THE ENCOUNTER
The clock strikes straight North burning herself to the highest centegrade fahrenheit. My friend Cofsa is in emergency fifty-fifty hand warning.
Cofsa has always been told that she need a man in her life for she is turning thirty next month. There’s always a trouble in her home every Sunday! Men’s lining up with bouquet of white lotus in their arms standing neatly and trimmed. Her neighbor always went to her house every night to make the men stop because the way was being crowded due to illegal parking of shiny and luxurious car in front of her house.
Like stray cats, men’s are being shoed by her friend, Rhodesia. “I told all of you not to come back in here! You’re disturbing her! She doesn’t have any plan for marriage! Get lost you obnoxious people!” she shouted. Seeing men leave and settling in their cars.
She signed. “Let’s go inside now, they already leave, surely they won’t bother me again after what you did” Cofsa said. Walking past the wooden door to the dining table, making sound of collision of her plastic slippers and the wooden floor.
Hearing the door close Cofsa turned to her friend. “The pleasure’s mine!” Rhodesia said. Jumping from corner to corner of the house swaying her hips like an amateur dancer. Watching her friend, a small thin line form in Cofsa’s lips as she look at her. “Come on!”
Pulling both of her friends arms which she repeatedly do, but no avail. “Wait I’m waiting for someone” Rhodesia said eyes on the front of Cofsa's house.
Walking past her friend she glanced at the front of her house with nothing but blossoms of roses and chrysanthemum making an isle in between.
“And who is that someone? Your boyfriend? Hook up?” Cofsa said raising her brows.
She sighed. “No! I don’t have any. If I just have men lining for my attention just like yours I won’t bother finding Cofsa.” Rhodesia said.
Hearing the ticking of the clock, strikes twelve. Cofsa look up to it and exhaled heavily.
“You can have them” she said. Putting her tiny hand on her mouth covering the exhalation of breath with her eyes forming little tear on the side. Stretching her hands.
“Not again! My boss is really a hot and rich softy beast Cofsa, would you mind have a dinner with us later?” she said. Almost a bull red angered. Cofsa sits on the couch getting the remote and change the channel of the television.
She drop herself on the couch laying in her small flowery pillow. “Stop pairing me with rich old obnoxious man Rhodesia!”
Combing her hair Rhodesia sits on the couch just inches below Cofsa’s feet. “They are not old! It’s just a small gap between your age besides your old too.” Getting the remote from the center table making the screen shot receiving a violent stare from her best friend.
“Not yet” Cofsa said, turning it on again sitting on the couch. Rhodesia move to sit on her side. “You’re almost an oldie Cofsa, your exquisite beauty may carry your age making it less an oldie but you can’t deny it Cofsa, you’re not getting any younger!” she sighed. Tugging her friend’s shirt.
Cofsa turned to her and said. “Look who’s talking, stop excluding yourself as if we’re not the same”
Rhodesia raised her hand surrendering. “Come on, try him. He’s just four years older besides you’ve been dating with paints and canvasses for over nine years Cofsa, have a mercy on yourself!” she said.
Standing up she went to the kitchen and add some water on her cup, with her tea sitting on it. “Fine, let me meet your so called, softy beast boss” Cofsa said making her friend giggle.
“You’ll love him! He’s a business tycoon and a well reserve bachelor Cofsa. Use your seductress code you’ll definitely get him.” Jumping from the couch Rhodesia runs to embrace her from the back and volunteered to make her tea.
“I’m not like you Rhodesia” she said.
Pushing the tea in front of Cofsa she sit in the bar stool across her. “Well, that’s acceptable. Don’t forget to list me on the people invited and I’m the bridesmaid!” she clapped.
Rolling her eyes, Cofsa said. “We’re having a dinner not a wedding!" “I thought you’re dining with us?!” Cofsa said.
“Of course not! I’ll just destroy the momentum!” she said inserting her hand across each other like some kind of a barrier.
A door bell making Rhodesia jump and Cofsa shaking her head from time to time. Running to the front door. Rhodesia welcomed someone in. “Oh hey! Mr. Cabradilla come in” she said. The man continues walking inside the house, stopping in front of Cofsa. Rhodesia settled beside her friend. “He’s not impaired hearing right?” Cofsa said.
