Chapter 10

"I can't believe we are ending another art exhibition in the gallery," Nina said.

Nate didn't seem to hear her.

Nina gave him a kiss on his cheek to bring him back.

"Hey, busy day? Deep thought," she said.

Nate smiled. He's embarrassed that she caught him while his mind was wandering.

"Not really. The activities this whole month must have gotten over me. My mind wanders for no reason," he explained.

"I told you to let the wedding organizers do their job. They're actually surprised that the groom is more hands on than the bride," she said.

Nate hugs her soon-to-be bride. "I think I can rest a little after the gallery's activities are over," he said.

"What have the gallery's activities got to do with you? It's my area, my job. I should be the one getting stressed out balancing my job and the upcoming wedding," she said.

"I don't want you to be stressed. I share everything with you," Nate said as tries to kiss her.

"Hey, it's too early to be clingy. Why don't we think of where to go for dinner?" she asked.

"You always complain about this. Some girls would die to be in your shoes," he joked.

"Oh, really? By the way, I already shipped your artwork to its new owner. You told me to ship it as soon as possible, right?" she asked.

Nate confirmed. "I actually visited the place earlier today. I thought of looking at it one more time now that I gave away that artwork." he said.

"You mean you really stopped by like you left your car, went inside the park, and sat on that bench?" she asked.

Nate nodded.

"Oh, you must have thought about her. Birthdays, weddings, they make people melancholic, don't they?" she said.

"C'mon, do you really have to bring that up?" he asked.

Nina gave a big grin.

"How about you? Do you have the same feeling?" Nate asked seriously.

Nina turned serious too. "Umm…that part of my life is the worst. why would I even attempt to recall?" she said.

Nate realized what he just asked. He pulled her close to console her. "I'm sorry. I was insensitive," he said.

"Oh, there's nothing to be sorry about. I just got the dose of my own medicine for teasing you," she said.

That long embrace reminds Nate that he is there to protect Nina. He is her knight in shining armor. He shall not and will not do anything that will upset her.

"Hey, why don't you have another drawing of that place. This time you will draw its latest view. Time passed and you need to capture the new face of that place, I think that's a good idea," Nina suggested.

"You think so?" Nate asked. He seems to approve the idea.

That evening, they bond once again like they don't have a lifetime to share. As he strokes her hair while she sleeps in his arm, Nate feels how blessed he is to find love in Nina and have a good life ahead of them. He is complete but it's a shame that his mind is still wandering and wondering.

Cela is slowly getting back to her usual routine. Although still on break, she's now starting to feel inspired to start on a new story just by thinking of the Cedar bench. There's something magical about that place that inspires her to write. It's must be the peace and quiet of that place or perhaps, it's the realization of her long time dream of getting there and sitting there even for a few minutes.

At 6AM, the park has no visitors yet. Cela waited for another 30 minutes before she got out of her car. She made sure to check the weather to know if it's going to be sunny even in the morning at least. Instead of her laptop, she brought a pen and a small notepad for recording ideas, feelings, and scenarios that will come to her mind while observing the surrounding.

She's only been here for two days but she already lost count on how many times she said to herself that the place is so peaceful that she can hear her own thoughts and these are new ideas so she's certainly off to a good start. In less than an hour, she's able to write a lot on the first few pages of her notepad. Needless to say that she's definitely loving the place.

"Hello." Cela heard a an old lady's friendly voice. She turned around and saw two older adults.

"Mind if we joined you. She sprained her foot," the old man asked. His wife seems to be in discomfort but is trying to keep a happy front.

"Sure, sir. Please have a seat," Cela said. "Are you okay, ma'am?" she asked the old lady.

The old lady looks to be in pain again. "It's nothing, my dear. It will go away with just some rest here. Sorry to bother you," she said.

"She should have not worn her new shoes. I told her it's smaller than her foot size but she insisted that she wanted that pair because of its color," the old man said.

The wife gestured to Cela that she should not listen to her husband. They bickered for a few minutes before laughing out loud together.

