Marven’s First Novel, chapter #09

“Ointment for the Cramp”

As the days went by, Aldo became closer to Margaret. In the every single day that he saw and interacted with her, he got to know her better. He concluded that there was more to her than knowledge of serving food. She actually had a lot of sense. She, on the other hand, got used to his little defects and got to know him better as a person. They got so used to each other’s company that it became natural for him to chat with her even when she’s busy. Sometimes, she would visit them on the second floor for not so important matters and she would call his attention especially. In the afternoon, he would visit her and ask her out so that he can talk to her longer. Then at her suggestion, they would roam the streets within the proximity, eating street food and talking about mundane subjects. Finally, when the sun was about to set, they would go out into the riverwalk and would go as far as the Del Pan Bridge. Then they would turn back, go where they came from, and would stop and sit down at a bench near or almost in front of Madrid street. There, they would chat and she would speak to him loudly as if trying to beat the open-air noise. Margaret is very outspoken and would bluntly speak her mind in a way that is still dignified which Aldo respects. Aldo thinks that Margaret may have been waiting her whole life to be able to do these things but that something always hindered her. After this, he would walk her back; and then he would go home. These are the things that would sometimes get him home late when it is already night.
It is in one of these nights that Aldo had a charming vision. Arriving home at the terminal, he walked past the community hospital. He was surprised to see that it was still open. Its lobby was still brilliantly lit. And in it, he saw Michal. She was wearing long sleeves, jeans, and high heels. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, showing her light and finely-formed neck. On her shoulder hanged a shoulder bag whose handles she gripped by the hand, indicating she was about to leave. She looked smart and poised as she was seemingly giving final words to the few remaining people seated inside the windows and on the benches. After that, she headed towards the door but then stopped at the frame, taken aback, when she caught sight of Aldo outside on the other side of the street standing confidently, waving his hand and jingling his fingers, saying hi, hello in a muted voice. Instead of proceeding, Michal acted as if she forgot something and then turned and stepped back inside. She conjured up another conversation with the same people she talked to just seconds ago.
“Okay?” Aldo said chuckling as he started to walk away. Suddenly, he felt afraid at the realization of his error of having deterred her and also felt despair at the way she reacted. Apparently, he will always be just a creepy stranger to her. At least he knows now. The vision turned out to be terrible.
However, Michal didn’t go as far back as her clinic but, after her quick and very-natural conversation with those in the lobby, approached a window that faces the street and peered outside looking at Aldo as one who wants to just see and not be seen, making the most of that murky illumination outside, as the latter trudged along the sidewalk, looking up in the sky and down the concrete and heaving deep sighs. Then she gently closed the window and the curtain, turned, leaned her back against the wall, crossed her arms, looked listlessly before her, shut her eyes, and pressed her forehead with the fingers of one lifted hand in exasperation. She threw herself in this attitude for some time until she didn’t notice that Angelica had already passed, halted, stepped back, and looked at her curiously.
“Are you okay, Michal?” Angelica said, snickering.
Michal woke up and was surprised. “Oh, it's you. Yeah. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You seem to be in trouble.”
“It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing. Are you going now too?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.” Michal instinctively clung to the Angelica’s arm and acted a little strange as they started walking.
Angelica noticed this and wondered and frowned. “Okay.”
The two made their way towards the terminal.
When Aldo got home, he gently set down his bag on his wooden table, acting dignified and still musing. He chuckled. Then he listlessly reclined on his wooden bed. Suddenly, he became aware that the cold air has entered his chest. He pressed the latter a few times and noticed that it has developed a spasm. He tried to pinpoint its cause and realized that he had been carelessly drawing breaths in and out while out in the cold. He sprang up and went to their little living room and rummaged the top surfaces there, TV, cabinet, etc., for the ointment that they have. Luckily, he found it. Then an idea came to him. He went out to their little dingy front yard and side yard because he thought he saw some spare wood there. True enough, he found what he pictured in his mind to be present there. He picked those pieces up and nodded at them in triumph. “Mmm-hmm...” he said. He took these spare wood in his little disorderly room and placed them down. Then he went to the sink and washed his hands. He went back to his room, dried his hands, sat down, and applied the ointment on his chest. When he was done, he stood up and set out on a little activity.
