A Hundred and One Days

I ORDERED my usual meal in this restaurant where I used to eat my dinner. I sat near the window, watching the city lights glow in the dark; just like a fallen star on the ground, lighting up the long road.

I took a bite of the omelet, cheesy with dark leafy greens. It’s my favorite. There's nothing unusual tonight, it was just me, dining in this restaurant. I can see the servers from where I was seated. All young people dressed in white tunics move wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full. I thought tonight will be uneventful not until someone interrupts me.

"Hi, would you mind if I share this table with you?" someone asked. I look at the man wearing an all black outfit. He is holding a tray of his food. He's wearing a hopeful smile on his face as if he is expecting that I wouldn't mind.

I look around and frowned. There are still a lot of unoccupied tables, so why does this man in front of me wanted to dine in with me?

It seems like he noticed my uneasiness that's why he scratched the back of his head. "Ah... I also want to watch the city lights, and this is the most convenient spot."

As much as I don't want a company tonight, I don't want to be rude to this man.

"Take a seat, I don't mind," I said and gave him a small smile.

His face lightened up as he took his seat and look at the City lights just the way I look at it.

I began eating my meal again. I took notice of his food on his plate. He ordered mushroom soup, rare roast beef slices as thin as paper, and cheese that could melt on the tongue served with sweet blue grapes. It was surprising that the silence between us is comfortable. Normally, when I dine in with a stranger, it was just so awkward, but this is different. I wonder why?

"Do you love the view?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes. It was really wonderful. It feels like I could reach the stars," I said dreamily.

I noticed a ghost of smile on his face. "As expected from you...”

I stared at him questioningly. What does he mean by that?

"I am Gino, by the way," he said instead of elaborating what he just said a while ago.

"Okay," I replied nonchalantly.

"Okay?"

"Yes. What do you want me say?"

I began to notice the blush that slowly crept on his face. I held back the urge to laugh.

"Won't you say your name?" his accent was such a playful tune, as if he were the star of his own movie. I could have sat there all day and simply listen and smile. This guy is a little bit confident. I thought he would just ask random questions, but then it becomes personal.

"I won't say my name to strangers," I responded flatly.

Even if I only talk to him when he asks me questions, it seems like all of our conversations were meaningful and has sense. I don't know why I feel so comfortable with him. It feels like I have known him for a long time. This is crazy. I just met him, and then, we're talking with no restrictions at all.

"I’ll drive you home," he said. I was about to get out of the restaurant when he said this.

I looked at him. He has this hopeful look in his face again just as the one’s he wore when he asked to dine with me. He seems to be trusted, but I don't think I need someone to accompany me in going home.

"There’s no need to do that. I can manage myself," I immediately left just before he can argue with me. I have to reprimand myself because I almost said yes. I don’t even know him. What is wrong with me? Nevertheless, a small smile still curved on my face as I began to reminisced my moments together with mister stranger.

The next day, after my work, I went to my favorite restaurant again. The restaurant feels as if I have entered a dreamland, the happy chatter, the fragrances, and the easy and natural color. It’s like the hue of the summer sky, yet here and there are colors of the sweetest meadow blooms. I ordered my usual meal and sat on my usual spot. The sight and aroma of the food was a gentle massage to my soul.

"Hi, miss Stranger. Would you mind if I watch the City lights with you?"

It's he again! I felt weird because my heart skips a beat when I heard his voice. I must be crazy now.

"Hello to you, Mister Gino!" I cheerfully greeted him. Before I could permit him to accompany me, he immediately sat comfortably in front of me and again, he watches the City lights the way I do.

"Why do you love the view?" this time I began to ask questions. I am just curious.

He smirked at me before answering. "I see you're interested in me now?"

"You wish!" I threw a tissue on his way. He was able to dodge it right away and began laughing. His laugh was so familiar. It feels like I’ve heard it before.

"I love the view because it reminds me of someone I love," he finally said. I can feel the pain and longing in his voice. It's as if I am hurting too.

"My name is Clarrise," I said trying to divert the topic into something else.

He smiled. "I know...”

I was baffled by what he just said. "W-What?! I mean, how did you know?"

