Memories, questions, chance or choice?

She just came from school and decided to drop by for a cup of coffee. She left her things on the chair in front of me and went inside.

I took slow and careful sips and wondered about the events yesterday. Yesterday’s events that kept washing over me like a tidal wave and started a debate in my head regarding the topics about mere chance and destiny.

But wasn’t it that most chances are forms of destiny?

She came out of the coffee shop with a smile on her face.

“So what made you drop by?” I asked grinning and yearning to know the answer.

It was just another curious question.

She smiled and raised an eyebrow and cocked her head at one side looking thoughtful.

“My feet just led me here.” She smiled.

“Oh I see…” I said waiting for a reply.

“Alright you saw through me. I just had a gut feeling. Hmm… why are you so curious?” She smiled and had a questioning and playful smile on her face.

“I was just wondering.” I said and added “Hmm… do you believe that chances and small events turn out to be the turning points in our lives?” I asked offhand and half to myself.

It was her turn to look at me wonderingly and what made me ask that question. She traced the brim of her cup while thinking.

She was silent for a long while then…

“You are different than most people.” And she stared at me in the eyes.

It was not a cold stare, just full of seriousness and a deepness I can’t understand. I just gazed at her and pondering her reply.

“Events no matter how small or trivial are turning points in our lives, Mel.” She said as she was looking at the street but her eyes were glassy as if she were not there. “A simple bump can turn your life upside down or in a full spin. People think of chance as something less like coincidence for they fear something… they fear change. And change means to adapt to something they like or not. But that is destiny and that is what is meant to be.”

I sat there in deep thought and replied.

“But not everything that is meant to be is meant to be, but what we choose it to be.”

She just smiled there and looked a little sad.

“Is everything alright Nicelle?”

She just smiled at me with a hint of loneliness in her eyes. Moments of silence passed and she just took continuous sips as the sun bathed the both of us in light and making the surroundings glow.

An idea crossed my mind and I stood up.

She looked at me questioningly.

I smiled.

“The sun’s shining and it’s not crying, the birds are singing and chirping, the wind is laughing not mourning, and the day is still young, for this is a day of happiness not of mourning.” I finished with a smile and bowing as if reciting grandly.

I looked at her waiting for a reply.

She was hesitating and bit her lip.

Then she laughed.

I laughed too then we gathered our things and our drinks and walked towards the park. She was smiling all the way and a little flushed maybe because of the heat. We chatted about how things were at her school and how things were with mine. Then we arrived at the park.

We sat by a tree on a big field with some trees and a like by the side. I swear it was nice and a little breath-taking, you could see the children playing about, the shadows cast by the clouds, the wind on your face, people laughing and the chirping of the birds.

She rested her back on the tree and just drank in the sight before her.

“I remember when I was a child I used to play by the lake and splash around.” She said reminiscently.

I brought my guitar and took it out and played a few songs.

She smiled at me lazily and said “That’s a nice song where did you learn that?”

I grinned and told her simply “From an old song book.” She chuckled and listened to the music as we just sat there in peace. Then she took out some books from her bag and started reading.

A hotdog vendor passed us and walked towards the children.

“Are you hungry?” I asked her.

“Yup, you bet. And you?” She said.

“Yeah, wait here I’ll get us some food.” I said and jogged towards the vendor.

Nicelle was watching Melchi as he ran towards the hotdog vendor and couldn’t help but giggle and wonder if this was all coincidence. She thought of yesterday’s events and sat there deep in thought. Yet she was feeling something strange… she could feel warmth and comfort toward him. “Maybe it is just how I feel towards him as a friend.” She mumbles but doubts herself.

“Two hotdogs please and some iced tea.” I told the vendor.

“You got it! Cough up man this is going to be a handful.” He said grinning.

“Thanks!” I said.

“Are you with that beautiful lady up at the hill and by the hill?” He said.

“Yup I am with her.” I said “and yes she is beautiful, well… a beautiful personality.” I added.

“You are lucky man to have a girl like her. Well good day to the both of you!” He smiles and looks at Nicelle and gives his cap a tweak and goes away waving.

“Wait! She’s not…” I called.

I walked towards the hill and was very bothered by what the man said. I know we only knew each other for more than a day. She has a nice personality, high sense of humor, cute, beautiful… personality and is outspoken in a good manner. We have a lot in common like love for coffee, star gazing, walking under the rain and a lot more.

I look at her.

“Why am I bothered so much?” I muttered to myself.

But I just can’t explain this sudden sheepishness and happiness in me. Maybe it has something to do with friendship because I am comfortable and happy around her all the time.
She looked at me smiling. “That was fast. You must really be starving, come on let’s eat.” She said.

I smiled and gave her, her hotdog and her Ice Tea. While we were eating I just kept on stealing glances at her.

“Is something wrong with my hair or face?” she asked me.

“Huh? What? No. Nothing.” I stammered.

“Then why have you been stealing glances at me then?” She asked suspiciously.

“What are you talking about?” I said.

“Maybe I just imagined it.” She said.

We ate and talked about the children playing and our childhood. Listened to the splashing of other kids and parents by the lake and talked on a wide variety of topics as the wind played with our hair and as we sat under the tree’s shade.

She yawned and set down her books. “I’m sleepy and tired.” She said.

“Do you want to go home?”

“No I just wanna stay here; it’s such a loss to miss such a beautiful day.”

Then she leans back and rests her head on my shoulders. She looks at me for a moment. “Don’t you dare move too much or I’ll leave a mark on your ribs as a reminder of what you have done.” She said chuckling a little bit and went to sleep.

I smile and told her to rest and I played her a song as she slept. After some time I look at her and wonder if it really was destiny that made us meet. Was it something more? Or is the world, as they say, just small where people bump into each other.

The wind played with her hair and her hair danced on her hair. She looked really at peace just sleeping there, her head resting on my shoulder. A woman is even more beautiful when she is at peace, as the sunlight makes a glow around her, and when you are with her.

She is simple, smart, amazing, funny and a lot more.

I smile and combed her hair slightly and gazed at the skies…


What shall happen again? What is next? What shall become? Is destiny really choice? Or is it pure chance? Or could it be a mixture of both? Chapter 3 arrives… as the sun that rises.