He took up his stock of wood and took some planks and fitted them in the spaces on the walls and the floor of his little room. He lay down for a few minutes to conceptualize. Then he got up and started measuring the surfaces with a tape measure and putting markings on them with a pencil. Then he took up the planks, drew markings on them, and cut them out using a handsaw into pieces for fastening tomorrow or in the following days because it was already night. He realized that he needs additional boards, lumbers, and other materials.
Weekend came. On a Saturday noon, Aldo went to the hardware store in the neighborhood to buy the materials that he needs for his project. He went to the rack of 3/4 plywood and chose the best. He pulled a strip of 3/4 border edge. He set the two aside. Then he went to the counter and asked for a wood glue. When the lady storekeeper returned with one, he paid for all his purchases and took the receipt. He picked up the whole board and the border edge, stepped down the counter, and then hauled them along the sidewalk.
As he went along, he saw on his left, on the opposite sidewalk, a familiar face. After wondering for about five seconds, he remembered that it was the caretaker. The sight of him reminded him of no other than Michal. When they reached the hospital, Aldo looked to see if she was around. He didn’t see her. He then kept on hauling the ply board. Then he heard the voice of Dr. Angelica saying, “Thanks kuya.” To his surprise, he also heard her calling out his name, shouting, Aldo. He heard a few approaching footsteps and then turned his head and saw Dr. Angelica by the gate.
“Aldo, is that you?”
“Yes, doc. How are you?”
“I’m okay. I thought it was you. You look different.”
“Yes. I’m dingier.”
“What? No. Of course, not. Why are you almost hiding behind that ply board?”
“I’m building a bookshelf.”
“Oh. So you’re a carpenter too.”
“I’m learning to be.”
Angelica ran out of words to say because she noticed that Aldo was seemingly uninterested to talk to her. “Well, that burns a little bit,” she muttered. Then loudly she continued, “Michal is here today. Do you want me to call her for you?”
“No. Thank you. She doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you?”
“Yes. She hates me. She despises me. She snubbed me the other night when I saw her.”
“Oh.” Angelica paused and wondered. Then she looked as if she figured something out. “So it was you,” she muttered.
Aldo took this moment to say goodbye. “If you don’t mind, Dr. Angelica, I’ll go now. I have to finish my project as soon as possible.”
“Oh. Okay. Sorry if I disturbed you.”
“No. I’m just pressed for time. I’m hoping I can talk to you longer next time.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Sure. Bye, doc.”
When Aldo got home, he gathered all his materials and tools at the front yard. Then he rested a little bit. After he thought he has powered up, he sprang up and set to work. He found the front yard overcrowded, so he took his work outside in the street. There, he used the hammer, saw, and other tools that they have in the house and the nails and screws that he had bought. And never had he had such a tranquil mindset while working. His mind was like a clean slate. He was able to attend to the minutest detail of his masterpiece if he can call it that.
He didn’t finish all the work that day; so he set aside the unfinished products in the front yard for continuation tomorrow, Sunday.
The following week came and went, and it was again another weekend. On a Saturday noon, Aldo again went to the community hospital to, of course, not get himself checked. But this time, he was not as blindly raring as before but rather reluctant, perceivably hesitant to even go. Now he became aware of how stupid this errand is, then and now; and he realized Michal was right to advise him not to repeat this madness. This is madness. Yet he continued as if there was a string pulling him towards the direction he was going. He came to the premises and stood at the same spot as before. Then he looked towards the main lobby to look for a familiar face whom he might ask. But there wasn’t any at the moment. The young woman behind the counter noticed him doing so repeatedly from time to time and looked at him curiously. Then he just faced the street. After a few minutes, he looked inside again, hoping to see a familiar face; but he again saw none. This time, the lady at the counter addressed him.
