The Telephone: Princess, Part 2

 There was a cozy little nook not far from the bookstore. They had shared an umbrella on the way and it was the first time he felt the warmth of another human being let alone, a female as his arm brushed hers under the canopy and in the pouring rain. They ordered waffles and they talked more over coffee. Like a child with a new toy, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

She opened fire with the first salvo: “So, you’re friend tells me you’re quite an eccentric.”

--“What’s that? I’m no different from anyone else you know.”

 

 

As she sat there, he was playing back all the conversations they have had the last few days. Yes, the video does sync with the audio and perhaps even exceeded his expectations. He was a happy soul at that moment.

And like their telephone engagements, this date was equally difficult to adjourn. He walked her out of the coffee shop, careful not make any moves that would be considered hostile or exploitative. He played the gentleman all throughout. As they reached the curb, their eyes met again. She extends her hand to shake his. It was very formal but pleasant.

“I have to go.” She said.

--“It was incredible! I’ve never been on a date in my life. Thank you.”

 

 

He lingered quite a while, his eyes locked on the bus she took. He knew there would be other days much like this.

So, the calls went on for hours on end. They would start as early as 10am and just talk through lunch or dinner. They would talk about food which was her passion. He would talk about his adventures as a kid growing up in the northern provinces; camping out in the middle of a storm, skipping class, smoking weed at the churchyard and watching the sun go down over the hills.

She would talk about her family, her former boyfriend, favorite sexual positions, Depeche Mode, Cindy Lauper and Madonna. She would narrate the rather melodramatic life her family lived. Much to his surprise, they did share common friends. She was very much into the music scene as her former beau played the guitar for a famous rock band back then.

One afternoon in July, the conversation veered off to a topic they would not dare discuss…

“What do you think of me?” It was a really dumb question that sort of just blurted itself out. He bit his lips as the words were uttered. “Fuck, what a stupid thing to say!”

 

“I think I’m in love with you!”, she exclaimed.

--“You’re what?”

“Oh please, don’t take that statement seriously. I do enjoy your company and I can’t spend a day without hearing your voice on the line. We hardly get to be together and we exist only on a parallel universe in our minds. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll work out. You’re just my favorite friend at the moment.”

 

 

He sank into the chair. He felt the whole world crashing down and somehow, he did not hear much of what she was saying but the part where she said, “I don’t think we’ll work out.”, was like a jab in the crotch. He couldn’t move.

“How would you know if we’d work out or not? We haven’t tried it yet.”

--“Oh, but we don’t need to. I’m sure we’ll…wait a minute! What are you saying? Are you telling me you’ve developed feelings for me?”

“Yeah, well…”

--“Shit, that’s it! Look, we’re just phone pals…maybe, even best friends but that’s all we are! Have you looked yourself in the mirror lately? Geez, man! Snap off it!”

 

 

There was nothing he could say after that. She just kept hammering down the fact.

“Look, I think we should get off the air for a while. I don’t think this is going where it should. I’m not looking for a new boyfriend and you, sir are looking for your first lay. I don’t want to be part of that! Just put down the phone and I’ll call you when things cool down with you.”

--“I, I can’t…please don’t…”

 

 

A click and a dial tone was all he heard. The line was dead.