“Excuse me, miss,” I hear somebody’s voice calling me from behind. It’s the valet. “Did somebody already take your valet ticket?”
“Oh, no, no. I’m waiting for someone. He’s getting the car from the garage,” I replied, smiled, and then thanked the valet person. He told me that I should wait inside because it’s going to rain pretty soon. But I figured Mel wouldn’t take too long. It’s just a short walk from the theater to the garage, and a shorter drive from there to where I’m standing right now.
Where I’m standing right now. I laughed a bit hearing those words in my head. I’m at the front door to a theater, waiting for a man I barely know whom I just met yesterday afternoon. Wow. Doesn’t it make me sound easy? Plus, lying about this whole thing to my fiancé? Again, wow. But I had to lie. He would’ve freaked. He would’ve told my mom about it, and she would’ve gone out of her mind too.
As I imagined how my mom would look at me tonight after I told her everything, I chuckled a bit. Probably I shouldn’t have done this. This would really piss her off. To think of how she spent all these years raising me, directing me to the ‘right path’—that’s how she say it. It’s basically about doing everything as how she wants me to. But as much as this feels so wrong, this is so right at the same time. This may not be what she wanted me to do, but I can’t just turn away and do this. Tell me if I’m wrong, but before a girl gets married, she deserves at least an ounce worth of adventure, right?
I found Mel around 4 months ago. Well, actually, I didn’t find him. It was through somebody else that I found his telephone number. At first, I didn’t know what to do with that small piece of paper with a 10-digit number on it. I put it aside, but kept it in a safe place. I figured, maybe someday I will call him. Little that I knew that that ‘someday’ happened soon enough.
On a side note, two months ago my boyfriend asked me to be his wife. He did it just like every girl would’ve imagined. Fancy dinner, a jazz concert afterwards, and then the most gorgeous pink diamond ring in a box tied up with a ribbon. I said ‘yes’—who could say no to a pink diamond? But then my mind wandered to that particular telephone number I had been given. I figured I must see that man before my wedding at least one time.
So, a couple of days later I picked up the phone. I dialed and got a tone… somebody picked up the other line. An older man’s voice. My heart was beating so fast I thought I was about to die. And then I did what any normal person would do: I hung up. Huh. So much for courage. And that happened again and again for the next 4 days. But finally, through a series of what seemed to be prank calls and scams, I finally got his address.
I drove passed his house a number of times on my way to work. I observed him from afar. And from what I gathered during my amateur attempt of spying, I know a little bit of his life. Although, I never did have the courage to pull over and walk over to his front door. Stepping out of the car seemed so impossible.
But yesterday it finally happened. I was parked on the side of the street opposite his house when an elderly woman knocked on my window. She looked at me suspiciously, “what are you doing here?” I had to lie. I told her I’m a realtor and I was on the look out for some new properties. She didn’t buy it. She said if I had some business to take care of, I should take care of it real soon or she would call the police. It wasn’t just a bluff. She pulled out her cell phone and started to push the numbers of 911—which is just 3 digits long and then a short push of another button to get her through the line. But before she got to that fourth button, I rushed out of the car and walked to a maple colored door that belongs to house number 42.
∞§§§∞
“Ma’am, can I help you with anything?” another valet came up to me and pulled me out from my own thoughts. Apparently I have been waiting for Mel for more than 20 minutes now. He should’ve been here by now.
“No,” I said to him, “I’m fine, thank you.” I gave him a smile.
He grabbed an umbrella and gave it to me, “it would keep you from getting all wet.” I didn’t realize that the rain had already started and now both my shoulders are getting wet. I gently refused the umbrella offer and decided that I’m going to wait for Mel inside after all.
∞§§§∞
I walked back into the theater thinking that yesterday the same thing happened to me too – when I was outside Mel’s house – except yesterday the rain wasn’t very friendly to me. It had been cloudy all day but the weather channel never said it was going to rain. Not that I would notice it, anyway. When I got to that front door, I just stood there. My mind went back and forth on whether or not I should press the doorbell. I felt a drop of water on my head. But I didn’t care. Then I felt a drip, drip, drip, but I was still too busy to care. Before long, drips turned into a drizzle that finally poured down on me. And as if a light switch had been flicked somewhere, I snapped back into reality. I took a deep breath. My hand moved to press the doorbell.
“Do I know you? What are you doing outside my home, soaking in the rain?” he asked. Alarmed, but at the same time concerned. I didn’t reply. I was too much in shock he had opened the door before I even touched the bell. Apparently, one of his neighbors called Mel to tell him about a strange girl outside his door. He told me to come into the house.