“What is it, sir? Who are you looking for?”
“I’m looking for Dr. Angelica.”
“Do you have an appointment, sir?”
“Well, not business... but personal. I’m her friend. I came here to visit her.”
“Visit? Hmm... Wait. I think I’ve seen you before.”
“You have? Great. Then you know I’m a good guy. Now, if you don’t mind, could you please call her up and tell her that Aldo is here.”
“Hmm... All right.”
“Thank you. I’ll just wait right here.”
The young woman didn’t hasten to do what Aldo asked but waited. When the caretaker, the same caretaker whom Aldo encountered on two occasions, came out into the hallway and toward the main door, the young woman shouted the man’s name and told her to fetch Dr. Angelica and bring her to the lobby because someone is looking for her. The man was intrigued and looked and saw Aldo. Then he did as told. A few minutes later, Dr. Angelica came out into the hallway and went to the lobby. Aldo saw her; and while sitting, he waved at her. Angelica saw him and giggled in surprise. As she was coming out of the main door, he greeted her hi.
“Hey. I didn’t realize you were going to do this.”
“I wasn’t able to talk to you properly last time. I was hoping I could talk to you longer this time. Can you spare a few minutes?”
“Okay.”
“Maybe this time over lunch since it is lunch time, if that is okay with you.”
“Why not?”
“Look. That place wasn’t there last week, and it doesn’t seem to intend to stay there permanently. And since it sprouted, I had been very curious to try what they offer there. But I hadn’t any time and, like Lloyd, I don’t want to do it alone. Maybe you can try it with me, if that is okay with you. In short, I wish to treat you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
She joined him and they made their way to the place that Aldo indicated. When they got there, they seated themselves on the tall, revolving, round, and cushioned chairs. Aldo even thought of offering to spin Angelica while on it for the fullest experience, but he just cancelled this plan. Angelica rested her arms on the counter still wearing her white coat because the visit was unexpected. And there, they chatted while tackling the food in front of them. They covered a lot of topics and they somehow got to know each other better. After that, they went back and Aldo walked her as far as where he stood waiting for her. Then Angelica said:
“Are you curious to see what my clinic looks like? Mine is just next to Michal's.”
Aldo readily said yes. “Sure.”
“Come.” Angelica turned her back and walked ahead.
Aldo followed and kept a little distance behind her. He saw the young woman he inquired to, look at him with the same curiosity; and he looked at her back, smiling.
Then they turned and approached what Aldo remembered to be Michal’s clinic. When they walked past it, Aldo noticed that its door was a little ajar; and through it, he saw Michal talking to a middle-aged couple seated in front of her. Michal seemed to have looked outside too when they passed.
Angelica opened the door of her clinic and approached her desk. Aldo stood at the doorframe and took a look around. “You’re a different kind of doctor than Michal, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Then they both heard the voice of visitors, one of whom, a patient, looking for Dr. Angelica.
Aldo stepped aside and let them come in.
“Sorry. I have a patient already.”
“It’s okay.”
“Till next time?”
“Yes, hopefully.”
“Bye, Aldo.”
“Bye.”
Angelica shut the door to attend to her patient.
Aldo turned around and made his way outside to already go home. He noticed that the door of Michal's clinic was, by this time, now sprung open. When he walked past it, he looked back and saw Michal standing by her desk rearranging her things. He quickly returned his look before him and continued walking. To his surprise, he heard her voice calling out his name. It seems that she did recognize him, and he wondered how she was able to do so. Is it because of the weird appearance of his back and nape? Or maybe she already recognized him when he saw her through the slightly-open door earlier. As soon as he heard her voice, he didn’t shy away but stopped, turned around, and faced her head-on. “Oh, hi, Michal,” he greeted.
“Really, Aldo?”
“Yes. Really.”
Michal stepped outside of her clinic, shut the door, and faced him proximately.
“In case you’re wondering what I’m doing here, I came here for Angelica because you filled her head with so much ideas about me.”
“Okay. So how are the two of you going along?”