Cela finds it cute to see the old couple bicker then make up in no time.

"Don't mind us. We're like this all the time. It's normal, It isn't normal if we don't," the old lady said.

"I actually find it rather entertaining," Cela said.

"Are you new here, dear?" the old lady asked.

"Oh no, ma'am. I grew up here but I didn't always go out and then later on, I moved to another place," Cela.

"So, you came here for a visit or you're on a break then?" the husband asked. He joined the conversation.

"Sort of. But actually, I need some inspiration for the book I am writing and I thought this was a good place for that," Cela said.

"Oh, you are a writer. Are you into romance? You can write our story if you ran out of ideas for your stories," the old lady offered.

"I think yours is a sweet love story, isn't it? I could tell," Cela said. She's enjoying the conversation with the old couple.

"You know, we moved here a decade ago and this park was the first thing we loved about this place. It's peaceful and not crowded," the old lady said. "Wait, so you knew the story of this park since you said you were originally from here?" she then asked Cela.

"Which story?" Cela asked. She's curious about it.

"That story of two students who were supposed to meet right here in this bench but the girl's mother intervened and they never saw each other again. Too bad," the wife said.

Totally shocked upon hearing the story, Cela tries not to show any hint that she's that girl they're talking about. She now feels uncomfortable talking to the old couple knowing that they also heard of the story that was passed on maliciously.

"They said that's the reason why teenagers don't come here to date, only old people like us do. They're avoiding the jinx," the old lady continued.

"That's so absurd. I'm sure some parents just made that up to scare their teenage kids who try to go here to date. I myself told that too to our kids, remember?" the old man said.

"I must agree. I'm thinking, if there's even truth to that, then it only applies to young people who are starting to date but not for those who are already couples like us," the wife said.

Cela enjoys the couple's no nonsense conversation. It's like they are talking to themselves in their own home.

"Look at us. We argued many times but when we came here and sat here, we naturally reconciled. It's a lovely place. It's unfair to be tied up to a sad, unconfirmed story," the old man said.

"Yes, that's true, dear," the old lady told Cela. "When you two have an argument, try to come here. It's guaranteed to be solved maybe not in one snap but trust me, the air will start to clear and eventually lead you to reconciliation."

Cela is confused. She doesn't know if the wife is telling her something specific or as a general observation.

"Ah! There he is," the wife suddenly exclaimed. "Honey, I told you," she said to her husband.

Nate suddenly showed up from out of nowhere. The old couple looked to each other as if they knew it would happen.

Cela is more confused now. She wants to stand up and leave at an instant but she also doesn't want to be obvious that she's avoiding him.

"Come here, dear. Sit beside her," the old lady told Nate then told her husband to move to the right to give him enough space.

Nate is obviously puzzled as well but he did what he was told.

The two feel awkward suddenly finding themselves sitting closely next to each other but the older couple seems to be happy about it.

"We saw you two here yesterday," the old lady teased them.

"Hon, that's enough. Let's leave them alone," the old man told his wife.

"Oh, I didn't realize it's almost 11am. My favorite show is starting in 30 minutes. We better hurry," the old lady said.

The old couple left in a hurry without introducing themselves to Cela and Nate.

"Do you know them?" Nate asked. It's a natural way to start a conversation in an awkward situation.

"I just met them today. I didn't even get their names," Cela replied.

Both don't know what to say next in order to continue the conversation.

"I'm leaving too. I've been here since early this morning," Cela said.

"You are? Actually, I thought you might be here this morning but you must have left by now," Nate said. "I know you avoid intense heat of the sun."

Cela couldn't help but look at Nate. How come he knows that thing about her but she doesn't have room for a longer conversation so she just ignored it.

"It's your turn here now," she said to him.

"It's like we are on shifting schedule," he said.

"I'll be back again tomorrow," she said.

"That's fine. I'll finish my sketch today," he said.

It's odd but they seem to reach an agreement to give way to each other so they won't have to meet again.

It was another day in the bench.