My Bloody Valentine

Note: Bloody in many parts - Part 5

Valentine’s Day.

Ho-hum.

I spent the day watching the movie “Push” with a friend. It was a Chris Evans movie with Dakota Fanning and the lead star of Joy Luck Club who already wore wrinkles. It was supposed to be a powerhouse movie with a superb cast but I caught myself enjoying sleep than listen to their conversations about a sniffer, a pusher and whatnot. The only movie I knew where Chris Evans showed serious acting was Cellular opposite Kim Basinger.

It was actually a relief to realize that the movie was finally over. While my friend and I were nibbling cookies inside this coffee shop, we watched women carry their flower bouquets and stuffed toys of various shapes and sizes the way a Miss Universe would. Men lined up the nearby flower shop for single long-stemmed red roses.

Love. Ha ha. I still didn't quite get it.

With just three hours before midnight, I decided to leave the mall and headed down to the terminal to take a ride back home. There were very few passengers I could actually roll under those benches. But I was not expecting to see Bloody and his blue-violet van picking up passengers at a late hour. He should be home having dinner with his wife or dating a couple of girlfriends in the motels. He was on his way to the phone booth when he saw me. I thought that moment the world ceased from turning.

Bloody waited for me at the corner and greeted me “Happy Valentines”. He held out his hand. I responded thinking it was just one of those casual little handshakes I give generously to everyone I knew. The guy seemed pleased with the gesture and started his rusty pick up lines while holding my hand firmly and a little longer than usual.

“Where’s my kiss?” He whispered on my ear.

“Why?” I asked nonchalantly.

“You never gave one last Christmas. It's Valentines already. You owe me two.” I felt his hand pressed mine.

“Do I? How about this Christmas?”

“That's ten months from now...” He groaned. There was this helpless but charming look in his eyes that read "Seduction 101".

“I think I have just paid you.” I motioned towards my hand caught in his tight grip.

We laughed.

I took the front seat with an elderly woman seated between us. While we were on the road, Bloody asked questions about why I go home late and why he seldom sees me. He seemed to track the days we didn't see each other. I was tempted to present an offer to be my official service van. But I thought about The Wife, the kids and the ugly consequences. I was not that brave. I wish I didn't have that much of a conscience.

We were silent the whole time he was driving. It was something we usually do when there were still passengers inside. There might be spies on board who do field reports for the wife. For all we knew, that mature-looking woman between us could be her personal detective pretending to be asleep.

Bloody dropped me off at the last stop without saying a word but just a smile and his casual wave of goodbye. Thanks to that elderly woman who blocked our view and spoiled the night. But then, come to think of it, she could be an angel in disguise.

Nevertheless, I took home with me his smile and the memory of his calloused hand holding mine.