Aldo sneered as he looked away. “Oh please.” Looking back at her, he said, “Are you serious right now?”
“Why such reaction?”
“Angelica is beautiful and everything, but she’s not you.”
“What?”
“Anybody can tell we don’t fit to each other, including you; and yet you filled her with ideas about me. That’s just cruel.”
“What? Well, you’re being cruel too for saying such things about her behind her back.”
“Not as cruel as you. Besides, you asked and I just answered.”
“I’m cruel?”
“Yes, you are. You knew fate when you saw it; and yet you fought against it for the sake of your pride, which is rubbish.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Tell me you didn’t see me the other night.”
“I definitely saw you.”
“Why, then, did you act as if you didn’t know me? I thought you see me as I am.”
“Well, as to that, I had been thinking about how to explain things to you one of these days. Good thing I saw you today."
Aldo flinched because he already guessed what she was going to say.
"If it hadn't for that, I would just ignore you."
“I’m all ears.”
“Come with me.” She pulled Aldo by the wrist and led her to another hallway that leads to some sort of back door. When they got to it, she pushed the door open. What lay in front of them was a concrete passageway, one direction of which, led to a garden, the secret garden of last time. Michal pulled Aldo towards it, and they got there. Then she let go and faced him. The garden was filled with medicinal plants as were indicated by labels. Aldo looked to his left and saw the worn-out concrete bench they sat on last time, talking. They remained standing within the garden.
“I’m going to explain my reasons to you plainly,” Michal started.
“Go ahead. I can take it.”
“Don’t get fooled by my gestures. They mean nothing.”
“I'm not making anything of it.”
“Okay. So... Where do I start? Uh... Well, I think you’re nice, intelligent, desirable... and uh...”
“Oh, thank you, Michal. Such generous compliments. I think they’re coming from the heart. But none of those things matter to me as long as I can be with you. In fact, I’m rather be the opposite of those things if that’s the only way I can be with you forever.”
“Listen. The thing is that I don’t want to be romantically involved with anyone right now, you included.”
“It’s because you’re actually married and have children.”
“I’m not. And I don’t.”
“But, no doubt, you do have a special someone, which is conceivable.”
“To be honest, I don’t either."
"Really? Then what is it?"
Michal hesitated tremendously as if she didn't prepare for this moment. "It's not right that I talk to you about this. I’d certainly rather not. If ever, you’ll have to figure it out by yourself.”
Aldo saved her the trouble of explaining. "Did I hear you right? At twenty-nine, really?"
Seeing herself spared, she eagerly replied, "Yeah. Why not?"
Aldo looked away and chuckled. "That is just phenomenal. At twenty-five, I'm hoping I can already find the right one for me, which is probably you." He looked back at Michal, still smiling in disbelief.
"It's dumb. Isn't it?"
“Absolutely not. It’s never. Not to me.”
“Yet it burns somehow.”
“It doesn’t. Believe me. Not from where I’m standing. Don't listen to jeering voices.”
“Yeah. I know... I know that about you.”
“What a relief what you just said, Michal. Despite what Angelica said, still, at the back of my mind, I had been fearing that the information she asserted was false because I keep telling myself it simply can't be true.”
“I’m still waiting for the right one for me.”
“The right one for you is standing right here right now. You would have to be an idiot not to see it.”
“Do you think so? I don’t. I don’t want to be romantically involved with you because I'm quite sure you're not the right one for me.”
“Ouch. Really? I wonder why.”
"Simple. You don't have what I'm looking for. For one, though you may not want to admit it, you're obviously still a child. Your mind is still undeveloped. Woman needs man. And I can hardly call you such because you are such a boy. I mean, as a woman, I should be able to rely on you. Isn't that just right? You men are supposed to be taking care of us. You should be able to take care of me. But how can you do that if I still have to teach you how to walk?"
"I totally agree. You're making a lot of sense right now. Really. I will have to be totally honest with you. I know that I'm exactly just that. I'm aware of it. At first, I hated it. But eventually, I've learned to embrace it. Now I no longer feel any bit of inclination to change it. To change who I am, I would have to be not me. Do you understand?"
