[ Wednesday, June 29 ]
For the seventh time, the recorded voice of the operator was heard from my phone, informing me that Amethyst's number is currently not available. It's been a week since the incident happened, yet, she hasn't answered any of my calls or my text messages to her. Whenever I go to her office, her secretary will always say that she's busy or she's not around. How long am I supposed to tolerate this?
I admit – I did the wrong thing. But I believe that I have the right to explain myself. First of all, Sasha and I are not in a relationship. I was only concerned about her, and I didn't know that my kindness would bring me to trouble. This isn't fair. I can't accept this. I've worked hard for Amethyst, and I can't afford to lose her now. The thing was, it's impossible for me to avoid Sasha, since she's Amethyst sister, and our paths will always cross. I can't understand why she couldn't accept the fact that I love her sister, we're getting married before the year ends, and nobody can change that, not even her.
But at some point, I feel bad that she's wasting her life because of me. Because she wants to get my attention, and unfortunately, it works. I'm not regretting that I'm being too kind, but I hate myself for breaking Amethyst's heart. If something bad happens to Amethyst because of me, I can never forgive myself.
But nothing will happen if I'll give up on her. I must try again.
As I walk through the hallway, I happen to encounter Summer, her eyes as cold as ice. We both stopped, staring at each other, with an awkward silence between the two of us. The last time this kind of encounter happened, I was warned. Now, the longer it takes her to speak, the better I feel.
"I'm guessing that you're on your way to her office?" she asked.
"Um, yes. I'll keep on trying. I can't afford to lose her just because of that." I replied.
"You'll have to try harder. Although, I tried to convince her to give you a chance since we're talking about marriage here. Let's hope for the best that she'll listen to you this time."
Is she rooting for me? Is that how I should read what she just said? That sounds strange, because last time, she almost killed me with her words and now, she seems to be helping me win her back?
She's one of the last people I think that'll ever do that. As far as I know, Summer and Amethyst aren't totally on good terms. Why did Summer even care? Whatever the case, I should at least be thankful that some sort of miracle happened, I guess.
"Thank you, Summer, really. That means a lot, coming from you. I thought you hate me."
"Thank me later when it worked. Listen," she sighed and shook her head. "I don't hate you, and I know how it's like to be in a painful situation. I don't want my sister to experience that too, so I'm helping her to get through this. That's all that I can say." she patted my shoulder as she walked past me, not even bothering what I had to say.
That was so kind of her because it's the last thing that I expected her to do. After the warning that I received before, when she said that she'll be watching me, all I thought she wasn't rooting for me.
I'm at least thankful that she did what she thinks is best for the situation.
Rejecting all the doubts and negative thoughts that my mind is telling me, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before knocking at her office's door.
"Amethyst, can we talk? It's me, Vaughn."
"Come in."
My cold and sweaty hands turned the doorknob and entered her office. She stood up from her seat and walked towards me. I was expecting something different – where she'll be facing the laptop while talking to me which is the typical scenario. This looks too different. What's going on?
"Look, I …" I began, but she didn't let me finish.
"Save it. I don't want to hear your explanation. I think we just need to fix this." she half-smiled, sadness filled her eyes.
Part of me wants to pull her for a hug and run my fingers through her hair like I always do. Kiss her on the forehead while saying how sorry I am and ask how I can make it up to her. But I want to trust my gut that it's not the best thing to do. Therefore, I won't. Not this time.
"I'm sorry about everything. I swear, I'm not going to do that again," I closed my eyes and hanged my head. With the heart filled with hope, I raised my head and looked at her straight in her amber eyes. "Uh … does this mean, you're giving me a chance?"
"Obviously. You're still my fiancé, after all," she answered quickly, without any second thought.
I beamed after hearing those words that sounded music to my ears.
"I'd like to ask you out so that we can talk properly about everything. I'm certain that you're busy, but can you spare at least one day for this?"
Please, say yes.
"You're right. I can't right now, but I'll be free on Saturday. I have a meeting but I can move the date. We both need to breathe from all of this so, I'll prioritize my personal life first." she grinned.
I walked closer to Amethyst and pulled her towards me, securing her in my arms. She closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder, savoring the moment. I've been waiting for this for so long. Maybe things just happen, but I can't mess up again this time.
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[ July 2, Saturday ]
Amethyst requested for us to go to the art gallery where we first went in our first date years ago. As we entered, we signed our names on the pamphlet and paid the entrance fee and started to explore the area. Classical music was played at the background, the violin as its main instrument.
Some kids were walking with their parents. The little girl in red dress pointed different paintings and sculptures and kept on asking her mother about what those are, fascinated by what she's seeing.
"Can we go upstairs? I want to see one of my favorite paintings again." Amethyst requested and didn't bother to hear what I was about to say, leaving me alone with the assurance that I'll follow anyway.
