Stolen Hearts
The stone paved road was empty, the silence only disrupted by the rustling of the Sakura trees and the soft flow of the river that flanked it's side, the water creating a tinkling, crystal clear rhythm...something of that like a wind chime. Few used this path for they preferred the shorter route by the main road. I loved it. The solitude of the park and the transient beauty of the flowers gave me a brief respite before the start of another hectic day as I strolled through it leisurely.
This morning was just like any other...but as all mortals are, we never see what's coming right ahead of us. We walk blind and unprepared, too self-assured and ambivalent to think about the little knick knacks of Destiny's idle mind. Which was just as well, I think, considering how tiring it would to be living in suspended motion all the time trying to figure out if some event at the next turn is going to knock you off your feet?
I don't think we even noticed when the strings of fate started to get entangled and steered our lives into an abrupt u-turn. We brushed passed by each other on that stone paved road without the slightest inkling that it was the end of life as we know it. What lies ahead of us? I was definitely not expecting romance and love to happen anytime soon because I don't need it. But as I said, Destiny always has surprises in store for you...well, us...I guess.
Our initial meeting was not a good start...our animosity for each other crackled in the air around us. I wonder there and then at those intense feelings the stranger sparked in me but try as I might, I could not figure out the reason why. I hated his arrogant and impertinent tone he took to the senior staff and to me as well. We were of the same age...held the same position and coincidentally graduated from the same university, though I don't remember ever having seen him at all. He revealed to me much later into our relationship that he noticed me since we were freshman but he never had the courage to approach me because I was always constantly sought after by everyone, he thinks I wouldn't have the time for him and also he didn't think I would be gay. Well, I was and everyone knew it. How could he not heard any about rumors about me?
Anyway, back to our first meeting where we were introduced to each other in the most unconventional way.
In the washroom, where he caught me with my zipper stuck midway up cursing and struggling like a fool and sprouting profanities throughout the episode. Instead of walking out of the washroom to leave me alone to my humiliation, he stood there and looked. He stood there quiet and unmoving not even bothered to do anything to help like he was watching some sort of freak show! Finally, after what seemed like an eternity. He walked towards me, brushed my hands off and gave a harsh tug at my silk shirt, freeing it from the zipper's head before giving me a smug smirk and walk through the door and insulting me on the way.
"Dobe."
It was the first thing he said to me...not his name or some advice on where to get pants with better zipping function but an insult. Now, that made my blood boil.
"Well! Same to you duck head!" I shouted at the top of my lungs unable to be professional and rein in my temper.
I didn't realize that it was at that moment, I had started to fall for him. Although I hated him from the start, he was already something I couldn't take my mind off. Every moment that came after was me trying to get even with him, to outdo him at work and unconsciously, a need to want to follow in his footsteps.
Unconventional...that was the word to describe us and our relationship. There was no normalcy to be found in how an average couple would fall in love. We started out with explosives to our ammunition, progressively downgraded to machine guns before proceeding to using shotguns and finally, it was after many trials and tribulations and when we were forced to managed a multi-million project together that we called it a truce and put an end to our war.
Love then burrowed its way into our hearts stealthily but not un-noticed and neither of us wanted to admit it to each other first. We danced around each other, shy and unsure, waiting and trying to figure out what the attraction between us meant. What it would mean for both of us if we were to acknowledge our attraction and start a relationship. We were both men and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the consequences. But he was the brave one...
He didn't even have to speak...just one kiss was all it took and it seems that at that moment, my heart decided that it was his to keep forever if he wishes so.
