Surrender Your Sensations

Crowded, loud, and blinding. That’s how the bar greeted me the moment I stepped inside.

Rupert came here earlier than me because he and his band had to set up the instruments while I finished first the articles I had to read on Rupert’s condo. I also made a draft for our mockup debate with the debate team today so I kinda didn’t notice the time.

I was almost two hours late from the time Rupert asked me to come. So I was not surprised when his band was no longer performing.

“Where is he?” I tried to call him but he was not answering his phone. There were also too many people so it’s hard to find where he was.

In the end, I decided to go to the bar counter and send another message to Rupert.

I waited for his reply or call but after almost thirty minutes of waiting, there’s none. I gasped at the thought that they might have left. Maybe he was not able to wait for me because I was too late?

I groaned in frustration. Why didn’t I become mindful of the time?

I asked for a lady’s drink from the bartender and asked him as well. “Is Vulture done performing?” That was Rupert’s band.

“They just performed a song earlier and then they stopped the set first. I’m not sure why, Ma’am.” He even scratched the back of his neck before pointing out to many people, “Actually, other customers are also waiting for Vulture to continue their performance.”

I raised an eyebrow at what the bartender said. Rupert and his band stopped their performance? Why?

I bit my bottom lip. Was it because I didn’t arrive yet?

“Here’s your drink, Ma’am.” I lost my mind from my trance and turned to the bartender. He gave me the drink that I ordered. But I frowned when he handed me another glass. “A man from table six gave it to you.” Then it pointed to my right.

I averted my gaze to the direction the bartender was pointing at and I saw a guy sitting and seemed to be looking at me. I couldn’t see his face so I just forced myself to smile. I didn’t recognize his build, so chances were he’s just a random guy looking for some girl to flirt with. Then, he waved at me. I think my forced smile turned into a deep frown.

So before I could be damned with my uncontrollable facial expression, I turned my attention back to the two glasses of liquor in front of me. As if I could drink these liquids.

I heaved a deep sigh, taking the glass of the lady’s drink that I ordered. I smelled the fruity scent- my brain immediately tried to remind me of how this liquor actually tasted. My throat was dry from not being able to drink the liquor.

So, I just smelled it and imagined the taste. Somehow, it worked. My craving for alcohol subsided.

I was about to smell the glass of Gin and Tonic that I received from the unknown man when the crowd suddenly cheered. The lights dimmed and the spotlight focused on the stage. I turned my attention to it.

I couldn’t see the faces of the people who were now setting up their instruments on the stage- but something inside me was telling me it’s Rupert’s band.

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“Good evening, everyone. I’m really sorry for the interruption and sudden halt to our performance earlier. This is Rupert Santos, your vocalist.” The crowd became even wilder. I suddenly remembered the first day we met. It was in the same place- I was trying to live my life to the fullest and Rupert came to fulfill it. “This is the Vulture and we prepared a very important song for a very important purpose.” Rupert faked a cough before he stepped in the middle of the stage, in front of him was the microphone and stand and he was holding a guitar.

I got up from my seat and then walked closer to the crowd. Everyone’s attention was on the stage.

“I waited for this person to arrive tonight. It took her,” he looked at his wrist watch and I heard the click of his tongue on the microphone, “almost two hours to come here.”

Was he talking about me?

“Well, you see, this person is very special to me. In a short time, she changed my life. I was a lonely man but she came.” I was rooted on my spot as whispers and giggles from the crowd became louder, “Meredith Kaye, I was lonely and then I met you in this bar. That night, I was unexpectedly happy. And afterwards, I was able to smile and the loneliness became bearable. ”

I gasped. He said my name. He’s talking about me.

People around me started murmuring who Meredith Kaye was. They started looking around. And when I started to take steps forward, people started to notice me. They made way for me- realizing I was Meredith Kaye.

“You are special to me, Sweetie. Then, you became my priority. Yes. I was taking care of you because you’ve been my priority without me realizing it until yesterday.”

Was this a confession? Was this the reason why he said I would be getting a clearer answer tonight?

“I don’t want to dodge my feelings for you anymore. I decided to cross the line no matter how you will respond to it. I’m not asking you to reciprocate it but I’m asking you to believe me. Meredith Kaye , I … We … You … Yes, you.” He started strumming on his guitar, “You are my new beginning and I am ready to move forward for you.”

People walked away as I slowly walked closer to the stage. The soft melody of Rupert’s guitar contradicted the fast beating of my heart. I could feel it; the warmth and desire inside me were burning my whole being.

It’s so warm to know … There’s us.

Yeah. I think I am falling. The rapid beating of my heart and constant need to be with him was because I had fallen.

Rupert became someone I would love to depend on when waves became too strong; someone I would love to share my happiness and sadness with; and someone I would cherish.

The fact that Rupert chose to move forward for me … It felt so warm.

“Meredith Kaye, I’m falling … Hard and fast. Please let me stay by your side and take care of you. Please tell me if there’s something wrong and I promise to be right there and conquer them with you. Please let me love you and I’ll prove to you how much you mean to me. ”

The whole crowd clapped and cheered for us. The place became romantic and it felt surreal. One moment I was hesitating with what we have and now, Rupert was clearing things out between us.