They sat on the rise dividing the Venetian Lagoon and border’s walkway, the water shown between the Island Lido and Giudecca, the Church of Saint Giorgio visible on their right. They had finished their intended visits and agreed that seeing the Venetian sunset would be the perfect choice to end their trip in Italy.
They bought a box of green olives and a small vine of green grapes from a nearby convenient shop on their way their there. The perfect seat was anywhere but the chairs of offshore restaurants; The setting sun was glowing but without its’ usual heat. They had their hearts ready for another spectacular view their Venice trip owing it to them since the first day. They would just have to be patient while eating salty olives and sweet grapes without the company of cheap quality Italian wine.
Two girls sat on their right, their left occupied by boxes of dinner. The post-sunset leaving behind an orange mountain that was warm to the eyes of anyone besetting on it. The females looked Arabic, but something in their demeanor suggested more.
“Hello.”, was what the first girl said as she gave a half-wave, not half-heartedly.
I don’t have money, Cay thought. He decided a safer approach just to make sure his suspicion was wrong or correct.
“Hello, you alright?”, Cay said, Judas continued to stare over the still-visible horizon.
“Yeah, we’re just sitting here.”, it was the first girl.
Her accent was British as she spoke more.
“Nice to meet you, this is my older sister, Sarab.”, Cay shook the second girl’s hand.
He later found out the first girl’s name was Sabi.
The four conversing in a non-bored manner for a near hour with Judas occasionally nodding over notable sentences. Cay had decided that the two were interestingly clever in what they studied and how they spoke, they were clearly smart people to some extent, neither scammers or hedonists. Not the latter, Cay thought. He decided that they were safe to loosen themselves a little on and went about their trip with the girls. They too exchanged information about their past activities conducted in Venice and it’s neighboring islands.
“Well, we have to go now. Cay, was it?”, Sabi asked as she shook his hand. Judas still sitting, staring.
After shaking Sarab’s hand, the two turned and left, walking towards inland. Safe journey, Cay called out. Maybe a bit too forced when he called out as the girls walked further away from the visible street lights. They passed below the dim neon-light signs hung above the row of restaurants.
Unexpected companies, even for just less than an hour, was enough to remind Cay of his void of loneliness. Even when Judas was present.
This is fine, lied Cay to himself.
Judas was still sitting with his right knee supporting his leaning chin, his posture changed only little by little over time. The way Cay saw his companion was at a level of normality, Judas was just simply a person sometimes not present in the current reality, unbound by time and space.
*
“Do you still miss your ex-girlfriends?” was a question that had been and nevertheless would still be occasionally asked by Jenna.
No was the answer she heard from Cay, along with supplements to strengthen his justification. She was pouring herself the belief about a perfect boyfriend that had happened to be hers, and hers alone. There was nothing that could shake her from her trust in Cay, small questions were mere specks of unworthy disturbance in the relationship.
Cay believed that he was strong enough to endure land and sea when he was with his lover. Nothing could stop them and they could not afford themselves to be moved by outside forces---- their need was internal, love was the only language that could transfer their thoughts and affection to each another. He enjoyed returning the same amount of whatever positivity and attraction that was given by his girlfriend.
Thinking back, Cer had been a part of his enjoyable half-year in his first year of high school. Albeit the constant giggles emitted from couples such as Cay and his first girlfriend, the enjoyment was limited. Her lack of experience in most fields supplemented only by affectionate blinks covered by her long eyelashes, it could no longer keep up with Cay’s expanding knowledge and interests as both grew.
He eventually grew out of Cer’s capacity to sustain his needs and wants, he left her behind and went pursuing his new-found goals. She was nowhere in his mind within a few months of busy schedule, ultimately disappearing, leaving without a trace of her existence in his life.
They had their run for nearly six months before the two’s departure from one another. No longer dependent on the childish love, Cay looked elsewhere, not for a woman but for reasons for turning into an adult. He had always busied himself with thoughts beyond his years, however unreachable some maybe. Perhaps Cer had started to think like how he was, Cay reckoned some months later to some of his friends.
Jenna was a different scenario, as with the four years’ older him and second year into his relationship with her. They pursue a mature sort of love, although they only discussed it through hints and short sentences. They believed that themselves would blossom into a flower filled with bliss and total happiness, slowly but steadily working towards that goal they convinced themselves. It was not just for the pure pursuit of affection and lovemaking, but a duty in which the two had agreed to abide by: to marry and get married, living happily ever after.
Perhaps there was meaning in life if one were to set goals; Maybe it would not be too boring if one accepts a challenge. A challenge made from heaven, a battle that separates the weak and strong in progressing love.
Cay thought much as he finished cooking his signature vegetarian Chili con Carne, while Jenna was busy sketching several experimental designs for her upcoming assignment deadline. He did not wish to bother his lover, for fear his intrusion into her room would cause her workflow to break, extinguishing her creative fervor that she had nurtured for the past few hours.
Dinner was ready, Cay called out and sat on the living room sofa, eating his slightly sour chili. Hoping she would come out and fill herself up with what he made.
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