, wondering why everyone was staring at him. Maybe it was because he was a famous criminal, he thought. But no, it was his charm, his model-like aura. He had that Balenciaga underwear, men model look, especially with his hands tucked in his denim pockets as he walked carelessly.
He ignored the stares, but they started to make him anxious. On his way to the park, he saw children laughing and playing on the brightly colored slides, their joyous shrieks echoing through the air. The park was a haven of green, surrounded by towering trees that whispered secrets in the gentle breeze. Their branches, heavy with leaves, swayed rhythmically, casting dancing shadows on the sun-dappled ground. The chirping of birds, a symphony of sweet melodies, filled the air, creating a sense of tranquility.
He sat on a weathered wooden bench, its rough surface surprisingly comfortable. He inhaled the fresh air, a sweet, earthy scent that carried the promise of peace. He was far away from the crowds, the only person in this particular corner of the park, a quiet oasis amidst the bustling city. He placed his arms on his thighs, his hands clasped together. He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, letting the scent of blooming flowers and the rustling leaves wash over him. He wanted this peace to last, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. The last time he felt this ease was when she embraced him. It felt like Mariana's embrace, a source of solace.
He opened his eyes slowly when he heard footsteps approaching and someone sitting on the bench beside him. He heard a woman sobbing, and his heart pounded against his ribs as he lifted his head to see who it was.
It was her, the woman he missed. Mariana. Tears streamed down her face, glistening like diamonds in the sunlight. Her long, black, wavy hair, usually tucked behind her ears, flowed freely, revealing small diamond earrings that sparkled with every movement. She wore a flowy, lightweight black long-sleeved jumpsuit that moved gracefully with her, and white shoes that seemed to whisper softly against the pavement.
Calum seemed frozen, unable to move. His eyes were glued to her, paralyzed by the sight of the woman he longed to see. She looked at him, their eyes meeting, a silent conversation passing between them. She wiped away her tears with her hands, her face flushed and evidence of her intense crying. He could see the sadness in her gaze, a deep well of pain that mirrored his own.
"Hi, I'm sorry to disturb you," she said, her voice shaky. "Do you mind if I sit beside you for a while? I'm so silly, I'm already sitting."
She forced a smile, a fake one that made his heart ache.
Calum, still glued to his spot, forced himself to sit up straight, resting his back against the bench, never breaking eye contact.
"Yeah, no problem," he answered hesitantly, his heart beating rapidly.
He casually pulled out a blue handkerchief from the back pocket of his denim jeans and handed it to her.
"You might need this."
Her smile pierced his heart. He had to control himself, his body yearning to be closer to her. He had no idea how much he missed her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her. He could feel his own tears welling up, hurt by her sadness and misery. Her effortlessly beautiful face held no trace of happiness, a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of the park around them.
She accepted the handkerchief and wiped her tears. In her distraught state, she blew her nose into it, forgetting it wasn't hers.
She looked at him, gauging his reaction before forcing a smile. A small giggle escaped her lips, audible in his ears, making his heart ache even more.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, embarrassed by her actions.
He offered a tiny smirk, a gesture that made Mariana believe he was charming and handsome.
"Nah, that's the purpose of that," he said.
Their eyes never broke contact.
"I'm sure you haven't used it yet, right?"
Mariana seemed a little bothered by her question, but she understood it was a joke.
"Yeah, not yet," he replied, causing her to smile and add a small giggle.
Calum, gazing at her, felt like he was floating on clouds. To be honest, he was losing his mental stability. He didn't know how he was managing to not move closer to her. They were only half a meter apart.
"It seems peaceful out here," she said, a hint of longing in her voice. "I hope my mind is as peaceful as this."
She said while she rolled her eyes to check the surroundings and look back into his face where their eyes met again.
"Someone told me," Calum began, "that if your mind is a mess, if you can't think straight and can't understand what you're feeling anymore, take the risk of being manipulated by your fraudulent heart. It's both devious and strange. It's much easier to regret it than to neglect it."
Mariana looked at him with intensity, lifting her head to maintain their eye contact. Tears streamed down her face again, each one a tiny, shimmering pearl.
His words touched her deeply. She didn't understand what was happening in her life anymore, her mind was a mess. But her heart was trying to tell her something, a feeling she could almost grasp.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
Her question froze Calum again. It took him a moment to respond.
"I-don't know, do you know me?" he stammered, his words a reflection of his internal turmoil.
"I got amnesia after an accident," she said, her voice breaking. "I lost almost all my memories. I hope I lost them all, or just died directly."
She sobbed, tears falling freely, each one a testament to the pain she was carrying. She bowed her head, and she felt his arms around her. He hugged her.
His body was betraying him, his mind was telling him not to do it, but his body already had. She didn't resist it, finding strange comfort in the embrace of a stranger. It was strange. She cried into his shoulder, her body shaking with grief.
Calum's heart was breaking, seeing her like this. It was his fault, and he hadn't forgiven himself yet. He wanted to cry too, to apologize, to ask for forgiveness, but he had to restrain himself.
"I'm getting married," she said, her voice muffled against his shirt. "Am I evil if I say I don't love my fiancé? The man who loved me more than his life, the man who cared for me more than anything else in the world. I don't want to break him. I can't."
She continued to cry, and Calum never released his arms from around her. He could smell her alluring scent, the one that always made him lose his mind, a fragrance of jasmine and vanilla that lingered in the air. He felt every word she uttered, he didn't want to see her like this. But he couldn't do anything. He didn't even know what to say.
"Can you help me?
Please...help me."
She held his shoulder tightly as she continuously cried.
And Calum didn't even notice that his tears went down in his eyes.
He touched her hair and hugged her more tightly.
His action made her stop sobbing, she paused for a moment and she realized that this closeness to a stranger is not right.
Her being in her distressed state is not a reason to be stupid.
She didn't know him and it sucked that she felt comforted by him.
But she needed to break his tight embrace, it was giving her more curiosities why she felt at ease.
She pulled away and looked at his mesmerizing hazel brown eyes filled with tears.
There's no reaction in his face, but she felt it, he was sad for her.
"I can help you, tell me what I need to do.
I'll do anything for you."
A single tear streamed down his face.
His eyes were intensely focused on her, it was like he was drowning in adoration.
"Why?"
Mariana asked in a very low voice, questioning about what he had said.
"Because you want help, and I'm saying I'll do anything to help you."
He replied, almost a whisper.
She has a lot of questions that she needed to ask him.
Especially why she felt her deep connection with him.
She heard the voice of Caitlin calling her before she could open her mouth to ask another question.
She stood involuntarily, like she didn't want to wait for Caitlin to see her talking to him.
Calum just watched her stand, wiped his tears away without letting her out of his sight.
He stood and took a deep breath.
She walked away quickly, almost like she was running, but she stopped when she was about 5 meters from where he stood.
"I would like to see you again, I have questions that you need to answer, please meet me again tomorrow in this place.
You said you'll do anything for me.
Meet me tomorrow at the same time."
She nearly shouted while she was crying,
facing him.
"I will be waiting for you.
I promise."
Calum said and watched her walk away and vanish from his sight.
He sat down on the bench again.
Resting his head on the bench while looking up into the sky.
He sighed, his heart was restless.
***