In the fall,
we circle through the leaves
and talk about the little ones.
And we smile, but never say too much.
The moment always vanishing.

Present day:

He looked across the table into her eyes, those clear brown pools of wit and humor that never failed to brighten up the shittiest of days whenever he sees them looking, waiting for him to get out of the office. They were still as clear as before, but he wondered why there’s this sense of tiredness in them. Mentally *tsk*-ing, he shook off the concern that surfaced after a long slumber. It was an unwelcome yet very familiar sentiment, and he didn’t know what to do with it other than to force it back to his subconscious where it belonged.

Present day:

She once again looked into those dark eyes that she once loved looking into during rainy afternoons while curled up against one another on the couch. It was as if she was staring into this deep, dark strange well where a warm and comforting feeling never fails to seep into whoever was looking in. Some things do never change, she bemusingly thought as a small smile fought to escape her self-control. She did succeed in squashing the smile, but the smile had the last laugh by opening up a long-locked-up vault of memories.

It’s been two years, five months and three days. He still remembers that day - who can forget  the day his life crumbled away like a just-staked vampire in the wind? Who can forget the day where three years’ worth of memories suddenly amounted to nothing? He unconsciously clenched his jaw. The weather decided to match his mood - dark, brooding, with a touch of silent anger.

“What can I do for you?” That seemed civil enough, he thought. No need to start a hissy fit here, this is just catching-up, nothing more. Yes, nothing more.

It has been what, a couple of years? She was not sure when was the last time they talked. Not that she quite cared. Fine, she did break his heart but what can she do? He wasn’t around when she needed him, among other things. C’est la vie, she said to herself as a means of excusing what she did, but still-bottled-up resentment washed over her like the faraway thunder rumbling through the diner walls.

Typical of him, she thought. It wasn’t as if she asked him to come by. They just met in the mall and decided to catch up like all civil people with a history do. Nothing more. Yes, nothing more.

In the spring,
we climbed the rolling hills
and talked about our budding plans.
And we smiled,
our faces like a mirror
showing us our secret sides.

A lifetime ago

He was staring at the ceiling, cradling the head of the most wonderful woman he has ever known on his chest; slightly stroking her hair. He kissed the hand caressing his chin and worked his way down her arm, crossed over to her shoulder and started nuzzling her smooth neck.

He felt her shiver slightly as he hit the magic spot. He once told her about that spot that once kissed, turns her knees into jelly - for some reason, it never stays on one place. Not that he’s complaining. She suddenly moves on top of him, nibbling his ear, lightly breathing out and sending puffs of warm air in. He shifts his kisses’ focus on her shoulder and started running a fingernail up and down her spine.

He looked up at the beauty staring down at him, beaming a part-sheepish-part-naughty smile down on him. “You know, Koreans have a fetish for shoulders. Notice how their kimonos have easy access to shoulders?” he said with a smile of his own. 

He was still surprised, considering he wasn’t a Casanova by any stretch of imagination. How the hell did he snag such a woman? What have I done to deserve her, this love of mine? Her tongue flicked against his, her taste flooding his mouth. His mind finally quieted down and just savored the moment, thankful for every second, every minute of their togetherness.

I love you, my dear. I truly do.

A lifetime ago

She breathed in his scent. Funny how he doesn’t stink even when he’s a tad sweaty. She looked up, catching him staring at the ceiling. Her hand reached out and caressed his jaw now quite prickly from the late afternoon stubble. Not that she minded; in fact she found it quite sexy, especially when the stubble brushes on her naked skin… like now.

 ”You’re such a damn vampire, always going for my neck”, she purred-slash-moaned as he found the sweet spot. Oh my god can he turn me on. She twisted and rolled on top of him, lightly straddling him and giving her undivided attention to his ear. His kisses made her unvoluntarily shiver and want him more. DAMN HIM. She couldn’t bear it anymore. She straightened up, looking down her naked beau. 

To say that she was mildly surprised at herself is the exaggeration of the year Here she was, Ms. Prudish who closed her eyes whenever people kiss on-screen, now naked and straddling her also-naked love. It was oddly liberating. And scary - it’s as if she’s a different person altogether.

“Well, at least they knew where the good stuff is.” She slowly bent down, letting her taut nipples lightly brush his chest and kissed him deeply. She was glad he came into her life; she was grateful for the things he has done for and to her that opened her eyes to a new world and made her feel… free.

I love you my dear, I truly do.