a short story

a woman named KITTY

Her name was Kitty. Short for Katherine.

She's from Dagupan City the boisterous commercial center in Pangasinan. When I met her at a Starbucks cafe in Toronto's Eaton Center, Dagupan was the first topic we talked about.

She was waiting for a bosom friend, a girl named Katy. Katy, Kitty. ( They shared a common sounding  name ) and they would spend most of their time together. On Saturdays they would visit Eaton Centre. Shared some stories about how the week went by. Then they would go out and shop. When they arrived in their individual  homes,  they would still chat together via the internet.

I sat on a table near Kitty who was trying to contact Katy with her cel phone.When she closed her phone with a harried look, I sat down in front of her and said:" Are you from the Philippines?" She answered "Yes," and that is how it all began.

We conversed for almost three hours. And our chat brought us back home vicariously particularly to the  lives we left behind in the Philippines.

She a family had a family in Dagupan.She had a pretty girl ( she showed me her photo from her wallet ) and 3 boys. Her name is Alma . Now a  Nursing student in a prestigious University,  she is hoping that  she could also join her abroad after her studies. 

Kitty is divorced from her husband. She has brothers and sisters in the US, she is the only one living in Toronto. She said she wants to be away from everybody, after her difficult divorce proceedings. At least she got rid of him.

I was attracted by her very pretty face. She had lovely eyes that sparkled like diamonds when she laughed. Her hair was shoulder length, but at one time, she said, it reached down  to her butt. But she had to cut it because of her job as a manager in a garment production company in Spadina. She has to use a hair net at work because very often she would go around and inspect the workers of the plant. The owner do not want her hair to be snagged in a machine.

I was tempted to say I am a widower. But on second thought  I told her the truth. I  told her my name,  is Mark Marcelo. I was married and my  family is in the Philippines. My wife did not like to to Canada because she could not leave her thriving orchid greenhouse in Bonuan. Flowers are big business in the Philippines. So I left alone for Toronto from Dagupan. It had been 8 years that I had not gone home and I do not miss them much anymore...

 

We did not notice the two, maybe three hours that slipped by like a downhill river. Soon the mall was about to close and we had to go. She had her own car and it was parked at a different parking area.

"Can I see you again?, " I had to ask. "Of course, she said.." and she left me her phone number.

That was the beginning of a relationship. Both of us were lonely, separated from our families.  We had to work hard to help them have a good life. Both of us shared the same passion for music. Then both of us began to share an uncanny passion for each other.

The next place we visited together was Toronto's harbourfront during Canada Day, July first. We felt like teenagers starting on a first date, free from anything. No families, no obligations, just each other. We had lunch in a bistro overlooking Lake Ontario. The water was gorgeous. Later we rented a motor boat and we sailed to Center Islands, about 2 miles away coast line of Lake Ontario. The Islands which was in verdant glory ( trees, shurbs and the grass were in their summer green ) we had better privacy. She told me she was already in love with me too, and that she was trying to forget her husband which was not an easy thing to do.

The strange thing however is that  it was a platonic relationship. During the first time we hugged and kissed inside a hotel room, I brought my hand down and she slapped it and pulled herself away.."I do not want that!" she said sternly. Her usually laughing eyes became pools of fire.."Please, don't, if you want to see me again.."

"Okay, okay.." I said,"I am sorry.." I was not really interested in sex anymore. I really loved her company. I came to respect her, so even if we slept in the same room that night, we stayed in separate beds. We did not make love. I did not want to force myself on her. Anyway, the wine I drank with my dinner made me drowsy and soon I fell sleep.

In the morning, I found her awake and in a pretty mood. She already had a shower, all dressed up to enjoy the day. We talked again as if last night's incident did not happen.Before we went out the door, we  hugged and  kissed , but when I started to bring down my hand, again she  brushed it gently it with a smile. "Okay, okay, " I teased her. "maybe next time". She just stuck out her tongue at me.

We spent the rest of the day exploring the underground malls of Toronto from the Union Station up to Dundas Square, an area of about 3 square miles.  It was an underground labyrinth of malls and shops.It is one of the  attractions of Toronto, Ontario's "Queen city."

During the next month, we spent time together talking over the phone or going for a drive.  It soothed my longing for my family. She said she did miss her family too. But she does not want to go back to Dagupan. For what? The old life she left there?. No way, Jose, she said laughingly. But she gives so much money to her family so they can live comfortably. She hardly spoke about her husband. But she said he still loved her. Does he has a girl friend right now?. I asked her. " I don't know and I don't care.."

So we had a few weeks of idyllic relationship. At the end of 4 weeks, we finally had sex in a country Inn out in the picturesque Niagara Penninsula. It was a very romantic place, a small town where the past is still alive. Old buildings. No factories. Not even buses. People have to come here in cars. That was a landmark in our relationship.She told me she never had sex for nine years.

I imagined I found a love partner, a soul mate away from home. Until that fateful afternoon after about 3 days later..

On that afternoon, I received a text telling me to meet her at the Woodbine Inn in a hotel near the airport. I did not suspect anything wrong. In the last meeting we had, she had such a jolly disposition.

I drove to this cozy restaurant in a plush hotel called Regal Constellation at the airport strip.

When I first saw her face that time, I knew something was wrong. Her face was stern, almost emotionless.

" I do not want to see you anymore..I am so sorry.." she said the minute I sat down. It dropped on me like a ton of bricks..

"Excuse me, Say that again??" Kitty looked at me, her hand holding a bottle of Perreir.

"Mark, I can't see you anymore. I am going home..for good.."

I felt stunned. I fumbled for something to say but...

First, I tried to compose my mind.

"Why?"

"Sorry..It is personal.."

"Personal??" I said my voice becoming a bit louder.

" Could you atleast tell me why?..I am entitled to know.."

" I could tell you anything, but I do not want to lie at this point." she said.."her voice started to tremble with emotion.." Let us just..drop everything...I can not tell you anything more.."

It is so strange how love could change to hatred, just like that. That a woman whom you  loved and idolized would suddenly turn into a cold monster. But love can not just be turned on and off with a switch or button. The heart where the soul dwells, is not a machine.

I am the person who can not dwell too much in keeping a lid on my emotions..First I tried to find out whether it was a dream or not..It was not.. My mind became blank. I looked around and  I saw a waiter coming to our table to get our orders. I stood up  I met the waiter on the floor, gave him a 10 $ bill and said, "Sorry, but we changed our minds.."

I gave a quick look at Kitty. She was still there motionless, looking at nobody. "Bitch!" I said mentally..My heart started to beat hard and fast. I walked hurriedly  to a lounge adjoining the restaurant.  I saw a space in a couch facing a glass window facing the busy Airport road. . I sat down. There were many people in the lounge, mostly new arrivals. The Hotel is near the Pearson International, the new name of the Toronto International airport..I tried to gather my thoughts. I closed my eyes and tried to dissolve her image in my consiciousness..

But then after 2 minutes, I smelled a familar perfume. I opened my eyes and saw Kitty standing in front of me. I do not know whether to talk to her or go back to my car- end of part 1