Shaking her head she smiled at the man who’s looking at them darkly. “No! Let’s say just too idly to say things?” she whispered.
Fixing his tie, he said. “Good evening Ms. Formosa, thank you for the invitation. Should we discuss our business now?” his baritone voice echoed in the room.
Cofsa’s eyebrows raised as she stare at him. “Wow! Does he think I’m an investor or some kind of stock buyer?” she whispered to her friend. Rhodesia’s face became sour. Slowly excusing herself from the burning flame.
“Yes, say my personal investor until then?” she looked at him, lips raised and eyes sharp. “Fool the fish not me. Find other woman who’ll buy your words” she sighed. Shaking her head from the corny line he said.
“It’s not for sale, Love.”
“I don’t accept freebies” she shrugged.
A smirk welcomed Cofsa’s line of sight. “I’m a freebie Ms. Formosa, you deserve the first hand. Just treat me as a philanthropic man who cares for your future” he said. Taking a sip of the tea Cofsa’s sipping earlier.
Giving the man a violent stare as she take her tea back and safety it with both of her hands, she said. “Stop caring about my future you’re not included, besides there’s a lot of woman lining to marry you! I don’t have any treasures that can be added to your fortune Mr. Cabradilla.” His face darkened after what she said. Taken a back by his sudden expression she turned her eyes away.
Fixing his tie, he said. “Don’t worry I’ll find a way for us. I’m not gonna marry anyone if it’s not you. You hear me? Just you” intertwining no of his hands above the table. 'He'll what?!' Cofsa look at him harshly looking at him with her eyes reflecting with uncertainly. 'He's unbelievable!'
“Marriage?! I don’t even know you!” she shouted. Slapping the table making him look at her hands on it. He smirk.
Losing his tie he stands up and slam the table gently, leaning in closer to Cofsa. “No need to study me, you won’t graduate anyway.” He said as he walks slowly going to Cofsa’s direction trapping her with his masculine arms. The smell of his after shave can be smelled in the air.
Cofsa tried to push his body but it didn't even flinch. Wave of electricity travel into her system as if her hormones are going wild from the contact. She stilled.
“I won’t marry a man I don’t love. Both sides will just be miserable. If you’re desperate that you really love me and wanted to marry so soon, you came to a wrong house Mister!” she shouted. Walking into the door. Opening it, presenting to the man, making her lose her patience.
“Sweetheart, your mouth is very plump but the words that comes out are bitter. You have nothing to worry it’s plain on the papers only” he said. Smirking. Walking past her with pure dominance and confidence, he stop mid-way. “And stop embarrassing yourself from me. Hmm?” he whispered near her ear.
“Go home!” she shouted. “Come to the company tomorrow Cofsa, I’ll be waiting.” He said, as he drop his stare at his watch. He stare at her darkly, patting her head before he take his leave. Cofsa left, lips parted open.
The sun came out of it’s trajectory. Rhodesia came running over Cofsa. “So how’s the dinner with him??” slamming the table I’m eating my breakfast with. Shacking Cofsa’s head from side to side, she continued eating. “Don’t even ask” she said.
Occupying the sit in front of Cofsa, Rhodesia said. “What? Why? He’s nice!” Cofsa raised her head to Rhodesia ferociously as her brows wrinkled hearing what Rhodesia said.
Drinking a glass of water. Cofsa said. “Maybe to you, not me” Getting the plate and walking over to the counter, washing the utensils she used. “What? I thought he likes you..?” she said getting the done plate and putting it to Cofsa’s cabinets. Same goes to the spoon and fork.
Cofsa faced her, holding her shoulder in both of her hands. “Likes pestering me, you mean?”
Putting her hands on Cofsa’s hands as she slowly pushes it away, she said. “No I really thought… he.. that’s why he came…but“ walking past Cofsa as she settle herself in Cofsa’s couch sitting sideward looking back at her.
“But what? You thought what?” raising Cofsa’s other brow as she close her hand on her chest. Leaning on the counter facing Rhodesia with her plane black shorts and white shirt printed ‘Nothin’, white.
Shaking her head abrupt, Rhodesia said. “Um. Never mind?” Facing the window, looking so lost. Cofsa’s stare at her lingered for seconds.
“What’s wrong with her?” she whispered.
