A little over 10 years ago, I met this guy in an internet forum and then we started exchanging thought threads. We instantly became online friends and we came up with this story. I never got to meet him in person, but this story stays with me to this day. So here goes...
The pair walked up from the shoreline as the Sun dipping below the horizon bathed them in a oddly warm yellow-red light. He reached out to hold her forearm, bracing her as she carefully stepped up from the sand onto the large jagged rocks lining the path back towards town. Standing up from the short climb, she looked back down upon him while he dusted his shoes and replaced them on his feet. Attention shifted when she caught a glimpse of the changing long shadows on his back formed by the plants next to the path. He jumped up onto the rocks in one quick bound hoping that the movement would gather her attention and interest. Balancing himself, her eyes looked through and past him while she smiled and retraced the day’s memories.
“Jen?”
“Hmmmm . . . .”, she whispered. A teary gloss slowly disappeared from her eyes, her gaze slowly adjusted back towards his.
“You okay?” A low rumbling murmur from the nearby shoreline filled the air as the color in the sky turned to a light violet. Her smile grew as they stared at each other, and as quickly as she could return from her thoughts, their eyes immediately returned to earth. “Hello? . . . you okay?”, an air of concern appeared on his face. Laughing as she turned around he began to feel at ease once again. She moved forward on the path, Kevin placed his hand on the small of her back to steady her and assure her that he was following.
“The sunset, the sky, the colors, that was pretty nice huh?”, he asked rather enthusiastically.
“It’s truly, I quote, romantic”, she sighed, smiling and tilting her head to move the hair from her face.
They laughed and quietly made their way up the path.
“What’s next?”, she asked. This was her last night visiting Kevin in the islands.
“It’s getting darker, wanna go walking around town? Find someplace to eat?”
She nodded yes, tugging on his hand, and letting go as he followed, they walked side by side toward the lights outlining the town of Kahala in the short distance. “We still have to return the movie . . .” following in a computer toned voice, “You’ve got mail”, she laughed softly.
“I’ll return it tomorrow after I see you off”, he replied in a sigh. The evening prior, they chose to spend the evening lounging in his newly built home, relaxing, and watching a movie rental. It would be their last evening together for a while as by morning, she would be on a flight returning north to Canada. Her visits of a week in length seemed in their minds to shorten with each visit, they were the best of friends.
They walked at a casual pace toward town, slowing to take in a few sights. One which attracted her attention was that of Diamond Head which was now a strong sillouette to the west of town with the moon’s glow increasing in the background. They had vowed to climb the heavily photographed tourist destination several times before and have always managed to avoid the feat. “Let’s climb it next time”, he laughed as she smiled still gazing at the mountain.
Motioning at him to move one and winking mischeviously with her eyes, they made their way towards the soft orange glow of the approaching town. Evenings in Kahala hold a calming peacefulness. Cars pass at a leisurely pace, one every other minute or so. Coconut palm trees lined the drive on which they walked, their leaves hanging down with the absense of the sometimes gusty tradewinds. The night was still as a slight chill made its way off the mountain range to the east. . . . .
They finished their meals in a restaurant just five minutes away from Kevin's home. The evening is becoming lonelier because Jen is soon be leaving.
"What if you stay longer until the school's end and I will come with you to Canada?" Kevin said, excited with his new idea. He added, "And so we can finally climb that Diamond Head?"
They stopped for a while in the middle of the street and Jen was just smiling, thinking, considering. "What?" Kevin can't take the suspense anymore.
"I will have to make a phone call first," Jen answered, still uncertain about the idea.
When they got home and made that call, Jen's sister allowed her to stay another week in exchange of bags of Macadamia nuts, a basket of pineapples, and a Hula skirt.
Jen concentrated on the road ahead, while Kevin looked out the window at Diamond Head. Reminiscing about last nights walk and picturing the shine on Jen's hair by the rising moon's light.
Jen drove the truck into the school parking lot as Kevin bounced around in the passenger seat exaggeratedly to emphasize her third attempt at driving in this area of Kaimuki. Kaimuki is an older area of urban Oahu characterized by usual heavy traffic, avenues ridden with utility poles and overhanging wires, constant flows of city buses and passenger cars intermixed with the steady flow of luxury vehicles from the East where the town of Kahala is only 5 minutes away. In front of the school, dozens upon dozens of uniformed school kids walk along Waialae Avenue stopping at the many sidewalk cafes and convenience stores to pick up goodies on route to one of several private catholic schools blocks away.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had pancakes. . .”, Kevin grunted and smiled as he pulled a projector he’d be using for his morning lessons out from the truck. “Hope they’re in the mood for a video this morning”, he said. Setting his projector down on the sidewalk, he walked around the front of his truck to the driver’s side where Jen had already made herself at home by leaning and smiling outside the open window.