"I just knew."

I let out a laugh. "Are you stalking me?"

"You wished," he mocked my tone when I said that to him.

"How dare you!" I uttered whimsically with a smile on my face as I swirl the pasta on my fork.

Just like last night, we talked about random things. We laughed and talked until nine in the evening. In the buzz of the restaurant, words can be challenging to catch, yet his body language and deep soul are so easy to hear.

"I have to go," I finally said while fixing my bag.

I was about to step out of the house resto when he held my hand. "I’ll drive you home."

I was about to object but he never let go of my hand and so I end up being drag by him in the parking lot. We stopped near a motorcycle.

A sudden sense of déjà vu hit me. I remember I was riding a motorcycle with someone. I remember falling off the motor, hitting my head onto something, as blinding lights blurred my view.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Concern is lacing his voice.

"Yes. I just remembered something." 

I saw something flicked in his eyes. He seems to be contemplating about asking something.

"Are we going to ride on that?" I asked and pointed at the black motor. I just noticed that he has a fascination for black so much because he's wearing black again.

"No. I promised myself that I will never ride a motorcycle ever again. I lose someone I love because of it."

"Oh," was my only reply. I don't really know how to comfort someone when he/she is sad. I just feel like I am not that kind of friend who can bring comfort within whatever reality someone finds himself.

In the end, he drove me home using his black car. I don't know how he found out where I am residing, but I just found myself going out of his car and thanking him.

"You're really stalking me," I gushed.

"Maybe, maybe not."

That night was then followed by series of dinners. We dine in together in our favorite restaurant, watching the city lights together and talking about ourselves. I’ve become aware that I've been seeing him for months now. He's adorable and he is that kind of guy any woman could fall for. He had that kind of face that stopped anyone in his tracks. It didn’t help that he was so modest with it, and made the girls fall for him all the more. I guess I am one of them.

We are currently sitting side by side on the grassy field of the park near the restaurant, silently watching the hundreds of constellations above the dark blanket of sky. The setting was just so familiar. I remember I was sitting on this same spot, side by side with someone else.

I look at his peaceful face as he grinned at the sky.

It was too familiar. It was him whom I was sitting with. It was he who held my hand. I remembered it all. My head began to throb from the pain. Why am I seeing these things? Why is the feeling so familiar? And why does he look exactly like the man in my dreams every night?

"Who are you?" I blurted out.

"Huh?" he looked at me confused.

"Why am I so familiar with this place when it was my first time here? Why am I remembering things about us? Why am I seeing you in my memory as my lover? This... this is just so weird. From the first time I met you, everything was just so weird! I know I only met you three months ago, but why am I remembering things? It's just too impossible!" I said with frustrations.

The atmosphere was suddenly filled with pain, sadness, longing. "It's possible, Clarrise, because all of those happened."

"What?"

"This exact place and on this same spot, I kneeled in front of you. I asked you to marry me. You said yes. I slipped the ring into your finger; the billions of stars were the witness. I jumped happily because I am the happiest man alive. We rode the motorcycle together. We're happy, but then on that same date, I lose you too. I lose someone so dear because of me a year ago," he said with tears glistening on the brim of his eyes.

I began to remember it. We were in the middle of the road, but a ten-wheeler truck came up. It hits us, and I let go of his hand. I never thought that would be the last day I would see him and hold him, because on that day, I lose my memory.

"It took you one hundred and one days to finally remember me since that night when I disturbed your lonely dinner," he now wears a smile on his face.

"Gino, I am sorry…"

"Shhhh. I should be the one apologizing. I am the reason why you lose your memory. If only I was being careful that night. Do you remember when I told you that I will never ride a motorcycle again?"

I nodded.

"That accident a year ago was the reason."

"Is one hundred and one days too late for us to know each other again?" I asked.

A smile formed on his charming face. All the sadness and pain were washed away.

"My name is Gino Mendez, how about you, beautiful lady?" he asked with an impish smile on his face.

I also smiled. Now I know why I love this man. He is my love from the past and my love in the present.

"I am Clarrise Siazon, nice to meet you mister stranger."

It took us one hundred and one dinners to finally continue where we left off.