Star-Crossed Love
by conrad panganiban
At a store inside a mall. BREEZE is shopping, sees someone, and pulls JULIP to her side.
BREEZE: Don’t look over there!
(JULIP looks)
BREEZE: I said don’t look! Did he look over this way?
(JULIP shakes her head, “No.”)
BREEZE: Thank goodness. Did I ever tell you about him? I didn’t. I swear that I had. Doesn’t matter. It was such a long time ago, and I doubt that he even remembers my name. But I’ll never forget his – Zenith. Not only does it remind me of the old TV my family had where the knob broke off and we had to use pliers to change the channels, oh no, but Zenith as being the man whom was the pinnacle of all the men I have ever… been with. It was a splendid summer’s eve because the air smelled so fresh, and there we were locked in each other’s embrace in the garden under the shadow of the State Capitol. The heat of passion burned the fire within my heart… and now to see him standing there. I can still feel the warmth. Can you? Please tell me that you do for those deep brown eyes of his can melt the ice off a penguin’s behind. But alas, when he left my arms for the last time, these once happy feet can no longer dance on air as they once did.
(BREEZE looks again and he is no longer there. BREEZE steps toward the spot where he stood.)
BREEZE: He is gone. I breathe in the smell of where he stood. He still wears the cologne I bought him for our anniversary.
JULIP: How long were you together?
BREEZE: It felt like eternity for our love had no time limit. All of three days. But what a glorious three days they were. I could tell by your inquisitive stare you have another question of why we are no longer together. What always happens to the love between two star-crossed lovers… our love faded away. Of course, if you were to ask him what had happened to us, his answer would be as transparent as the waters of a river called, Denial. Instead of saying that our co-existence were like two rafts that drifted apart, his claim would surely be that I was suffocating him with my affection. He would say that I called him every second of the day, but dear, what are phones, emails, text messages, and cameras for? Silly boy for misinterpreting my coyness toward him by strapping his arms and legs to the love posts of our bed. I told him I would return later that night for a special supper, which I did. Who would have known how easily the fibers of rope can burn the skin of wrists and ankles? (laughs) It was all a game I told him. Well him and the judge. A flirtatious game of batting the eyelids, twirling of the hair, a carving into the flesh of a little heart on his bronze pectoral muscle. So many fond memories. (sigh) Alas, all good things must come to an end. And as he stood here, I could still feel the passion of his gaze into my eyes as he proclaimed the words, “I never want to see you again, you crazy woman!” So much fire burned behind his eyes and bore into my soul. Oh, the flames of love. How I long for that feeling again. If only… if only had it not be for a court-ordered restraining document that keeps me 100 feet away from his touch, we would be together. Damn the government and the local enforcements that place these shackles on my heart! I am spent. I need air. Fair thee well, my friend. Fair thee well.
BREEZE exits, as Julip’s friend, FARGO enters.
FARGO: Hey Julip. Who’s that?
JULIP: I have no idea. I need a mojito. I swear you better not leave me again.
FARGO and JULIP exit.
THE END