“Ready for them?”, Jen asked smilingly as she tugged on his collar and avoided eye contact.
“As ready as I’ll ever be”, sighed Kevin as he stretched his arms to shrug the cool morning's hold on his body. Jen looked as Kevin’s eyes met hers. Their stare seemed to last much longer than a few seconds while he placed his hand on her arm. “Where you off to now? Pick up breakfast?”, he jokingly asked.
“The pancakes were pretty filling, thanks! I couldn't eat another bite", said Jen rather amusingly.
“Really? So filling that you wrapped up some in your napkin for later?”, Kevin laughed. Jen giggled along with his question remembering the burnt edges she purposely trimmed off from her portion of his attempted cooking.
"Ummmm . . . . .I put them in a safe place for later?", she joked recalling that the safe place she mentioned was the waste basket in the kitchen. “I’m gonna see if I can find the travel agency and get your airline tickets.” The evening before, Jen had found out that her stay would be extended and that Kevin would be able to return with her to Canada. “Which way again?” Pointing towards the intersection behind Kevin, “Right here, and then another right?”
“No, left, then another left”
“Right!”, mocked Jen, pointing at Kevin and winking all while trying to hold in her laugh.
“Stop it!”, Kevin said laughing as he moved closer to Jen still leaning outside of the window. Jen opened her arms, he moved even closer. Their smiles diminished while they got much closer and both surprised by the sudden proximity, turned slightly and embraced each other. “Drive carefully now okay?”, Kevin whispered in her ear as he moved back and away.
“I will”, under her breath and nodding as she gave Kevin’s shirt a final tug of adjustment to the tuck.
Kevin walked around to the sidewalk, picked up his belongings, and pointed at his watch while waving at Jen.
“I know, 4 o’clock! I’ll be here!”, Jen excitingly shouted.
Kevin watched as Jen drove off, out from the rather drab dark gray parking lot of his school. He remained stationary as she turned out towards avenue fronting the yard. “Left . . . left . . . left . . . .”, chanted Kevin silently and anxiously. A weight was relieved from his shoulders as he watched the vehicle turn left, and his eyes followed her as she drove past a line of markets vending their produce on the sidewalk. Jen took the next left, and disappeared behind a line of trees marking a far corner of the school yard.
“It’s Friday . . . .”, mumbled Kevin as he made his way up the blue painted sidewalk to his classroom. Outside, a child waved to him and ran in.
Jen drove past a lot of stores and other establishments, from big to small. The place was completely unfamiliar to her, but she's all equipped with the maps and books about sites in Hawaii which she found in one of Kevin's shelves. He gladly lent her the materials after finishing her driving lessons from him.
She went left then right and then went straight to Waialae Avenue where according to what she's read is located in the heart of Honolulu. If she goes further, it said in her map, she'll find a beach park and the Kahala Mall. She drove carefully and slowly while enjoying all the views from windows both side.
She found a ticketing office in the mall and then booked Kevin for a flight going to Edmonton, window side, economy class. After that, she just strolled in the mall to kill the time and to keep her from missing Kevin, again. She came in to a bookstore and read a few pages from a book called "Why can't I fall in love?" Then, feeling starved, she got up and went to buy something to eat.
It was just past 3 in the afternoon and she's already bored, just walking alone and no one to talk to, except whenever she asks something to a saleslady. She decided to just go back and pick up Kevin. If she's too early, she thought, she can maybe sit in his class if he allows her.
Kevin placed a stack of corrected homework on the table behind his desk. The classroom smelt of fresh paint from the room makeover received during the past break, but the many damaged window louvers revealed the true age of the school. His classroom was truly a kids shelter, 5 rows of little desks and chairs, neatly shelved books, activity area in the rear corner. Kevin’s desk sat to the front of the classroom and behind him, a large chalkboard with notes waiting to be erased. He was surprised at how quickly he worked through the sheets collected first thing in the morning, usually he would find himself working till four in the afternoon. Smiling, sitting back, lifting his feet and resting them upon the chalkboard rail, “Ahhh . . . I wonder if this is how it feels to have a significant other . . .”
Jen peeked through the door from the sidewalk outside the classroom. Seeing no movement, she walked in to find Kevin leaning back in his chair relaxing. “So this is what you do?”, laughing and pulling Kevin’s chair further into the reclined position.
