Catching Sophie

Catching Sophie

“You’re my first catch for the day” mused Leandro as he smilingly eyed a slim, long haired brunette walking on the beach at sunrise. Sophie was oblivious to the man watching her from afar absentmindedly casting a net into the ocean.

She has a lot on her mind lately. Her breakup with Rafael 2 years ago was still fresh from her mind. “I didn’t realize rejection could hurt so bad. Pppffftt… having an affair with my best friend Brenda behind my back was too much to bear” Sophie said out loud while waltzing with the water on her feet. “Aaah well…I should have known better. Mama Corene is always right when it comes to men.” Sophie sighed and started to retrace her steps back to the beach house. Sophie is always afraid to wander too far. She is new to town so she is always careful. Heading back, she didn’t notice that the man on the boat had lost his balance from watching her and had gone overboard and into the ocean.

“Another wet season?” Angela, Leandro’s mother, asks as she sees her son walking towards the house with wet clothes while holding some fresh fish.

“I don’t want to talk about it, mom. But if you must know, It was worth it.” Leandro impishly replied with a grin while handing her the fish.

“Well, you’ll run out of dry clothes. This is the third day that this has happened. You’ll be walking naked before you know it, “ Angela teased her son. Leandro smiled with a new glint on his hazel brown eyes as he headed inside his room to shower.

The next day, Leandro was already up at 5 am and ready to head out. With his net slung on his shoulders, he started mumbling under his breath. He is starting to get nervous. “I have to approach her, but how?” Leandro hissed. He scratched his head. He is running on blanks when it comes to the brunette let alone when he thinks of approaching her. Leandro took his time cleaning his boat. He is formulating a plan. “The first rule is to keep dry,” he grinned at himself. Leandro pushed his boat into the ocean to catch some fish before the brunette arrived. Leandro’s heart is thumping fast. He has a goal today.

Sophie , on the other hand, woke up at 6 am. After freshening up, she decided to go for her morning walk at the beach.

“What a beautiful sunrise. It’s for new beginnings, I guess,” Sophie sighed. The sun is slowly creeping up giving the sky a golden hue. The waves crashed with each other making rhythmic echoes as well. Sophie was hypnotized with the picture before her. She didn’t notice that an olive skinned well built man was standing beside her.

“You’re my first catch for the day” the man softly said.

Sophie was taken aback. “I’m sorry, “ she said with a start. The man kept quiet for a moment while scanning her face. He saw the hurt look in her green eyes including the hint of alarm in them. He checked himself. “Here’s my catch for the day. Do you want them?” he asked Sophie.

“I don’t have money to give you for the fish. My purse is in the house.” Sophie replied. Leandro smiled, “Come, walk with me instead and the fish is yours.”

Sophie reluctantly said, “I’m not good at making conversation.”

Leandro countered, “We’ll walk in silence then.”

Sophie stared at the man beside her. He seems to be a good man with good intentions. “Aaahh well, no harm done” she thought. She nodded in agreement and started walking.

Leandro and Sophie walked in silence. Both were in deep thought. No one said a word but they are aware of each other’s presence. Once at Sophie’s residence, she stopped and said “This is where I stay. Goodbye.” Leandro nodded and handed her the fish. He turned around and headed towards the ocean again. He has a grin plastered on his face while walking back. Sophie walked into the beach house quietly. “It was a nice walk, I’d say.” Sophie silently mused as she approached Corene to give the fish.

It was another beautiful morning when Sophie headed out for her walk. This time, she noticed Leandro sitting at the beach spot where she normally retreated back to the beach house. Leandro’s demeanor brightened when he laid eyes on her walking towards him. He stood up, removed his hat and bowed in her direction. Sophie nodded tentatively at him and then turned around to head back to her residence. Without missing a beat, Leandro was by her side. They walked in silence with only the crashing waves soaking their feet and feeling the charged atmosphere in the air between them. Again, Sophie said goodbye and Leandro disappeared into the beach again.

“We can build a fish market here at the house sooner or later, “ Corene lovingly poked fun at Sophie when she handed her the fish she got from her morning walk.

“But, you like fish. Besides, they are very fresh and good for your health.” Sophie countered.

