“I wondered, why would someone do that, he has money, stability, strength.
Then, I realized what was often ignored in a lot of situations, the person herself. What makes her happy, what would she like to do in life. The human element. And, I believe that’s why my publication has failed miserably to this point, because, in our attempt to be literary, intelligent, artistic, we have blatantly ignored the human elements of what we write about.
Feelings, objects, emotions, love, hate, we write about them all, but almost never about the people who perceive those things, set them in motion, who give life to those things. I intend to re-focus our attention, more towards people, real life stories, in general towards becoming more down-to-earth, humble, caring, and easy-to-please. In other words, a lot like Janice. In fact, you could say that I was a drying piece of parchment, and Janice was the water that changed it so that it would not wither away.”
At that instant, he saw Janice walking towards him, holding a backpack. She smiled at him. He gritted his teeth. The nitty-gritty of it all was coming up. “Brace yourself, Mr. Santos”, he thought to himself, as he went on.
“Or you could say that I was the sandy beach and Janice was the ocean, both meeting to get away from the hot dryness and the cold moistness. But, as on the shore, water doesn’t always meet nicely and cleanly with the beach, sometimes they meet in a big, crashing, heavy wave. In other words, change doesn’t always happen nice and easily, it sometimes happens with an impactful event.”
Janice was now at his side. He felt at ease, and more encouraged to continue.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would be lying to all of you to say that we didn’t meet with an impact. At the time though, I didn’t know who she was, she didn’t know who I was. I did know, though, that I had just met the woman of my dreams, and she broke up with her fiancee’ because of me, and, we fell in love with each other, and had sex, unaware of our blood relations.”
Everyone seemingly gasped in unison. John noticed that his parents were talking to each other, very calmly, almost casually. Mr. Santos, though, seemed quite livid, and then some woman whispered something to him. John could almost make out a small, extremely subtle grin on his face.
“I know that I won’t be able to get the story of tonight’s events out to you right now, but I will someday, of course. And even if I never see her again in my life, I will always love Janice Santos, for being the most wonderful, courageous person I have ever known.”
He kissed her square on the mouth, to everyone’s shock. To John’s surprise, though, she broke off the kiss prematurely and grabbed the microphone.
“And I will go with John, whatever he does, wherever he goes. I realize that’s what I want in my life, damn the consequences. I am packed, I am leaving with him, and if Mom or Dad never want to talk to me again because of it, that’s their loss. I never loved Alfred, yet you arrange my marriage to him. You make me out to be the next coming of Dad without asking me if that’s what I’d truly want to be. I want to make my own life, not have it dictated to me, and I will go with perhaps the one person who can help me find out what I’d truly want, and that’s John. I’m going to marry him.”
They both ran out of the house and into John’s car, sensing Mr. Santos’ “thugs” coming after them, even though they hadn’t moved from where they were standing. The two lovers then drove off into the night.
The whole place was buzzing with talk, mostly of the two cousin-lovers. Mr. Santos, visibly upset, asked his wife, “Have we been that bad to her?” Mrs. Santos replied, “Maybe we should’ve asked her what she wanted instead of giving her what we assumed she desired”. Mrs. Santos smiled, and said, “Well, remember what I told you earlier. She doesn’t know the whole truth of things. She may find out someday, though.”
John’s parents were also talking to each other. “Should we tell him? I mean, it is kind of sweet, and all, but if she doesn’t know, then someone has to tell him. For practicality’s sake.” “No, let them find out for themselves. I think it will be better that way. Imagine, those two falling for each other, finding out they’re cousins, and then running off with each other.” “And then, someday, they’ll find out they’re really second cousins. That would be kind of poetic, wouldn’t it? John would probably like that!”
And, on that same patch of beach that John manifested his idea, they both held each other in the ocean airy night, necking and kissing, mere minutes from their public confession.
“Well, we have our lives somewhere out in front of us now. Ours to guide and steer, how do you feel about that, Janice?” “It feels so good! Thanks for being such a great guy.” “Thanks for being a great girl. You know, with all those rich and famous people in there, as well as a few media people, The Parchment is going to get some tremendous free publicity from tonight.” “You just knew that all along, didn’t you?” “Yes, that was part of my plan. We are truly going up from here!” “We are, and, no stopping us, for sure!”
“Can I make a confession to you?” “Sure, go right ahead. Priestess Jan is right here to listen to you confess.” “I’ve been thinking, perhaps, even if I knew you were my cousin, I still would’ve fell for you that time. You are just that great.” “Hmm. Okay, since you were kind enough to reveal that to me, want to hear my confession?” “Okay.” “I knew we were cousins all along.”
John couldn’t quite make out if he heard a wave crashing, or water rapidly crawling back into the ocean darkness.
Jeremiah
©1999 Jerome Baquilar
Jerome Baquilar, a civil engineering degree holder from Waipahu, Hawaii, says that his C.E. degree was the toughest thing in his life to attain, but the accomplishment he’s most proud of is that he was invited to the 1997 tryout camp of the Sacramento River Rats of Roller Hockey International! He also writes fictional stories and poetry.