“Huh? I’m gonna fall!”, he screamed and laughed at the same time. Kevin attempted to pull himself off the chair which was already at an extreme angle of discomfort. Seeing the anguish on his face, Jen could not help but release the chair in laughter. He stood up, smiled at her, and proceeded to re-adjust his now messy about clothing. “How long were you there?”, he asked.
“I just got here, why?”
“No, just wondering. What time is it?”
“Three fourty five. Wanna go home, freshen up, and I’ll take you out to dinner?”, asked Jen anxious to show her new navigational skills.
“Sure! Didn’t get lost did you?”
“Me? No way. This Waialae Avenue even connects with that main streets through town. Ummmm . . . What are they again?”
“Beretania and King?”
“Yup, I even found the university.”
“Shall we?”, asked Kevin lifting his arm and inviting Jen to walk with him. Jen obliged by grabbing his arm as they proceeded to walk out of the classroom. “Is this what it feels like?”, mumbled Kevin.
“Did ya say something?”
“No, nothing. Just mumbling. The classroom stress drives me crazy.”
They walked arm in arm to the awaiting red Nissan. Kevin opened the driver’s door for Jen, then made his way to the passenger seat. She pulled out of the school yard with such control, Kevin’s facial expressions showed a sort of calm and sense of safety. They drove home east towards Kahala. The short usually 5 minute drive lasted almost 15 minutes with the addition of rush hour traffic. On the way, Jen smiled at being able to call out destinations like Starbucks, Barnes&Nobles, Kahala Mall, and Tower Records as they approached each one.
They drove up the driveway and in one natural motion, pressed the garage door opener, and drove in. Turning to the right, Jen noticed the Kevin had fallen asleep on the drive home. Laughing mischeviously, “Hmmm . . . how do I wake him up?”
As the car's engine totally halted, she noticed another sound not coming from the car but from Kevin who was deeply asleep, and snoring. She laughed in silence. She thought if she'll just wait there until he wakes up, or pat his left arm resting at his left leg, or... she can give him a smooch to find out if he'll turn to a prince.
A book which Kevin held since they left the school dropped from his right hand to the floor, waking him from his rather enchanting dream. He purred for a moment then quickly opened up his eyes. "Oh we're here! I'm sorry, I dozed off, honey.....er, I mean, Jen!"
"It's okay honey....I mean, Kevin! Hehehe. Shall we?"
Then they were both laughing, as they went inside the house. Kevin hurried to the washroom, as Jen sat on the sofa and turn the TV on to the American Idol show. She checked the time. It was 4:30 in the afternoon, too early to get dressed for dinner, she thought. She took off her shoes and laid in the sofa for a moment, feeling bit exhausted.
"You look tired, why don't you go to the bedroom and have a rest?" Kevin showed up in the living room.
"No, I'm alright here, watch tv and curl up a little. Besides, I might get asleep and miss our reservation."
"What reservation?"
"I made us a reservation to John Dominis for our dinner," she said, as she tilted her head towards him then smiled. "It will be in a couple of hours, so we'll have time to relax first, and then prepare for later. 'That all right with you?"
"Sounds spectacular to me!"
Kevin washed his hands after wiping down the car when he noticed a blur of color passing to his left through the kitchen. Wondering, he quickly wiped his hands on a paper towel as he proceeded out of the kitchen and into the living room to investigate. Upon entering the living room, he was almost overwhelmed, as he caught sight of Jen smiling and standing in a long black dinner dress. “Wow, you look just beautiful.”, in awe.
“You don’t look t0o shabby yourself!”, Jen said walking over to Kevin and fixing the tuck of his white long sleeved shirt. “Why is this always so crooked?”
“Six thirty”, Kevin mumbled still much in awe.
“What?”, Jen laughingly asked. “C’mon . . . .” Jen grabbed Kevin’s collar and tugged him along as he followed very much like a puppy.
Kevin opened the door for Jen, making sure that her dress would not be caught, and then closed the door softly on her side. He made his way to the driver’s seat, almost stumbling around the front of the vehicle, and then entering with an aire of cool. A few moments later, they were on their way.
They drove around the west of Diamond Head towards neighboring Waikiki. Jen caught glimpse of the setting sun over the horizon and was immediately reminded of her upcoming return to Canada, but was comforted by the thought that Kevin would accompany her this time. They continued to head west on Ala Wai Boulevard as a structure representative of ship sails arose in the distance forming the roof line for the Hawaii Convention Center.
“What kind of events do they hold there?”, wondered Jen.
