Bedtime

“Aahh… feels so good to finally lie down in bed!”

“You talk to yourself often?”

“Wha…? Who’s there?”

“I talk to myself too you know. It’s a good thing to do, helps me cope with the loneliness of it all.”

“Carlos? Is that you?”

“No, I’m not your boyfriend.”

“Then who are you?!”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I said it.”

“Try me.”

“I’ve heard that one before…”

“No, really!”

“…”

“Oh my God! Are you a spirit?”

“Perhaps. What is a spirit to you?”

“I don’t know! A-a soul, I guess?”

“Do you have a soul?”

“What? Of course I do! I mean, I guess I do…”

“Then, are you a spirit?”

“Ok. I get your point.”

“You seem much calmer now.”

“Yeah, it’s strange, but I think I trust you.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Wait… Are you like, God or something?”

“‘God or something’? Wow, you’re very respectful.”

“Oh! I’m sorry, um… my Lord?”

“I didn’t say I was God.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry, it happens quite a bit.”

“” So, if you’re not God, then what are you?”

“If I tell you, will you promise me not to be afraid?”

“OH MY GOD! You’re… you’re the devil?!”

“I liked the god theory better…”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Will you promise?”

“Umm… yes, I promise.”

“I’m here to take your soul.”

“Oh no! You’re the Reaper?”

“Well, I’d rather not be called by that name, too dark. It reminds me of my rocker years.”

“Wow, so you really are the Reaper…”

“I bet you wish I was Carlos.”

“Well, yeah…”

“…”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Wow… there are so many things I wanted to do…”

“I’m sorry. I really detest my job.”

“Say, Mr. Reaper…”

“Yes, Isadora?”

“Will it…”

“Please, don’t cry.”

“It’s pretty damn hard not to!”

“I understand.”

“Well, will it?”

“Will it what, child?”

“Hurt?”

“Will what hurt?”

“Dying…”

“It didn’t, did it?”

“What?”

“You’re already dead.”

“Oh…”

“I’m sorry.”

John's Affair II

John's Affair, Part Two

“Hey, Bella! Mind cleaning up the living room? I shouted.
“Coming, sir!” was the reply. I made myself comfortable on the couch while I waited. And then I changed positions again.
In came Bella, and my heart seemed to stop. Sweet Bella, with her cute golden hair tied up at the back of her head. That had been the wife’s idea. The hot maid uniform had also been her idea. Not that the uniform was indecent, mind you, but it fit Bella so well I could see the curves on her body.
“You seem to be in a good mood today, Bella!” I said as she cheerfully picked up the plates.
“I just love Saturdays, sir.” She beamed at me.
“And why is that?”
She looked at the floor guiltily. “On Saturdays I get to leave early, sir.”
“Wow, is it really that bad to stay around me?” I said, pretending to look hurt.
“No, that’s not it!” she said quickly.
Taking a deep breath to gather myself, I said sweetly: “You know Bella, I really like Saturdays,”
“Why is that, sir?” she asked politely.
“Well, because even if just for a couple of hours, I get to be alone with you.”
The maid, eyes wide, opened her mouth, but seemed unable to speak.
“I really fancy you, Bella.” I said unnecessarily. And then she broke out of her trance.
“No,” she said, taking a step back, “no.”
Turning quickly around, dropping the plates with a loud crash, she ran away from the room. She might have been crying.
Fuck, John! What did you do now? I cursed under my breath. What the hell were you thinking?
“Is everything OK, sir? I heard a crash.”
I spun around and saw the gardener standing at the door, clothes and face filthy with mud and grass.
“You stay out of this!” I shouted, pointing my finger at him shakily, and then I ran after the maid.

John's Affair

John's Affair, Part One:

Today was the day I would finally cheat on my wife. I had come to this decision over the past few days. Truth be told, I lived a very boring life.
Not that I had an unhappy marriage. I loved the wife, I really did. If not for her, I wouldn’t know what to do with my life.
I loved my big house too. It was roomy; it was beautiful; it was everything I ever wanted, and then some more. The wife was a pretty good decorator too, so that helped.
I loved my job too. With it I had acquired everything I wanted. Heck, as a child I would never have expected to marry my childhood sweetheart, get a great job and buy a house so big it needed 3 servants to care for.
But that wasn’t enough for me. My seemingly perfect life bored me to no end. I had no hobbies I liked. Sure, I collected wooden models. They were big, beautiful and expensive. But I didn’t care much for the darned models anymore - they looked grand when showing them to a visitor, and that was that.
I looked over at the wife. She was sprawled on the bed next to me, still asleep. She was still wearing lipstick, her mouth still slightly smudged from when I had kissed her goodnight. I had never cheated my wife before, never told her a single lie.
But that was all about to change.
***
The wife and I were watching cable TV, eating our breakfast. It was Saturday, so I would be home all day. She wasn’t, though.
“I wish I could stay longer, dear.” She said. I, in turn, wished she was gone already. I had things to do.
“Then skip your Yoga class and stay here with me.”
“Now, you know I can’t do that!” she answered, pretending to look shocked. To be honest, I liked that she did her Yoga classes. I’d rather not explain why though. It was a husband and wife thing.
Finishing up the rest of her coffee, she left the house. I was glad she hadn’t kissed me good-bye. It would have made things harder.

Childhood Love

(Well, this little story was just me on the bus trying to write up things that aren't really my style, such as romance. The only romance story I like is my own romance story. Well, and this story. And a few others. Oh well, screw this introduction.)

… And after so long, there he was again, in front of her. His calm, deep blue eyes still looked the same after so many years, and still had the same soothing effect on her soul as always. He wore a sad smile on his face, another old trait. She, in turn, was trying not to cry. From his look, she knew he could read her feelings, the same way she could read his. God, please, kiss him! She urged herself, but the ring on his left hand settled the matter for them. For the first time, it was she who was chasing him. After so many chances, where she had regrettably said no, she now longed desperately to say yes. But she knew she deserved this outcome, foolish girl that she was. So this was how it would end. The biggest love she had ever had and not a single kiss to remember it, though it would never be forgotten.
“Good bye,” he said. The way he seemed to still suffer so much with such simple words destroyed her from the inside.
“Goodbye.” She replied. No other words necessary, no declarations needed: they both knew it by now. And then he left, never looking back.

Self-service

She could have sworn he had looked her way.

He was cute, she would give him that. Not amazingly cute though. He was not very well dressed, but there was something about the way he carried himself and had discreetly looked at her that interested her deeply.

Clair was waiting in line in one of these self-service pay-by-weigh restaurants that are so popular amongst university students such as herself and, as she believed, the guy.

“Are you gonna just stand there all day?” Someone behind her complained. She had been lagging the queue during her daydream. Red faced, she moved forward, stealing a look his way. There was a hint of a smile on the corner of his eyes and mouth. Ok, he was definitely paying close attention to her.

It finally came her turn. She was famished, but she couldn’t let that cutie see her with a mountain of a plate. Salad: that should do the trick. She decided she wanted to show him she was a healthy eater. Lots of lettuce, a tomato or two… She scanned the selection for anything else she might like. Failing that, she picked a purple something.

Ok, now to see if all this hard work paid off, she thought to herself. Throwing her head slightly to one side so as to arrange her hair, she peered behind her shoulders. The guy was gone.

Nooo! How could I let this happen? She thought desperately, as she stole looks all around, looking for him. She turned completely around in a brusque movement… and turned right back. He was right behind her, looking at her with a hint of curiosity. She flushed furiously, moving on and away from the salad selection and picking the rest of the food to her liking (but still on small quantities of course, not all was lost). She weighed her food, asked for a diet soda and turned around, scanning the restaurant for an available table. She found one and only one: a corner table with only two seats, right next to another corner table with a lonely girl. Luck was finally turning her way (due to the table, not the girl). Conscious of the fact that he had just begun scanning the place for a seat himself, she couldn’t help but smile as she made her way to the table. She could feel him following her now. She sat down in what she hopped was a classy manner, and noticed that the lone girl on the other table was staring daggers at her. She shrugged the problem aside; after all, she had better things to worry about. Relaxing on the seat and arranging her plate, she glanced sideways: he was coming her way!

Clair was careful not to start eating: she wanted a crumbs-free smile available for when he inevitably sat down, which would be soon. He was only ten steps away, five, and then two. He turned. Something was wrong. Clair watched helplessly as ‘her’ guy moved towards the lone girl. As he placed his plate on the table, the girl, looking pointedly at Clair, pulled her boyfriend to a quick kiss. Suddenly Clair decided she didn’t quite like that restaurant anymore.