The Rhyme of You

Prologue

Caity

Someone knocks at my door. Luckily I’m still awake even if it’s late. Who’ll be my visitor at two-thirty in the morning? I open the door and see Marvin standing uneasy on his coat and tie? I look at him suspiciously: His hair neatly combs that I’m sure a hundred wax are being wasted just to fix his hair, his shoes are polished that I know I can see my reflection there, he’s even wearing the tie I gave him for our second anniversary.

“Marvin!” I say cheerfully even though I doubt his tie at this time.

“Can you come with me?” His eyes flickers and I swear I saw a spark the way he says it.

“Are you drunk?” I ask jokingly but my voice is serious.

He holds my elbow that gives me chill. “Come on babe, trust me.

He knows I trust him with all my heart. Because of our busy schedules we barely see each other but we manage to video call every time we both got home.

I roll my eyes. “Fine.

It already passes three o’clock in the morning the moon is so beautiful in the sky the fullness of it doesn’t disappoint me. Everybody’s sleeping now except us. And I still have no idea where we’ll be going. I already ask in the millionth time but he’s not answering. I’m beginning to doubt him thinking the worst he might plan even though we look like attending a masquerade party in the middle of the night.

“Babe…” I begin but he cuts me off.

“No question, I already told you.

I pout my lips, then he just beams. I’m wearing a blue dress that falls to my feet, a high heel shoes that perfect for a formal party he also said to curl my hair, without telling me what’s going on his head. He just said we were going to a dinner party, yes at midnight, where everyone should be sleeping now. This guy is a lunatic. I keep quiet for a moment but gasp as he turns the car to a private beach resort.

“Stay there,” he says while unbuckling his seatbelt.

I am paralyzed in my seat as I look at the beautiful place. There are Christmas lights everywhere that light the water, making it more beautiful and visible in the dark. Petals on the sand that I can imagine the smell being mix with the air, which synchronizes with the momentum sound of the waves, and the perfect moon above reflecting on the water.

Marvin opens my door and offers his hand for me. I accept it. We walk side by side, hand by hand to the beautiful place. Everything is so beautiful even the feelings in my chest.

“You told me to wear my dress in a place like this?” I laugh and so does he.

“I’m sorry.” He kisses my forehead.

He notices I can’t stand straight to the heels I’m wearing. The shoes are syncing on the sand. I am tripping through, I manage to stand still. Marvin holds my wrist laughing through his nose.

“Is it hard to walk on those shoes?” he teases.

I slap him, he covers his face immediately using his arms laughing loudly. I stand still putting my hands on my waist and pout my lip. “What do you think, baby?!

“Come here.” He carries me in a bridal way.

I laugh as he tickles me using his beard. After a moment pass, he drops me on the place that full of lights as if it’s Christmas season. It lays a long table with a lot of foods that are too much for two people to eat. I look at Marvin who’s smiling down at me. When I turn back I see my mom, also my friends and our friends. They are all wearing formal dresses like I’m wearing and coats just like Marvin’s wearing. Mom is not happy. A few seconds later his whole family, I guess, since I’ve never met his family, shows up from the back that looks like if they were hiding there for a long time, they’re also wearing coats and ties and dresses too. It makes me feel there’s a silent gathering that I’m not supposed to be invited but here I am standing next to my boyfriend.

After everyone showed up he points to the sky and a firework display started, beautiful lights lighting up on the dark sky. Reflecting the water, lighting his face with different shades of colors. He kneels down. Take a little box from his pocket that shows a beautiful ring. I gasp. I saw him opens his mouth but before he could speak, a familiar voice calling Marvin’s name. I look at everywhere looking where’s that familiar voice came from to this crowded place, the man, with my mother following him. Marvin is now standing next to me and the box is now close hiding the beautiful ring.

In my head, I’m battling with myself. ‘How did this man knows Marvin?’ I ask myself not him, whom the person who can answer my question, but I’m scared of the possibility that that could be real but it would be a joke to my eyes and very much absurd on this perfect moment.

“Dad, I asked you about this, right,” Marvin asks.

Before his dad can answer mom says. “This is not right, Caity.

The people are watching us like we’re on a television show. They are confused as much as I do, as much as Marvin does. But this man and my mom know what’s going on. My mom pulls my arm but I resist in order to ask the question I’m afraid to ask. The question that, I think, I already know the answer based on my mother’s face and the way the man’s reaction. Still, Marvin refuses to believe the reality, the forever he was planning for us, the future he believes he holds with me, the moments he spends with me, and the dreams he thought I would be there, crashes and shakes by the reality in our shadow.

“H….. He…. This is your daddy?” I ask sneering with a tear streaming down my cheek. I finally able to omit the words hang on my lips.

“Caity, why are you crying? Yes, he’s my dad. Well, he wants to meet you but I think this is the right moment.” Marvin says perplex.

He put the box with the ring on his pocket. I shake my head, remove my shoes and leave. Marvin calls my name but I don’t want to look back. I know his dad or mom can explain the comedy show. I was crying with my head down, walking to the dark part of the beach.

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