“All kinds . . . professional meetings, product shows, parties, even weddings”, Kevin proceeded as he tuned the radio.
“Mia’s a planner, she said she can help us”, Jen subtly said.
“What was that?”, still adjusting the radio.
“Oh, nothing”, surprised that Kevin was able to hear a part.
They made their way past the convention center and soon headed west on Ala Moana Boulevard. Ala Moana Shopping Center, the state’s largest shopping center approached to the right and Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach Park on the left. They entered the district of Kaka’ako where they would be dining for the evening. John Dominis sat on the water’s edge in front of a surf spot called Point Panic. The sky by now was painted a bright violet from the set sun as they drove around to the Dominis front. Valets open doors for the couple and soon made their way into the restaurant to be seated.
“Reservations for two? Ahh, here we are . . . right this way”, the hostess led them to their table. Kevin, pulled Jen’s chair and helped her with her seat. Their table was ocean side, sitting over the water’s edge. Diamond Head could be seen to the East as a sillouette glimmering in lights from the towns of Waikiki, Kapahulu, and Kahala.
“Omigosh! Look, there’s a bird looking for food out there on the rock!”, exclaimed Jen.
“He knew where to come for good seafood”, joked Kevin.
The gold glow of the candlelight flickered as their shadows danced against the wall behind them. The world around them seemed to disappear as they enjoyed each other's company.
They ate in silence, enjoying the meals they have ordered. It was like a dream, thought Jen. She can't help but stare around her, and see people talking to each other with smiles on their faces as they eat. Then she thought she heard Kevin saying something but couldn't hear him clearly from the clinking metal utensils and drinking glasses.
"Hello?? Are you there?" Kevin asked, bit worriedly.
"Yes? Oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear you," Jen said apologetically.
Puzzled, he said, "Well, I was just asking if I can have some of your Mahi Mahi?"
"Sure! Here," she sliced a small part and gave it to him. "It's really good." Kevin took her hand which held the fork and finished off the fish in one bite. She chuckled at the sight.
"Mmm...goody," he said, giggling at her as she drank her iced tea. He also took his iced tea and gulp it down. "Aaahhh!" Then he burped. "Ooopss. Excuse me." They both giggled again. "You done?" She said yes, nodding. They called the hostess for the bill, split it then paid.
They made their way to the exit and said "goodbye and good night" to the valets.
"I'm glad you liked the place," Jen said as they walked towards the car. "I thought it was glitzy and you'd refuse." She looked at him who just smiled as he opened the passenger door for her. "I mean, the food was great, the views were awesome, and you...." They tried the eye contact but failed. She sat inside and continued, "You were....funny."
Quietly they smiled as they drove away from the waterfront towards the main road. At the stop, an awkward silence filled the air. Jen sat absorbing the views and realizing the absence of crossing traffic.
“It’s clear. You okay?”, her fingers touching the back of his hand resting on the steering wheel.
Without a word, Kevin proceeded with the drive, turning west on Ala Moana Boulevard. “Not going home yet? Where we off to?”, asked Jen with a playful curiousity.
“I’m okay. How ‘bout we take in some waterfront sights, cruise around, take a walk?” smiling, turning his hand over, and holding her hand.
“Sound nice!”, Jen said excitedly.
At this point, the closeness seemed nice, yet overwhelming. Jen then slid her hand up his arm and rested it on his shoulder. Kevin tuned the radio on to fill some of the silence. Their attention focused on the radio as they listened, “ . . .and the moment . . . I can feel that . . .you feel that way too . . . is when I fall in love with . . .”
“Isn’t this from Sleepless in Seattle?”, Kevin asked as if he didn’t know.
“ . . . you . . . . Yes it is!”, Jen sang along smiling. “What’s this place?”, pointing to the right.
“That’s Restaurant Row”, Kevin said. The area landscape was lit up with ground lighting emphasizing the tall coconut palms fronting the building. The building itself was black, with a marble like finish, and red neon surrounding the roofline. Jen turned her head to watch the parties of teenagers waiting to get in line at one of the Row’s movie theaters.
“That’s a big clock”, Jen pointed straight ahead.
“That’s Aloha Tower”, Kevin explained. They drove in towards the wharf and found a parking stall along the waterfront. As they both exited the vehicle, they walked in sync towards the front. Jen immediately noticing the water’s edge, ran to the railing to view the nearby passing cruise ship.
“It’s kinda cold tonight.”, folding her arms and soothing the cold away from her own shoulders.
