IIIThe doorbell rang incessantly.
In my sleepy stupor, I mananged to put on a pair of boxers back to front before stumbling to the door to alleviate the offending party of their impatience.
"Hi Tim!" Her exuberance, however lively, failed to tickle any of my lulled senses.
"Chloe... er, good evening?" I was mildly irritated yet pleasantly surprised to see her.
"We're going to the party now. Why do you look like you're sleeping already?"
"Because I am!"
Fifteen minutes later, I was dragged out of the house because she grabbed my keys and threatened to drive herself there in my car if I didn't wanna come along. Best thing was, it wasn't a threat for I soon found myself shi[/i]ting my pants in the passenger seat. Usually I'm worried about how much it would cost me to repair my car should there be any mishap, but this time I wasn't. I was worried for my life! I muttered, "Next time you drive, please let me know. I'll tell my loved ones to stay away from the roads..." and was conveniently ignored.
She parked the car between two lots and tossed me the keys with a huge grin. I wasn't impressed at all. I got out of the passenger seat and wanted to re-park the car but she grabbed my arm and led me towards the crowd. I was livid. Jerking my arm away from her, I exclaimed, "Chloe, that was totally uncalled for. First, you storm into my place like the second coming, then you drive like a lunatic, then you park like a spastic, and now you wouldn't even let me park my car properly for you! And by the way, since when did I die and you made heir to my car?" I was sure I broke a blood vessel somewhere.
I had too sharp a tongue for my own good, but I was really upset with the whole situation, which included being rudely interrupted from my sleep. Why was I getting upset anyway. This is just so damn typical of her. I had forgotten, and the revival of this memory further infuriated me.
"I'm sorry." With that, she walked off toward the crowd, and I couldn't tell if she was angry, or sad. I would have been able to two years back, but not now.
I ran after her and pulled her back. "No, I'm not going to accept that. I want to know, right now, why you did that. What in this whole god-damn world compelled you to piss me off like no one else can?"
The last thing I was expecting was a tearful hug from her, and instincts commanded me to hug back. "I don't know bunny, maybe I just wanted to test if you are still the only person in this world that could love me just the way I am."
The peace I felt in her embrace nulled the booming sounds escaping the club, the giggles of passers-by and the blaring horn from the Subaru that we were blocking. I was so confused, for I knew that if anyone else in the world had put up the stunt she pulled before, I would have just left, and would probably never speak to them again. But here I was, feeling peace, of all things, to be holding someone that had betrayed me.
I led her back to the car gently, and grabbed a few sheets of Kleenex. "I'm really sorry," she continued sobbing, "I..."
I stood there silently.
"I just wanted to act as if I was still your little baby, that would be able to get away with anything. I don't know what came over me, bunny. I'm so sorry!" Thank goodness for my temperamental rhinitis, since that ensured a healthy stock of tissues in the car.
I wanted smack myself for feeling a deep desire to console her, to cheer her up, to protect her. I was fighting deep within myself, pride versus passion, resentment versus affection.
"Say something Tim!" Her face displayed a convoluted mix of fear, frustration and distress.
I hugged her, and closed my eyes. I felt her love, tainted with unfeigned, heartfelt regret. She felt mine too, enervated over time by pain. "Please forgive me. Please."
We stayed motionless for a long time. I was muted. I needed some time.
