Chapter 3 LAST DATE

3

LAST DATE

Minda felt something unusual in her daughter since many days ago. All her vivacity seemed to have left her. The liveliness in her is just isn’t there anymore . She is not talking about anything these days like she normally does.With just the two them at home, Minda feels like the house is empty when her daughter is silent, for days. She is devoid of enthusiasm which is very unnatural for her. She is now mostly quiet when at home. While she doesn’t want to sound like she is treating her daughter like a baby, she is also worried about how her current stress might affect her. As a little girl, Carrie had a weak resistance to stress. A doctor advised them to keep the girl away from any heightened stressful situations. She had high susceptibility to trauma. However, the doctor also said that she might grew out of it eventually. That is the one thing that is agitating her. Although it never showed any sign until the present, still she couldn’t help but vex. To reduce her disquietude, Minda thought of ways to alleviate her daughter’s burden, if she could. “Is Rista around?”she started the conversation hoping that bringing up her friend would lighten her mood. Carrie is sitting in front of the TV but she didn’t look like watching. “I guess so. She is busy these days. She’s got a new boyfriend,” she smiled having been reminded of her friend’s unsteady relationships. She yawned after that. “Is Rudy in town?” “I don’t know.”She didn’t have anything else to say because she really doesn’t know. “What do you mean?”Minda sat across her. “He didn’t call me this whole week, Ma,” she paused for a while pretending to be watching. “Last week also was the same. If I didn’t call him, we wouldn’t have talked.” She already told her mother why she was dull. But she also contrived to look matured who can deal with matters like big girls do. “And you are upset about that?” Minda asked open-mindedly. “Well, maybe. A little bit. I feel like he is ignoring me nowadays.” She turned off the TV and stretched her body in that comfortable couch. “Don’t jump into conclusions, girl. You can’t really know unless he himself tells you. And besides, he is s a nice guy, isn’t he?. You can’t talk like that. It was just been two weeks..” “Yeah! But this is the first time he is doing this. I mean ignoring my messages.”She explains. “Just because he is not answering doesn’t mean he is ignoring, is he?”Reminded Minda. “But he is!” her resentment toward her boyfriend showed. “Why don’t you call him and ask where is he right now. He might be in some kind of trouble that is why he is not able to call you. In such times, what he needs is your understanding. Go ahead, call him instead of sitting there resenting the guy..” ‘Right!’she thought. She rose and went to her room leaving her mom.

“Hello!” She heard his voice after the very first ring. Hearing his voice supposed to lighten her mood. Just by hearing him say, hello, had an effect in her mournful heart. Yet that also told something else that didn’t make her exactly happy. That means he is in a position to make calls. ‘Then why doesn’t he think of calling me ?’ she felt like a pin was stuck in her heart. ‘He could have replied to my messages,at least..’ “Hi, Rudy!” She tried to sound cheerful in spite of what she is feeling.”Is everything alright?” “Yes! Im fine.”He answered her question. He didn’t sound like he was in any discomfort or distress. That made her mind quickly concluded,’ he really intended to ignore me..’ “Where are you right now?”Carrie asked but her enthusiasm lessened. “I’m at home.” His home is just four kilometers away from theirs. She wanted to ask many questions like ‘Why did you not call me? Don’t you want to talk with me? Are you not interested in seeing me after three weeks not hanging out?’ “I want to see you, Rudy. Would that be possible?” “Hmmm. Carrie, Bill invited me for his cousin’s wedding. That might not be possible for now.”Rudy said apologetically. But it was as short as that. “O-okay. Have a good time, then,” then she hang up. “What did he say?”Minda is standing at her door. “Mom!” this time Carried sounded annoyed. She wanted to avoid her mother’s questions. She laid herself in her bed and pulled the blanket over her as if she wanted to hide. Minda knows her daughter. She neared her and sat at the bedside. ‘Who else can be here if not me, Carrie.’ She thought. When her daughter starts hiding her face, it means she needs attention more than anything else at the very moment. “Give him a little time…” she waited if she reacts. Then she continued.” At times, what the other needs is just simple understanding . That is free of needing. What a woman needs to do in such times is just to be there. And then, the next time you see him he will be that same man he used to be. The man who loves you more than anything.” She patted her gently and stood to leave the room. “He came back two days ago but he didn’t think of coming to see me. Mom, we didn’t see each other for three weeks. He should be missing me as much as I miss him..” “Of course, darling.” Minda seconded. “He never said he doesn’t miss you, did he?” Minda enlightened. “No!” her stifled nose betrayed her emotions she is trying to hide. “Right. Men sometimes need to be left alone from time to time. Just be patient and wait for him to get back to you. He will, I know it.” That’s all she needed her daughter to know.

Another week passed not hearing from Rudy made Carrie more distressed. She is already going crazy about why her used to be loving boyfriend is now strangely distant. He didn’t mind not seeing her for weeks. He only sent very limited response to her messages making Carrie to feel unwanted already. Again, she has to try one more time. She called Rudy to meet with her after at the pub where Rista works. This is going to be the first time meeting him after four weeks. Rudy going from place to place doing works is not new to Carrie. He and some other builders get a contracted job everywhere. They usually don’t come back until it is done if it only lasted weeks. However if the job takes longer, then he comes home in between. Every time he came home, the first thing he used to do is to go to see her at work or at home. They always missed each other after days of being apart. They were just a normal loving couple,anyway. Rudy is a down-to –earth talented builder, highly paid, highly demanded. Nevertheless, he never thought of making it big like setting up an office and recruiting more men or intentionally advertising his skills. Working with five men is enough for him. The money he is earning gives him reasonably decent life and that, for him, is enough. He was never that type to think about money more than living life. Earn money to live, not live to earn money. Carrie was one who could attest that being a girlfriend to a man like Rudy was always fun. Every moment was exciting.

She took a taxi going to the bar ten minutes away from their house. While sitting behind the driver, she stayed quiet, while her eyes glowered on the streets, her mind was busy recollecting the unforgettable times they had been with each other. There are too many of them, it had become her habit remembering those. Few minutes later, the taxi stopped. She alighted the vehicle and walked to the bar. “I miss you!”she hugged the man she missed so much. The hug lasted more than few seconds.She didn’t want to let go. She wanted to keep him near forever, only if she could. Her almost a month of distressing about him is instantly relieved while she held Rudy’s muscular physique. She felt that old feeling when she is with him. Now she feels suddenly energized. Smelling his scent once again brought her back to how they used to be. Her nearly five-year relationship with him have been very loving and full of passion. Rudy loved her so much and so did she. He always put her on top of everything making her feel like a very special person. Indeed, she was special. The bar was quiet and almost empty early that afternoon but it is in the early evening when most of the people come in, regulars or not. Carrie is not at all new here as she was here twice or more since Rista, her friend works here. She can smell that smell only one can smell when inside a drinking place like this. It is definitely not pleasant. But when smelled while in a bar, it by all means tolerable but when smelled in some other place outside, it can make you puke. How can that be? “Hey, Carrie! Rudy! Glad to see you here. How long since you were here?” Rista just came for her afternoon duty. “Hi, Rista! “greeted Rudy back. “I want to sing, will you hand me the mike?”Karaoke singing is one of the things why a costumer enters that bar. Of course, karaoke is one of the favorites among the locals. Drank or not. Good singing voice or not. One can sing as loud as he could, I swear, nobody minds. The machine gives you a score after the song is completed. It usually gives very high score every time. Well, especially if you sang it at its loudest. “We won’t be here for long, though. We came here at four, two hours ago..”She automatically looked at her watch. The sound of the karaoke machine dominated the place. More and more clients are coming. And Carrie reckons they should move to another place. She held Rudy’s arms, “Rudy, let’s go somewhere else. I want to talk with you in a more private place. This time she has drank three bottles of beer and she cannot drink any more than that. “Right, Carrie! I also have something early tomorrow. We should not stay so late.” “What, Rudy? Do you wish to end this date with me now? IS that what you are trying to say? “something in her made her react the way she did. “Carrie, don’t take me wrong, please.” He said in a low voice. He is aware that they are in a public place. “Let’s go, Carrie. He took his jacket from the seat and pulled Carrie who seems to be disoriented. When they reached where Rudy’s truck was parked, Carrie, pushed him away and freed herself from his arm. “Right! I also want to go home now. Bye!” “I just said that tomorrow we have a big job starting.All I am was saying was…” “Then go on. I give up.” She held both her hands up while walking away. Can you go and interrogate the man who is not interested anymore? Can you accuse him of anything? No, because at the end of the day, it is no one’s job to keep you happy. Ultimately, it is your job to keep yourself up. Having said that, the pain it brings is real. It is piercing he heart. Why do you give your heart to the man thinking he will keep loving you until the end and get hurt when he doesn’t anymore?Yet then again, it is easier said thatn done. For sure.

Carrie took a taxi and headed back home. What she earlier expected didn’t materialize. She was home early. ‘That probably is going to be the last date.’ After trying the best she could, she knew it was time to give up. Rudy he is not how he used to be. He is clearly not the man who loved her. He changed. And now it is time to move to the next chapter.