On the Bench

It was an ordinary day. Jasmine was lying on her bed, which were situated on the center of her room. She surveyed its four corners to crack something out and ease the boredom she was feeling. Then, her sight was stuck at the picture frame displayed on the study table, which stood on the right side of the area, for awhile. It was a photo of her with Andrew, her fiance, standing at the facade of their school. They were happy on the picture - her head on Andrew’s shoulder and his right hand around her waist. They were such a perfect couple.

Her body dismounted from the bed and she found herself seated on the chair beside the study table. She leaned her back heavily against the backrest. She could see through the window, which was just above the table, how bad the weather was. It was raining very hard. The cold wind blew freely through her window that gave a chilly atmosphere in her room. She threw her sight at the picture frame for a whil. Then, her right hand began to reach for it. and the moment her hand touched the frame, she grabbed it and she held it in her arms, - her eyes were closed. Her sentiments took her sanity away. It led her to think of her fiance.

Finally, the rain had stopped when she came back to her senses. The rays of the sun was already caressing her skin. But how come she was still feeling odd? She was feeling something inside her heart that she couldn’t really explain. She didn’t know how to express it. She quivered as she thought of it. Then, she started to get jaded. She wished that her fiance was on her side to accompany her. She longed for his company though they were together all day yesterday and they had so much fun.

Jasmine decided to go to her little garden. She could smell the sweet scent of the flowers, which gave her a relaxing sensation as she walked toward it. The garden was filled with full-bloomed beautiful flowers. The rain had cleaned the entire area and brought back its beautiful colors. Butterflies and bees started to fly around the place. She felt like she was half way to heaven. She could almost experience the sweet taste of nirvana. it seemed like a lost paradise in a deserted island.

In the middle of the garden stood an oak tree. Behind this majestic tree rested a small wooden bench. The bench was the sole witness of her struggle to the furies of life - her solitude to heal the wounds of the heart. The tree shaded her from the blazes of the sun when she rested on her friend, the bench.

She stood beside the tree. She leaned her back on its rough trunk and she closed her eyes - arms staright, open palms on the tree. Then, she took a deep breath - smelling the delicate scent of her little paradise. She opened her eyes and gazed far away. She just felt the moist of her tears on her rosy cheeks. She couldn’t stop them from falling. She was impassive for a while, while the wind caressed her body. Her body become numb. She couldn’t understand why she w feeling this way. At the back of her mind, she perfectly understood that everything was very strange.

“Jasmine…”

She heard a gentle voice spoke her name behind the tree where she stood. It brought her back to her sense as if she wa backt to her old self again.

“Who could that person be?” she thought.

She knew that voice. It sounded familiar to her petty ears. Without a doubt, she excitedly went to the place where the voice came from to see who owned it. Unfortunately, she did not see hen she reached the place. She was fully disappointed. Could it just be her imagination? Definitely not! She heard the voice vividly. She searched the place but no one was there. Then, she convinced herself that ’twas just her imagination.

She settled herself on the bench. She let out a long slow breath and stared up at the brialliant blue sky. this day had never been the same to her. She could feel the tension of something she was not sure of. And she was really bothered by the voice she heard awhile ago. What did that mean? Why was everything was so confusing to her? It was not a good day.

She kept her mind busy - thinking about the familiar voice that she didn’t even notice the things around her. Surprisingly, a hand holding a peach rose, which was coming from her back, appeared in front of her, which distracted her piece of sentiment. She turned around to see who the person was. She was surprised when she saw Andrew’s face. She knew it. It wa her fiance. Now, all the strange feelings she had felt vanished. His presence eased her loneliness and gave her security. She held the peach rose and smelled its fragrance. Then, she looked at him again. She gave him a smack and embraced him tightly. All she could feel was happiness.

“You look stunningly beautiful…” he casted.

” How long have you been standing there?” she asked.

“About a couple of minutes ago, I guess…”

“I thought you were going to drive your cousin back to Manila?”

“It was cancelled,” he immediately answered - dodging her glances.

Afterwards, Andrew sat next to Jasmine on the bench. He was staring at her now. He placed his right hand on her cheek nad gently caressed her face. Then, he held her hands as tightly as he could and kissed them. Jasmine, tickled, could feel the joy inside her. Andrew treated her so special in many ways. How could she resist his charms? He always surprised her evrytime they were together. How could she not fall in love with him? He was the man of her dreams. Her enjoyment burst into her whole system. She wished that this would not come to an end.

Then, they shared the whole day together on the bench - Jasmine’s head was leaning on Andrew’s right shoulder nd his well-built arm around her. They engaged themselves on a simple yet meaningful conversation. They reminisced their moments together.

Andrew told Jasmine that his life became meaningful when he met her. He became sentimental for a moment. Yet, they didn’t waste every minute and took the full leisure to about the old times. They promised that their love would last forever and they would never leave each other even in the second life.

Jasmine had fallen asleep. Andrew just watched her and waited for her to wake up. Then, he kissed her.

The day was almost ending when Jasmine woke up in his arms. She didn’t notice that she fell asleep. the next thing she knew, Andrew was staring ate her.

From the bench, they watched the sun as it set. It was really beautiful. He held her right hand while the other was around her waist. It seemed that they owned the world. She really loved Andrew and he was everything to er. She would never know what would happen to her if she would lose him. He was the air that she breathed. She knew that he had enjoyed this day so much as she had enjoyed it. She could see it in his eyes the happiness he was feeling. She really had fun with him.

It was dusk wn they decided to part ways. Jasmine, accompanied by Andrew, walked to toward the door of her house. Then, he bade her goodbye and he seemed so serious. But before he left, he drew near her and spared her a tight hug. She could feel his heart throbbing so fast. Jasmine felt so odd again. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his well-developed chesht. She felt so secured. Then, he kissed her so passionately. She couldn’t resist the temptation that was running her body. She kissed him back so tenderly. Afterwards, he paused for a while and stared at Jasmine. He smiled at her the way he used to do. His smiles told her that everything was okay now. And then, he said to her, “thank you for this day. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.” After that, he started to walk away from her. She watched him until he disappeared from her sight.

She decided to go inside so she closed the door. She ascended on the steps of the stairs until she reached her room. She sat on the chair. She looked at the peach rose on her hand and smelled it again. Then, a cold wind blew freely on her face. She looked at the half-open glass window were the wind had passed through. She palced the rose on the table. And she got herself standing on her feet to close the window.

“Kring… kring… kring…” the phone was ringing. the sound broke the silence. Jasmine immediately gripped the phone and answered it.

“Hello? Who is it?” she asked

“Is this Jasmine?” said the voice on the other line.

“Speaking…” she replied.

“Andrew and his cousin are in the hospital right now… His car crashed at the bridge this morning… Because of the heavy rain… Both of them are in cmatose condition for ten hours… the doctor said.. that… his cousin has responded now but… Andrew… Andrew DIED.. He died at… at around 8 o’clock this eve…”

Jasmine immediately looked at the clock hanging on the left wall of her room. It read 8.20 p.m. She lost her grip on the phone. She was impeded by the electrifying feeling which ran through her veins - from head to toe. tears suddenly dropped from her eyes and fell on the single petal of the peach rose on the table.


by Bhelat23