“Hi, Clarisse, how is everything?”
“I’m on my way back; there has been a slight delay one hour out of my town.”
“Really? How bad is it?”
“All I can see are the lights of road vehicles ahead—I think there has been an accident. We have not moved for twenty minutes … not an inch.”
“Oh, that does not sound too good.” Harry paused for a moment, contemplating his thoughts. He could hear Clarisse sobbing in the background. “How long can the delay last until it’s too late to arrive in Manila?”
“Maybe another thirty minutes,” she said with a croaking voice.
“It’s OK, Clarisse. Stay calm. It may start moving again soon. Maybe they are clearing the broken-down car now, and it won’t be long.”
“OK, Harry, I will send a message once we get moving again.” Although she was feeling better with the encouragement, there was also a source of apprehension.
The driver received a radio message from the control centre that a van had rolled over into a ditch on the side of the road. The emergency crews had finally lifted the van onto a tow truck. The traffic was expected to start moving anytime now, although at a slow pace initially. The bus driver communicated the news to the passengers, and there were smiles and sighs of relief all around. Clarisse checked the time, and even with the current delay, she would arrive in Manila with fifteen minutes to spare.
The rest of the bus trip back went smoothly, and the bus driver managed to make up lost time—scheduled to arrive at the bus terminal on time. Clarisse had been through so much that she was exhausted and fell asleep for the remainder of the journey.
Upon arriving at the bus terminal, she messaged Harry in advance that she was on her way to the hotel.
Clarisse checked her belongings in her backpack and ensured her gift for Harry was not damaged. It was a picture of them together, standing next to the Spanish guard at the entrance of Intramuros at the Spanish fort. She picked this photo because they both looked great—Harry was holding her tightly, they had big smiles, and it had a picturesque backdrop. She was hoping Harry would place her picture on his bedside table in an elegant white frame with the engraved words: ‘The best love is the kind that awakens the soul.’
12 LOVE PLUS NOTHING
The hardest-learned lesson: that people only have their kind of love to give, not our kind.
Mignon McLaughlin
The cab arrived five minutes early, and Clarisse was happy to be on time. With all the things that could have gone wrong between travelling to her home and back again, it was remarkable how she made it on time to see Harry off at the airport. She firmly believed in her faith and that someone was watching over her today.
Harry was like clockwork, waiting at the front entrance of the hotel and ready to go. He was juggling his bags as he tried to coordinate all his belongings.
“Let me help with the luggage, sir,” said the porter.
He managed to load everything into the boot of the cab and then waited, smiling at Harry.
Clarisse whispered to Harry, “You need to give him a small tip. Do you have twenty pesos?”
“Oh yes, I have it here,” Harry said. He tipped the porter before stepping into the cab with Clarisse.
“I have a gift for you, Harry … it’s something small to remember our time together,” Clarisse said. She removed a parcel from her backpack; it was wrapped in silver paper and tied with a red ribbon.
“I can’t open it now because I don’t want to destroy the wrapping,” Harry said.
“It’s OK … open it up on the plane or when you get back. Don’t forget to remove the picture of me on your bedside table and replace it with this one.”
“So, it’s a picture frame?”
“Not saying, it’s a surprise,” Clarisse said with a cheeky grin.
Harry took the parcel and placed it in his carry-on bag. “Thanks so much for the gift, I’m looking forward to opening it when I get back home.” Harry smiled and looked at her in a presumptuous way. “So how did you know I had your picture on my bedside table?”
“Marjorie can’t keep a secret,” Clarisse said.
“Well, obviously my friend Matt told Alicia, and it got to you that way.”
They both laughed realising how small the world was and how news could travel so far.
“I have a gift also,” Harry said.
“A gift for me?” Clarisse was excited. “I didn’t expect anything.”
“I thought I would surprise you.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Well here it is, Clarisse, and here is a card.”
“What’s in the card? It’s not my birthday.”
“It’s a going-away card to say thanks for everything.”
Clarisse was silent and did not know what to say. The gesture from Harry had made her speechless.
“I guess I can’t open it now?” The red box with a pink laced ribbon was the size of a jewellery case used for gold chains or pendants.
“Not now, but later … after I leave. