“Perfect Bubble”

[Adapted from Colleen Hoover Novella, Finding Cinderella]

Two strangers sealed a one hour acquaintance.

An hour feels like a flick of a moment, a snap to squander some time. An hour is like a bubble; one second it’s there, another time it’s gone. She’s the bubble. She is my bubble; at least she used to be. A bubble that is too risky and painful to hold on.

I had just broken up with my girlfriend, Vida for the reasons that one, she was too controlling that she tries, rather she’s trying, to change me into someone she prefers as her boyfriend. Two, I seriously hate the smell of her perfume and my car is permeated with her abhorrent scent. Lastly, I never really loved her; I guess I was just too caught up in the idea of us being ‘perfect’ when really, imperfection screams when we are together.

I called my best friends, Ian and Cora to pour out my frustration on them. We, rather she, did not handle the parting well since she could not swallow the fact she was dumped when usually it’s her forte. Anyways, it seems like my feelings were taken as a joke since both of them are laughing. Not just guffawing but performing fist bump and actually celebrating.

“You don’t like Vida,” I whispered in disbelief as I furrow both of my brows. It wasn’t a question but a statement.

“Man, she’s sexy and all but nobody can withstand her attitude. We’re sorry we have to pretend we like her,” Ian said casually as if he doesn’t know how their petty act affects me.

“Not cool man,” I reply as I start my pace towards the driver’s seat.

“Oh, come on! It’s not just us, your fam--,” Cora nudged him before he was able to finish his sentence. A flash of a moment then he realizes how big of a mouth he has. I was halfway on closing the door but I decided to breathe some fresh air.

“You all suck,” I manage to say before putting my gear on drive then left.

Shopping mall is probably the least place I can find comfort but witnessing the different people with different personalities help me relax. There are billions of people in the world and yet I kept on meeting the wrong ones. As I was observing aimlessly, my sight landed onto a spendthrift lady who plans to buy the whole mall. She was struggling with her bags; some were slipping from her hands so I lend a helping hand.

It was like in movies. She nodded her head up to see me and as if on cue, I met her gaze. I was transfixed. Her eyes were sky blue framed with those long lashes. I fantasized about touching her smooth face until I landed on her lips. The crimson temptation grew as her lips curve into a smile.

“You want something?” My thoughts were slightly interrupted by an angel. Her voice was music to my ears. Although she was pulling a mean girl look, it was like a magnet attracting me.

“Maybe,” I smirked playfully. I’ve been known for my charismatic approach.

“Not interested. If you don’t mind, move,” she didn’t even budge at my moves. I was towards my car when I heard her sigh in vexation. She started to dial some numbers and began screaming on her phone.

“Need a ride?” I offered before thinking as I pointed at my car.

“Just a ride,” she clarified while making her way towards the passenger’s seat.

While we were driving, I couldn’t help myself taking a peek at her and keeping my focus on the road simultaneously. I don’t know if it’s possible but I am doing it.

“Stop staring,” she scolded without landing any sight at me. Flustered, I obeyed because I’d rather not make any further embarrassing first impression. When I concentrated back to my driving, I noticed we were on Cora’s home street. I confirmed her address when the lady asked me to turn right, exactly at Cora’s. Apparently, they were cousins. Cora tried to draw near me but I felt betrayed that I ignored her, as well as Cora’s cousin for some reason I am clueless about. I was about to drive away when the lady asked me to wait and like a robot in control, I waited. A moment later, we were on a road trip driving endlessly and frivolously; just wherever the pavement takes us.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody dared to utter a word.

Both of us were clouded with seething silence.

Both of us snub the questions we’re dying to ask.

We chose not to pry into each other’s world.

I resisted the need to bring her serenity. When I heard the cries of sorrow, I swiftly stepped on the breaks in front of a park.

“I hate everybody,” she mumbled to herself. All I could offer was sympathy.

“I hate everybody too,” I uttered making sure she wasn’t the only one. She starts to laugh and it was majestic. My eyes searched for hers and when we stare, I explored the forest in those skies.

“We could run away,” I suggested but she took it negatively and now she’s hitting me. “I said escape, not elope!” I defended and she stopped.

“Where to then?” She transformed from a killer to a sweet victim.

I grin as wide as hers that my face might tear apart.

An hour was our agreement. An hour of perfection; one hour of perfect happiness and perfect world. We went from the park to the carnival and splendored great adventures. We ate cotton candy, we rode rides, we played like kids and we rested in the park. She got me shaking with all the new personalities that she has been showing like how she doesn’t mind dirt, or getting sweaty.

Eventually, she became mine. The four of us, Ian, Cora, Phoebe and I created a bond that was unbreakable. Yet, even after weeks we’ve been a couple, there were still millions of questions I want to know. Recently, I knew that Phoebe flew to Italy a year ago after some incident I am currently curious about. Whenever I open up the topic, she endeavors to avoid talking about it. Actually, this has been the only issue so far that we argue.

Last night, when she met my father and how he grieved for my mother’s death, she was restless. In the middle of the dinner, she flounced out leaving no trace of any excuse. I asked for an explanation, but she left me unaided. I stormed out following her trail towards Cora and insisted for a valid reason.

“What’s the matter? How could you be so rude leaving without a proper goodbye?” I did not mean to raise my voice but she was being too impolite.

“You wouldn’t understand Dev,” Phoebe tried to walk away but I caught her by the wrist and forced her to turn to me.

“Well then make me,” I sounded calmer as I caress her face. She didn’t say a word instead she started to sob. Her tears were like waterfalls that kept streaming down the line of her cheeks. No matter how I wiped them away with my thumbs, it just kept on flowing.

“A year ago, I made a terrible, terrible mistake. I was involved in a gang; we owned guns and weapons. One night, I was drunk since my boyfriend had just dumped me and then I started shooting in rudderless directions,” she began telling her story in which confuses me more. I didn’t know how this tragedy involves our relationship. “Dev, I shot someone, okay? I’m a killer,” she declared, again leaving a blur to how all of this relates with us.

“Babe, if you’re worried about your past, I don’t care,” she wept louder.

“Dang it Dev, I accidentally hit your mother! I was the one you saw in a black figure, escaping from the wrath of jail. I am the reason of your sufferings losing your mother.”

I was deaf. Her words were like screeching sound of chalk that I never want to hear. I couldn’t believe I was in love with someone who is the reason why I don’t have a mother to kiss me on the cheeks, to drive my fears away with a single smile. As if I was carrying a heavy metal, the grip of my hands from her shoulders dropped.

I couldn’t believe it.

I refuse to believe it.

But her relentless crying showed no sign of any trick. Her apologetic glare proved guilty. Her head swinging left to right cause me to back away. It’s true, it’s all true. As I was stepping farther away, I began to reminisce that night and it became clearer when I envision it as Phoebe. She is the one. I head towards my car as water filled my eyes. Before I reached the car, she abruptly ceased me with an embrace. Out of anger, I faced her and shouted, “You know you were wrong Phoebe! You could have corrected it by facing your consequences. You, you, YOU, but you bolted,”

My friend Ian became the wall I could lean on. He witnessed how I longed for my mother’s presence. He was there.

“There are things that you just can’t forgive and forget, and this time; it’s one of those things,” I say to Ian. I say as I convinced myself I gave justice to my mother by knowing who murdered her.

I say as I end my connection with Phoebe. She was my perfect bubble; an exquisite one. I wished I never should have explored her wonders, I wish I never knew the secrets she tries to hide. I wish I never met her.

Again, with all the billion people in the universe, I ended up with the wrong person.