Kevin took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. “Ahhh . . . this feels nice”, Jen pulled the collars closer to her face to keep warm. “Smells nice, what do you use?”
“Tide”
Jen surprised by his answer, began to laugh. “I mean what do you use as in Cologne you dork!”, softly slapping him on his arm.
“Ohhhhhh!”, Kevin laughed along with her.
They made their way over the water towards the clock tower . . . arm in arm . . .
They just talked and talked. Kevin felt quite tired of being the tour guide, telling stories about the Pearl Harbor and the Japanese. Afterward, they were sitting on a solitary bench, taking a rest. A wind blew mildly towards their direction, making a disarray on Jen's hair, and giving them both the coolness of the night. He offered a bear hug. She thanked him and accepted it, then for a moment they broke free, but his left arm and hand remained in her shoulder as she leaned to him casually. The “talking story” resumed again, sharing about their own families and friends, their dreams and frustrations.
They looked at the stars above them, glimmering in the dark night sky. Silence strew in again. Jen wondered what time is it.
"Can I ask you som---" Kevin went to say but cut off when Jen said simultaneously, "Don't you think we shou---" She also stopped and chuckled in embarrassment, waited for him to continue.
"I'm sorry, you were saying something? Don't I think we should what?" Kevin asked.
"No, you go ahead first, what do you want to ask?" He said never mind, sensing that Jen wanted to go home already. Now Jen wished she hadn't interrupted him.
They went home and still she wondered while in the car what it was he was going to ask, as the radio started to sing in low volume, "You're just too good to be true....Can't take my eyes off you...." Jen yawned rather exaggeratingly and said to Kevin who is driving, "This song makes me sleep. 'Mind if I snooze for a minute?"
Jen was awoken by a loud crashing noise emanating from the living room. The sunlight glowed through each vertical blind from the window next to the bed leaving dazzling lines of light from the beige carpet leading to the off-white walls. She laid in bed letting her eyes explore the room around her. She spent time staring at the beams running the width of the vaulted ceiling and examining how empty the room looked. The room still showing signs of the newly finished construction stored painting materials in one corner. A ringing sound startled Jen as she turned to her side towards the room door. Still incoherent from just getting up, she reached to press the snooze button on the alarm clock when she realized that it was the phone. She sat up and as she stood up and off the bed to stretch, she could hear Kevin’s voice answering the call. She slowly stretched and noticed she was still wearing the evening dress from last night. Jen walked through the archway next to the room door and onto the inner balcony overlooking the living room. She sat an observed Kevin, sitting on the sofa, his upper body wrapped in a blanket, talking on the phone, and still wearing the clothes he had worn last night. His hair stuck up from the jacket he had made his pillow last night. Jen slowly sat on the balcony and just watched.
“Mom was trying to get a hold of you last night. She called yesterday to see if I could get in touch with you.”, Kevin said. He was apparently speaking to his brother who had just returned from camping with his friends. She sat quietly.
“Yeah, she’s sleeping in the room. . . . Me? . . . I slept in the living room, I must’ve fallen asleep sometime after the two o’clock news updates . . .”, Kevin raised his left hand and placed it on his head in attempt to force down his hair from standing on end.
Jen turned to look at the clock and turned back to Kevin below as he spoke to his brother.
“We got back around one last night . . . I’ll be taking a vacation in a couple days . . . I’ll be flying with her back to Canada . . . Can I borrow a couple of your jackets?”, Kevin said. At this point she wrestled with her thoughts whether to join Kevin downstairs or sit and observe from her vantage point.
“I had a lot of fun last night . . . We just strolled around Aloha Tower Marketplace, watched the ships pass by. . . yeah . . . she look a little bored after, or maybe just tired so we headed home after that . . . I love just sitting and talking to her. . . she makes me laugh and her mind’s so imaginitive . . . I’ve never been this way with anyone . . . . No, haven’t thought that far . . . All I know is that I’m having fun, and it’s nice having a friend I can talk to like this. . . . Yeah, I did miss her when I went to Maui . . . . like I said I haven’t really thought that far ahead”. Kevin sat back, reached for the remote, and turned off the television.
Jen slowly turned, but accidently knocked over a plant sitting on the corner of the balcony. She crept backwards through the archway and back into the master bedroom. Kevin hearing the sound, but not turning to investigate, stretched and stood up.
“I think she’s awake. . . . yeah . . . I’ll talk to you later . . . . you better call mom to tell her your back at the dorms . . . . okay catch you later . . . bye”, Kevin hung up, placed the phone on the coffee table and stretched again as he made his way to see if Jen was awake.
(To be continued.)
