5th: Heaven and Hell

Nobody said fate played fair. No one ever assured us that life doesn't mess with our expectations and plans. And cupid? Trash cupid. As far as i am concerned, his arrow must not strike one heart twice, that would be adulterous. But then, i recall how in my younger years i would hear my mother say: "But i've been wrong before." And she wasn't the only one.

In my life's fairytale, I have always been some sort of Cinderella, a dark-humored Cinderella. It is nevertheless shocking and earth-shaking when in my tale, instead of losing one of those glass slippers that never seemed to break, i lose my clothes and everything underneath. What's worst is this strong hands begin to caress and squeeze along the length of my body and i actually respond, and then i slowly open my eyes expecting to see Midnight's beautiful face (in my head, i was thinking that this was like one of those mornings when I just wake up beside the man I plan to spend my forever with) only to see someone else.

Oh he is a man alright, the length of his even-toned and naked body lay confidently beside me, his eyes concentrated on my face which i presume has successfully showed how alarmed i felt at that moment.

"Good morning stranger", Zephyrus said coyly as he grinned and lay on top of me, "Your boyfriend called early this morning, around 5 am, he said he was uh, gonna be back in 5 days and that he misses and loves you terribly. Corny if you ask me."

With all my strength i pushed him off me and stood up, arms akimbo. It wasn't until he raised an eyebrow and groaned that i realized i was standing in front of him in my nakedness. I would have been embarrased if not for the fact that i now remembered how last night (or morning) was --- hot, wanton, steamy --- and here comes the part i dread the most : adulterous.

"You're impossible.", I muttered breathelessly. "You.. How could you?.. I.. I have a man i love and you barge into our condo and.. and seduce me into our bed to take advantage of my drunk state!". I was blabbering alright, but i didn't care. I just couldn't believe that alcohol has taken me this far. Why me?

"Seriously stranger," he started as he sat up and faced me, tactically draping a portion of the blanket on his 'down there'. "I recall that I wasn't the one moaning 'harder'. Second, you weren't entirely drunk because i know for sure that you know whatever it is that happened last night, or morning and third," he paused and stretched his back as he yawned, "If it was the drunk part that you are so mad about, we can go try the sober part just so you realize that in some ways i can be better than your boring and safe sailing Midnight." And then he smiled like a little boy who just got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do and covering it up by being irresistably cute.

I loved to have the last word, my mother said so. My friends said so. But something about this man just changed that. Surprisingly, i just stood there, my face twisted in disbelief. He continued to inspect me in a challenging way. In distress I raised my arms in surrender, rolled my eyes and started to the door.

"Not so fast querida," then he held me from behind and kissed me gently on my temple, he angled my face and planted butterfly kisses from my forehead, cheeks, jaw, shoulder and nape. I knew i shouldn't, but i melted into his warmth like a little girl needed protection. From what, i didn't know.

...

Zephyrus stood before me, showered and wearing a long-sleeved polo shirt, all buttons opened exposing a muscled torso. I was lying on the bed, still naked, but i stayed hidden underneath the blanket which i draped around my shoulders. I was, in description, in an upright fetal position. I was looking at him like my whole being depended on what he has to say.

He smiled at me. It was a different smile, it was a smile that said I was special. "You used me again.", i whispered jokingly. He laughed heartily and drew some of the strands of his hair that fell to his forehead like a lover. "What are we doing?", I asked after a long sigh and to my horror i felt the tears fall. "I'm sorry, I.. I don't usually cry but I am just utterly and inevitably confused." I looked straight into his eyes and saw softness.. and warmth.. an assurance that everything is alright. Out of nowhere my mother's voice seemed to echo through my head, it was those times when we asked her why she married dad. Every single time she said the same thing : "Something in his eyes told me that everything is gonna be alright."

"I can't fall in love with you." I said in hoarse voice. He smiled tenderly and sat beside me, held my right hand between both of his hands which i noticed were soft and gentle. "I know." he said, and there was sadness in his voice. He let go of my hand and lay down that his head was in level with my feet. He cushioned his magnificent head with a pillow and watched me.

"What?", i asked, almost chuckling.

"What we have, that's what.", Zephyrus stated. He reached for my toes feet and drew little circles on them with his pointer. "I have never broken rules in my life querida. I see your back and i lose control, your back. I mean, your back. It's unquestionably odd and I really don't know why i see forever in your eyes. My forever."

"Such words, i never knew you could have such substance.", i quipped and he chuckled.

He stood up, came to me and kissed me softly. "I would willingly reveal who i am my dear sweet skeptic. One of these days you will."

"Do you believe in heaven, or in hell?", i asked as he was walking away. He stopped on his tracks and turned around to face me. In light, careful steps he strode to a good 2 feet from the foot of the bed i was sitting on,

"Yes i do. I live in both."

"You do?"

"Uh-huh."

"Tell me about it then." I urged him out of intense curiousity and interest. I just really wanted to know what he meant. I mean rhetorically speaking I understood, but i wanted to know his story. The look on his face told me there was something more.

"My hell is a place with fast cars, fast women and fast food plus all those fancy rich man stuff.", he answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"And your heaven?"

I just watched as he came close enough to sit beside me and touch my face, his eyes dancing in, i am not sure but, it must have been happiness.

"It's just a small room," he whispered into my ear, "just a small, tiny room with nothing else, nothing else but you."