Oh, Come On... Why Does it Have to Be This Complicated?

Four: The Girl on the Other Platform

I can't quite explain why my heart raced that moment when I saw Rohan in the orchestra. Maybe it was because he broke my camera, and that was the unconscious urge to go after him and get back at him for it. For the longest time since then, I guess I just kind of shrugged it off.

Alex tried to bring me to more orchestra performances around the city after that day, because he believed that "going there will awaken your inner musician, and will make it easier for me to explain to you all the weirdness I'm doing with my life".

Oh no, he wasn't weird at all. He was very weird.

Nevertheless, because I'm a total procrastinator and I missed the chills from listening to classical music, I let him have the joy of pulling me to performances. It was a win-win situation for both of us: I get to procrastinate and be a dramatic sap for all I care, and he gets to study the orchestra and the conductor's gestures.

If I remember correctly, there was this one night in autumn. We were going to a performance of the Fritz & Cormant Symphony Orchestra at the city concert hall. It was a paid performance, but Alex got hold of seats that are cheap because he personally knew one of the celloists, thus, getting a huge discount. I was jittery that night because: (1) I wasn't procrastinating, and I had a plate due the next day, (2) because of that plate, I haven't had sleep in three days, and (3) I've probably had too much coffee. Given those factors, I still did come along with Alex because, according to him: "The Fritz & Cormant is a renowned orchestra in the country, and this is their last performance before they take off to Europe."

So, there we were, seated inside the hall and waiting for it to start. I was kind of sleepy, and tried to catch a few Z's before the music would begin to play, which was why I closed my eyes.

There was a unicorn, prancing in a field. He suddenly stopped by a willow tree, and stood on two legs. He then walked closer to the tree, and sat down a very familiar stool... and started drafting. On a table just like mine. He then drew ---

***

"Victoria?"

Victoria? Who in blazes is Victoria?

I then opened my eyes, awakened by the anonymity of the girl I heard of.

"Alexander. I didn't expect to see you here."

I looked to Alex who was seated beside me, and was more surprised to find out he wasn't seated... but was standing along the aisle with a girl.

"I... I didn't expect to see you here as well," Alex answered. "Are you watching with someone?"

"About that," she answered. "No, I'm not with anyone. And you?"

Alex then kind of snapped out of staring at her, and replied, "Yes, yes, I'm with... her." He then pointed to me.

I got myself to stand up, and shake her hand. "Lorraine. Rain for short. Very nice to meet you... Victoria?"

She reached out and returned the handshake, pouch clutched in her other hand. I couldn't make out how she looked like due to the dim lights in the concert hall, but she was tall, had long hair.

"Pleasure's all mine," Victoria answered, all smiles.

As she let go of my hand, she excused herself and proceeded to walk to her seat, just in time for the starting performance. I couldn't point my finger on it, but there was something off about Alex, something that changed after he met Victoria. We don't talk about emotional things whenever we were together, but I figured I'd ask him about it on our way home.

***

"Victoria is my ex-girlfriend," Alex said.

Wow. And I haven't even asked him anything yet.

"We met six years ago at the train station near the concert hall, on a night just like this. Holding a letter in her hand, she was waiting for the east-bound train, and I, the west-bound. She was crying, and as she wiped her tears, that letter she was holding was blown by the wind, westward... to me.

I chased after the letter, fearing it was of importance to the girl on the other platform. I returned it to her after that, and she told me that it was an acceptance letter to university. We became friends, went out, and the rest was history."

It was a sweet story, but still, I couldn't help myself but ask why they broke up.

"We just kind of drifted apart," he stated. "I had conducting and school, and she had her life cut out for her as well. After six years, we realized we still couldn't see how we could each fit into one another's lives. And so, we broke up."

He looked at the sky, and I closed my mouth, which I think was ajar the whole time. It was the saddest story I've heard from someone... and it was all real. It wasn't from a pocketbook or a novel. It actually happened to a real person.

"I can't believe people really do fall apart," I said.

"Well, yes they do, in some circumstances," Alex replied. "Anyway, that's over and done now. Besides, we're both happy with our lives already."

So, we agreed to just drop the subject, and mention nothing more that night.

***

The next morning, I woke up to the incessant ringing of my phone. With eyes half-open, I looked at the screen and read: Alexander the Great.

"Hello..?"

"Hey," he said, his voice quivering. "I hope I didn't wake you."

Oh, yeah, you did.

"What's up?" I asked. "It's six in the morning, a bit too early for you to call, but anyway... something happened?"

"You don't have classes this morning, do you?" he said. "I think I need to see you."

Alexander the Great needs my help? "Oh. Yeah, I'm free, I can meet up with you. Just make sure you're not going to asking help from me because of studies."

Alex chuckled. "Come on, Rain. You know you're smarter than you think you are." I smiled, and he said goodbye and hung up.

***

I arrived first at the ice cream parlor along 30th Boulevard, and ordered my favorite banana split with hazelnut syrup. It wasn't before long when Alex arrived, which was so unlike him, because he's the responsible student. And he never comes in late.

He sat down opposite me, and placed his hands on the table. "Rain, something happened last night," he said.

I stared at him, silently urging him to continue what he was saying.

"I was standing on the train platform on my way home, and for a while, I was reminiscing what we had talked about on the way," he narrated. "While I was just staring at the train tracks, a very familiar letter slapped me right in the face. When I looked at the direction where it probably blew from, I saw Victoria. Smiling. Just like before."

I continued staring at him while eating my ice cream, and motioned for him to continue.

"Like the first time we met, I gave it back to her, and I unwittingly decided to walk her home.

When we were standing outside their gate, she smiled again, held my hand, and said the words I wished I would never hear again.

"I've missed you.""

My jaw dropped.

"This is getting too complicated, but Rain... I think I want to get back together with Victoria."

My jaw dropped lower. This time, a spoon --- and my heart --- fell along with it.