“Is it the fish that you like or the catcher of the fish? He seems to be a nice young chap from where I am standing.” Corene probed

Sophie blushed and retorted awkwardly, “I barely know him. I don’t even know his name. We’ve been walking in silence for a couple of times now and admittedly, it feels good.” Sophie suddenly checked herself. “Oh! Mama Corene, stop putting words in my mouth! Ssshh you!” Sophie blurted and walked out.

Corene smiled knowingly at Sophie’s retreating figure. “About time you find the right man.” Corene whispered under her breath as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Two weeks have passed since Sophie and Leandro started walking together in silence. Corene silently watched as Sophie’s mood became lighter each day. “So what do you know? She’s starting to smile again. Soon, I will hear the laughter of my dear Sophie. These walks are doing her good” Corene wistfully pondered.

On the west side of the beach. Angela is knowingly smiling at her son. “Everything you touch is turning to gold lately, Leandro. Your mood is bright. You can be a butterfly, I dare say. Care to tell me who the lucky girl is.” Angela prodded.

“I’ll take her home to you, mom. I promise. I just need time” Leandro smiled broadly. He then hugged Angela and got his net for the morning catch. Unfortunately, the net is caught in a couple of bamboo trees loosely piled outside the house. The branches crashed and hit Leandro on his right ankle. Leandro let out a loud yelp and fell to the ground.

“What happened? Oh my God! Are you alright?” Angela blurted out as she emerged from the front door after hearing Leandro. He was sitting on the ground holding on to his right ankle with severe pain written all over his face. The bamboo trees are still pinning him down.

Angela with some help from the household brought Leandro to the local hospital. He has a sprained ankle according to the emergency physician. Leandro went home with crutches and wasn’t too happy. He needs to rest his ankle and to avoid walking on it for the next 2 weeks according to the good old physician Philippe. Leandro was thinking of the walk with the brunette. “Darn, will she miss me? Or am I just a nuisance to her solitude? I wonder” Leandro mused. “I never asked her name. Argh!” he contemplated. Leandro is grumpy and slumped on the couch to watch television. He is restless.

“Sophie’s quiet lately. No fish for the past 3 days nor a sign of the fish catcher,” Corene thought while eyeing her ward. Sophie is slumped on the nook of the french windows looking afar. “He just disappeared without a word. That is so mean,” Sophie absentmindedly thought as she stared blankly at the ocean. She is overcome by new emotions she can’t explain. But, Sophie is sure she is annoyed and angry at the olive skinned muscular man.

Day by day Sophie went for her walk. There was no sign of the fisherman who walked with her. On the eighth day of his absence, Sophie couldn’t contain herself anymore. As she approached her destination on the beach, she became teary eyed.

“I’m lost. It hurts more that the mysterious fisherman has disappeared in thin air compared to what Rafael did. It is not fair,” Sophie mumbled in between sobs. She turned to the ocean and watched as the sun glimmered on the crying brunette. Out of nowhere, she felt a warm hand shoving a shirt at her.

“Penny for your tears? Who did you lose today?” Leandro playfully asked while leaning on his crutches. Sophie turned around as she couldn't believe the catcher of the fish was beside her.

“I thought I’d lost you. You disappeared without saying goodbye.” Sophie cried. Leandro’s demeanor turned to warm liquid. He laughed.

“I thought I’ll never see you again myself. Thought you’ve given up on me after a few days of absence.” Leandro countered. He then told Sophie what happened to him. Sophie listened intently and became worried after learning he should be taking a rest. All of a sudden, Leandro blurted, “By the way, I am Leandro Noble. What’s your name?”

Sophie laughed, “I am Sophie Johnson. Nice to meet you. I thought I’ll never know who you are.” Leandro laughed with her. Both of their fears and apprehension vanished in thin air. The only witness to the prelude is the sunrise basking them with a golden hue.

That was one and half years ago. Time has flown and their relationship has grown overtime. As they touch hands and finish exchanging vows, Leandro said, “You’re my first catch for the day, Mrs. Sophie Johnson-Noble.” Sophie smiled back at him. “Indeed, I am,” Sophie replied.