We went upstairs, and she headed to the area where her favorite painting, called Child's death, was hanged. It is a painting of a baby boy, with his eyes closed, and he's enclosed in an open coffin. It was well-detailed and it looks real as if the child will open his eyes any moment and jump off the painting.
"It's sad, don't you think?" Amethyst asked while walking closer to the painting. "Why do you think did the artist painted this? Was he depressed? Did his child die?"
"I cannot answer those questions. Maybe you can research the artist's inspiration on Google or whatsoever." I replied.
Without any word, she left the area and looked at another painting, called Death of an Individual. It was a painting of a tree with two sides – the left side with a woman sitting down, with her hands covering her face who's fading with the wind, shattered into pieces, black and white in color. On the other hand, the right side of the tree where two lovers are holding each other's hands, their surroundings full of the colors of the spring season.
She paused for a moment, her eyes focused on the painting as if trying to analyze it. "I think this is how it feels to see your significant other with someone else. It's like the colors of the world are gone, and the feeling was like disappearing with the wind," she commented. "I hope this kind of thing won't happen to me."
"Of course not," I defended, long before she says something about what I did a few days ago. "Let's get out of here, shall we?" As much as it annoys me to be reminded of the bad thing that I've done, it's like she wants to make me feel what she felt when I hurt her feelings. I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like it's her motive.
"Let me see the last painting in this area." she walked away from me and stood in front of the painting called Lady's Mirror. It was a painting of a lady facing the mirror dressed in the fashions of a bygone era, combing her knee-length hair. But instead of the normal reflection of her that a typical mirror would show, the mirror reflects another version of her, as if her twin, with a knife, pointed at her neck.
I raised an eyebrow as I saw the painting. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, giving the painting a closer look.
"Not that I know. I'm easily impressed with art but not all kinds of art are easy to understand. Some of them remains a mystery, that only the artist can explain."
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An hour later, we stopped to a newly-opened café in town that many people are talking about. I don't have any idea about what's so special about it, but I've read good reviews online from customers that appreciated the said coffee shop.
The bells jingle just like they always have when I push through the door. The entire place looked like some kind of fancy bedrooms – where, instead of tables and couches, each customer can select their preferred unit where they can sit and chat. Each unit has its unique sea-inspired wallpaper and includes a table and two pillows. There are no seats, so the customers will have to sit on the floor.
Shell beaded curtains covered each unit, making the inside quite visible. It sets the romantic mood for customers – at least in my opinion.
"This is amazing!" Amethyst commented while turning around to see the entire place as if a child who entered a different world. Her eyes were filled with amazement and joy. I smiled as I see her look at me.
"Let's order something and choose which unit should we take. Which among those beach units should we choose?"
"Please get me any frappe. Hmm … let's see. I think we should choose the unit where the wallpaper is Coron, Palawan. It looks promising." Without any more word, she left me near the counter to order while she headed to the unit that she chose.
As soon as I got our orders – Latte macchiato for her and Caffé mocha for me, I entered and sat down to our chosen unit.
"We should take pictures," she suggested, pulling out her phone from her bag. "I think we should just use yours. My phone is dying, I need to save the last of its battery for emergency calls, you see."
"Sure thing." I pulled out my phone from my pocket and handed it to her, and she tapped on the camera app and took selfies. Just like the good old days – our formal shots, partly smiling, grinning, wacky poses, and much more.
Amethyst swiped the screen to view each photo and the corners of her lips rose, white pearls on display. She looked at me as she returned my phone.
"Can we visit our house? I've heard that it's 90% built. I'd be lying if I'll say that I'm not excited to live in it." she giggled, her shoulders slightly lifting.
"We should buy some furniture little by little. So that after the wedding, it'll be all set." I suggested while sipping my Caffé mocha.
"Then we should visit it later after finishing our drinks."
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The clock struck at 10 pm when we arrived the house where we'll live in after we get married. The entire house is very close to finishing; it only needs to be painted because everything looks gray. It doesn't have any furniture or any items to see, so we headed to the balcony to see the view from above.
I pushed the glass door open and we both walked to the edge of the balcony, leaning my elbows on it, with the city lights on display, shining like the stars from the night sky. Amethyst beamed as she sees the stunning view.
"It would be really great to spend the nights seeing this view before sleeping. It's stunning," she commented, her eyes focused on the view.
"True, but if you're to ask me, I'd prefer to see a beach. But anyways, this view isn't all bad. I like it actually."
"So, this house has five bedrooms. What are the other four rooms for? Our future kids?"
I chuckled. "If not kids, consider it as guest rooms."
"I was actually –" Long before Amethyst finished her sentence, fireworks were launched not that far from our area. I suppose, from our village's clubhouse.
Different colors and shapes of fireworks were flashed in the night sky, leaving the silence between Amethyst and me. Both of us watched the fireworks, impressed with its beauty. I held her hand and she looked at me, the corners of her lips rising.
She rested her head on my shoulder, as we continued watching the fireworks 'till it ends.
I hope we can be like this forever.