His wife was there. A nice lady named Maddy who makes the best scones I have ever tasted. I started to say things I wanted to say and both of them listened to me. We hit it off pretty well, I guess. Maddy was especially apologetic. She even left the room one time to give Mel and I some space. In fact, she was the one that suggested we should go spend a full day together. Get to know each other. Hence, here I am.
Mel insisted that he would pick me up this afternoon and I obliged. I wasn’t about to refuse such lovely offer. We got to the theater at around 4.30. Normally I wouldn’t see a movie when there’s still sun in the sky, but I get it. This is not a big city with 5 different theaters. Going to the movies at a later hour would risk people finding out about us. He’s not looking to expose me yet. He’s not ready to expose US yet. And the same goes for me.
Parking was easy. We managed to find a spot right next to the elevator – a spot to envy, indeed. But, of course, the garage wasn’t really that crowded yet. The theater was, surprisingly, filled by people. Most of the people are there to get tickets to later shows, though. I overheard a teenage boy talking about Thunder Overkill, the latest action-packed movie, “dude, this movie is sick!”
“Dude, it’s the shit!” says another one.
And yet another one, “dude, I can’t wait to see all the blood, dude! Did you know the director’s the same dude that made The Thirteenth Friday the 13th?” And I can’t remember the last time I heard that many ‘dudes’ in a conversation. Probably circa 1998.
The line moved quickly, but I guess for Mel it felt like forever, I bet. He was all sweaty and kept stealing glances over his shoulder. You know, in case somebody he knows was there. I tried to continue the normal conversation that we had in the car. He told me about his life. He told me that he’s been married to Maddy for almost 20 years. He told me about his sons. We laughed at the fact that his youngest keeps a skink as a pet and named it ‘The Black Lord of Fire’ instead of a regular name like ‘Fred’ or ‘Rex’ or plain ol’ ‘Bob’. I learned that the family has a Basenji that’s still small but acts like he’s the boss of the house. Mel jokes, “He pretty much runs the house. When I come home, he opens the door and stood there like I’m supposed to explain where I’ve been.”
I chuckled and shared something about myself, “that’s the same as my mother. I kept reminding her that I am 26 years old and if I’m old enough to get married, I’m old enough to come home whatever hour I want.”
I can tell he disguised a small sigh and was taken aback for a little bit. But by then we were in front of the line and Mel talked to the person attending the cashier (apparently, we’re watching a comedy) so we had to stop talking. After he was handed the tickets, we walked to the back of the room to get popcorn. He was silent, and I wasn’t sure of what to say. I’m still waiting for him to come back to his silent sigh earlier.
Around 10 steps away from ticketing, a man’s hand reached out from the line to halt us. Mel was surprised. I was too. Who wouldn’t be?
The man in the line exchanged a couple of awkward sentences with Mel. He introduced himself to me— his name is John. I take it this is the John that Mel talked about in the car. His best friend since they were little. When I was about to say my name, Mel interrupted me and introduced me as ‘a friend’ to John. I took that cue and kept my mouth shut. After their little exchange was done, we parted ways with John and continue heading to the concoction booth. Mel didn’t look too happy after we met John. Understandable, I guess. As I said, he is not ready for this – whatever this is – to be out in the open.
“So, you’re getting married,” he finally asked while we were waiting for the popcorn line. I took a deep breath before answering yes.
“When?”
“In about 2 months,” I answered.
“Wow,” he looked at me. “Congratulations, then,” he gave me a soft pat on the back.
“That’s actually why I want to meet you, I—“
I had to cut my sentence short because that’s when his friend John passed by us. Then Mel excused himself and rushed after John to a corner behind a crowd of moviegoers. I couldn’t see them. Then again, I was pretty much occupied with the popcorn and sodas handed to me. But as it turns out, Mel didn’t take too long. Before I knew it he was already by my side offering help with the snacks. We went in to the auditorium, sat on the available seats, and I swallowed what’s left of my words to say it at a later time.
And now, I am here. Standing inside the theater, facing the entrance, still waiting for the chance to finish what I started. But now it’s been over an hour since Mel went to get the car, and there’s no sign he would be back. I should’ve known it would be far too much of a pressure for him. Isn’t it funny how life works? When somebody appears in your life, you expect them to stay. But then you realize you can’t expect anything because expectations will only shatter you so.
Maybe I wished too hard, maybe I wished our lives apart. Who knows? What I need to do now is find a cab home, and ask somebody else to walk me down the aisle because obviously my father isn’t going to be there. The man who opened his front door for me that day never returned from the parking garage.
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