Huracio
Good company, ugh?
I tried to remember what we did the last time that made me good company. All that came to mind was lots of alcohol and pills. Considering how shitty I felt after that dizzy spell, alcohol and pills was a good idea.
“Okay, let’s go.” I stood up and headed for the sloppy side of the rock.
Brenda, Sophia’s blue yacht, was one of the biggest boats docking at Pecan beach.
Normally, the docking area is usually quiet and private. But tonight, lots of people were hanging around, necking, smooching, or just talking. It was a lewd sight.
Seeing this Sophia paused and frowned.
“Maybe we should go into the open water? It’s crowded here. Don’t you think?” She asked as we climbed into the yacht.
“Can you drive?”
“Can’t you?” She raised her brows.
“I can.”
“Then we are good.”
Shrugging, I entered the boat and entered the cockpit. After making some check-ups, I unanchored the yacht and headed into the water.
In the middle of nowhere, with just water on all sides, and the city light miles away, I and Sophia rocked to slow music.
It’s been two hours since we left the beach and Sophia was still as sombre as when we started drinking hours ago. My plan was to get her drunk, then once she was asleep, I would drive the yacht back to the dock. But she didn’t look like she was even tipsy. Not only was her voice leveled and steady, her eyes were bright, clear, and alert. This woman turned out to be a skilled drinker.
“Have you tried viagra?”
“What?” I raised my head in confusion.
“Well, I feel very horny right now. It’s just a waste, sitting right next to a gorgeous man and not getting handled.”
“…”
“I have viagra. It might work.” She continued.
“It’s not a hormonal problem. They say I am having PTSD.”
“You? PTSD?” She exclaimed, sounding incredulous. “What is it? What happened?”
I could see the expectation in her eyes. She was like a child edger to open her Christmas present, but needing permission.
I just shook my head and stood up. I walked over to the side of the boat and gazed into the night.
“I may be able to help. I used to be a therapist.”
“You, a therapist?”
I didn’t see that coming at all. I looked at her all over. Plum, medium size, and robust in the right places. She has the body of a Mexican mother, and the face of a cherub. Her butt cheeks are quite bouncy, and a child could easily sit on them. Her hips are wide and sharp, and despite her size, her stomach tell tales of her body care. It is well toned with firm, lush skin. The last time I ran my hands around it, it was smooth and silky. Her body fat is meticulously distributed to add to her beauty. Any less and she wouldn’t be so perfect. Any more, and it would be too much. One can see that she is intentionally maintaining this look. Nothing about her says ‘Therapist.’
“I am serious. You can check it out later.”
“So, why did you retire?”
She twitched her nose and looked away with a shrug. “Life happens to everyone.”
“…”
We stood there for quite some time, just gazing into nothing. I have not felt that relaxed in months. My mind was calm and my head was quiet.
Gerald wanted me to see a therapist, but I vehemently refused. Now one was standing beside me, asking me to use her free of charge. I don’t know if she could be trusted, but at that moment, she brought me peace, so I started talking.
“My woman left me.”
“I knew it.” She chuckled. “When I didn’t see both of you for so long, I thought you moved. I had no idea she left you.”
My heart chilled at her words. My brain prompted me to remember something.
“What do you mean? You knew her?”
“Of course. Her house isn’t far from mine, you know. She has a beautiful daughter who came to pick up bread twice a week until last year.”
Then it dawned on me. Earlier, I was wondering why she knew to wait for me on the rock. I squinted my eyes as suspicion and wariness surged. She sensed my mood swing and turned to me with a raised eyebrow.
“How long have you been watching us?” I asked in a graved tone.
“I wasn’t watching her. I was watching you.” She replied, unbothered by my rude tone.
“Why?”
“Because you are cute. Why else?”
I reached out and grabbed her neck.
“The truth, now!”
Unexpectedly, she raised her leg and it into my stomach.
“Argh!”
Doubling over, I released her and stumbled backward. Struggling not to pass out, I kept creating distance between us.
“Who are you?” I groaned.
“Huracio, you are too presumptuous.” She rubbed her neck and snorted. “If I wanted you dead, you would have died a thousand times already.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Your body.”
“Hahahahah!” I bursted out laughing. “You are quite brave!”
The audacity. I, Huracio Ignatius. Someone wanted to make a dog out of me? I couldn’t believe it.
She walked over and looked me straight in the eye. “What? I can’t be your mama?” She hooked her lips in a lopsided smile, looking lewd, yet contemptuous. “I take care of my boys.”
“I take care of my dogs.”
“I know.” She chuckled. “That’s why I stepped back.” She walked to the railing and held it.
“Why did she leave?” She suddenly caught me off guard. I first blinked in confusion before realizing she was talking about Helena.
“I don’t know. She just left. I got no warning.” I sighed, trying to contain the tightness in my chest.
“It was that good, ugh. So good you got tamed.”
“No, she was never one of them. She is special. You know, the one.”
“The one.” She rolled the words around her mouth like she was savouring a delicacy. “I don’t believe in true love. How does it feel?”
How it feels…
My mind went back, reliving all our moments together.
“Happy. I was happy.”
“How has it been since she left?”
“It’s lonely. The days are longer. Everything seems meaningless. I…”
I couldn’t continue. There are some things you can just think about. They must never be spoken. Because then they become real.
“Since the problem is in your head, we just need you to rewire it. Do you have things she likes like perfume, her best music, her best Color’s, you know what I mean?”
“Yes.” I nodded, getting puzzled. What did she need Katalina’s stuff for?
“Bring them here tomorrow. I have an idea that might work.”
“Okay.*
“It’s time to go back.” She changed the subject again.
Checking the time, it was dawn. The party should be over by now, but I didn’t want to go back.
“Can’t we stay till daybreak?”
“I have a business to run.”
Reluctantly, I went to the cockpit and started the boat.
Once I docked the boat, I made my way back to the rock where I was finally able to relax and fall asleep.