A one-shot story of how love knows no barriers.
A story of how love works in mysterious yet magical ways.
A story of how love can be expressed more than just A's and B's.
Book cover created by: Kyle G.D
WinDragon | 2017
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." – Peter F. Drucker
***
7:48 PM – Downtown Seattle
I met him on a rainy Wednesday.
Hands clasped together, I mentally chided myself why out of all the days, I just had to forget my pink polka dotted umbrella today. There were no signs of the rain stopping anytime soon so I had to endure sitting on the damp sidewalk under a baker shop's canopy which did a terrible job at keeping me dry. Groaning, I silently prayed for a car or a cab to pass by so I can finally flop down on my soft bed, reading Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.
If you ask me of my whereabouts, I was currently at the deserted part of Washington, bringing only with me my phone and a few bucks. If you ask me what's a 20-year-old journalist doing in this kind of place, well, this is what usually happens when you're a Curious George and suddenly wanted to be like Dora the Explorer.
"Why are you such a scatterbrain, Isla?" I sighed, stroking my finger on a puddle of water, doodling random shapes. Drops of rain continuously landed on my forehead as I backed on the wall further, trying to keep myself dry.
And in that very moment, a moment I wasn't able to foresee that would change everything, the raindrops were no longer falling down on my forehead as a pair of black converse appeared in front of me. I slowly tilted my head to see two blue orbs staring back at me with a maroon hoodie hovered above my head.
Dub-Dub-Dub
My heart was rapidly beating as we both stared at each other. No words were exchanged yet it felt like I've known him all my life. I slowly stood up straight to level him, not breaking the contact as I timidly reached for his face– and pulled his left ear.
"Are you out of your mind? Look at you! You're soaking wet!" I hissed at him as I pulled him beside me, under the canopy. He looked at me with remorse written all over his face as he rubbed his reddening ear. I raised a questioning eyebrow gesturing him to answer but all he did was stare at my already wet hair.
"If you were concerned of me getting soaked in the rain, you should've thought twice before doing that. Now we're both wet with a high chance of getting a terrible cold," I chided as the chilly wind passed through. I crossed my arms over my chest, rubbing the sides hoping they'd give warmth.
And once again, an all too familiar maroon hoodie was draped around my shoulders giving me instant warmth. His face was inches away from mine and I couldn't help but stare at him. Thick eyebrows, blue almond-shaped eyes, pointed nose, high cheekbones, thin kissable lips– he had features like a Greek God's, not to mention, he had a lean body as well.
"Thank you," I muttered under my breath as I hugged the jacket closer to me. Then realization hit me hard. It was rude of me for scolding him when all he wanted to do was to help yet it was somehow useless since I was already drenched with the rain in the first place. Now there's an 80% possibility that we're going to catch a cold when this is over.
"What's your name anyway?" I asked as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He sighed, tucking both of his hands in his pocket as he looked at the now stopping rain. "Well?" I nudged when he didn't answer.
Instead, he gave me a heartwarming smile that caused butterflies to erupt in my stomach.
***
Indeed, we caught a flu after that. Turns out, he was a new student at Kingstone Academy, the school where I attend to. A transferee all the way from London to study Fine Arts. Since that fateful night, we became two peas in a pod. He became my partner in crime to the extent that we've already formed an allegiance against our History teacher. We shared common interests: we both loved pizza and Call of Duty, but mostly pizza. He was a great listener, I could talk and ramble about my dislike towards the school's Barbie wanna-be, Olivia Swan all day and no single complain will be heard from him.
I've had friends I've known for almost all my life but with him, just 8 months being with him, I felt like I've known him for forever. For some reason, I thanked God for that day– for the rain, for the baker shop's canopy, for not sending a cab but instead, for sending him. If it wasn't for his recklessness, I wouldn't have met him, I wouldn't have met my husband.
"I love you," I whispered as I reached for his hand across the table of the baker's shop. This has become our favorite place for the last 5 years. We were settled under the canopy of the shop eating bagels and drinking cappuccinos as we reminisced of our past. He flashed me his million-dollar smile as he held my hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it.
With his free hand, he formed a 'rock 'n' roll' sign as a reply which still caused butterflies to flutter all over my stomach even after 5 years of being married to him. Most people would've find it funny of him doing the gesture but it meant the world to him, to me, to the both of us.
It meant, 'I love you' in sign language.
I couldn't count how many times people told me that we weren't going to work out. That our relationship wouldn't even last long. That being with a deaf-mute was utterly impossible and cynical. That our lack of communication would eventually lead to our downfall. That what we have is nothing but a mere infatuation we felt for each other and would soon vanish like dust. But we proved all of them wrong.
Yes, we both speak differently. There was a tall barrier that separated the both of us. Yet we've both created a language that only both of us knew with a passion. We do not speak with our tongues but with our hearts. Needless of words nor exchange of conversations, we knew each other more than those that spoke in actual words. Dancers may learn how to dance as they listen to the beat of the music, singers may sing as they deliver heartfelt words with a song, but both Caleb an I, our heart, mind, soul and being completely rhymes into one.
***
We often hear the phrase, 'Speak within our hearts' yet what we don't know that communication does not come with the means of speaking the same language, the same dialect or having mutual words. It comes from what you want to let your audience know. Speak to them with a language they understand and it will turn out like a tumbleweed passing by, but when you speak to them with a language they know, they will treasure it to the depths of their heart.
Despite of the language barriers present in the world, if we read between those lines we will define the true essence of what was meant to be said.
***
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