"I understand. I wouldn't ask you to change who you are for me either, to be honest."
"So how long do you think you're going to wait until you find that right one for you?”
“Maybe until I die an old maid?”
“My goodness, no. Please don’t. Not you.”
“Does someone always need to be with someone? My mind happens not to be conditioned that way. And I don’t want to make a mistake when it comes to that kind of thing.”
“That just seems sad, Michal. Especially for you.”
“Well... Not really if you think about it deeply, if you’re like me. I’ll be just fine. I’m quite secure of what I am.”
“That still sounds sad for me. Honestly. Why not just take me?”
“How about you? Are you willing to wait that long?”
“I’ll wait for you till the end of time.”
“You’ll wait for me?”
“Yes, only for you.”
“But someone may come along whom I think would be the right one for me, and I might probably prefer him to you.”
“Then I guess my wait would be over by then.”
“You can start looking for someone whom you think is the right one for you. No one’s stopping you.”
"I don't believe you. You know you're the right one for me."
“I'm sorry, but we can't be together."
“Is there no other way?”
“There's no other way to it, unfortunately. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.”
"I do, partly. But I get your point. There's a part of you that I haven't yet discovered."
"I'm sorry if I disappointed you. You're a good person, Aldo. You don't deserve this..."
"And I don't deserve you? That's right. I don't deserve you. You're way too good for me. I guess I really don't deserve you."
"I’ll keep you in my thoughts."
“As if that will mean anything. As if that will help.”
"I will have to send you away, let you go off my life. Because we can never be. I can't have you. We can't be lovers."
"Fine."
"Will you just be okay, my dear Aldo?"
"Yeah. I'll be just fine."
“Here. Let me take you back.” She started to grab Aldo's wrist again to pull him.
Aldo pulled his arm back and said, “Can’t I just go this way? There’s the gate.”
“No. You have to go back the way you came. Let’s go.” Michal retook his arm and almost hurriedly led him towards the back door.
“You can hold my hand if you want, now that you’re totally dumping me.”
“As you wish.” Michal slid her hand towards Aldo's hand and then gripped it and continued to pull him. When they reached the door, she pushed it open and then continued pulling Aldo.
“I’ll just walk alongside you,” Aldo said and then tore his hand away from hers again.
But Michal retook it and this time gripped it firmly, and they ended up walking side by side down the hallway, holding each other’s hand. As they reached the corner, Michal motioned Aldo to stop so that she can look whether Angelica is around or the door of her clinic is open. When she made sure the coast is clear, he again pulled Aldo until she reached her office. Then she let go of Aldo's hand and said:
“This is where we part, indefinitely, maybe forever.”
“Does that mean you don’t wish to see me anymore?”
“Well... Yeah. I think it's for the better.”
“You hate me that much? No, of course, not. It may be the opposite. Or at least, that's what I like to think. Well, thank you for choosing to talk to me today. You filled my heart with joy and at the same time sadness. Now I’m confused.”
“Let’s just hope everything will work out as we wanted. No, no. As you wanted.”
“Hope. Yeah. Let’s hope. Hope is a good thing.”
“Right. Bye, Aldo.” Michal shut the door as she re-entered her office.
Aldo started his way out along the hallway with a mixed feelings of joy and sadness. He also worried he might come across Angelica, so he walked cautiously. Good thing he didn’t meet her all the way to the main door. She might have stuck herself in her office after their meeting. As he walked past the employee he inquired to, he smiled at her again. The latter returned the smile, now cordially. But out in the courtyard, he again saw the caretaker, now for the third time. The latter was sweeping dried fallen leaves into an improvised dust pan made of a dry lumber pole, into which, was fastened a receptacle cut out of the tin container of a large can of cooking oil. Then he went out of the gate and went home.

tentatively titled, “Ointment for the Cramp”
from The Simple Adventures of a Simple Simpleton
by: Marven T. Baldo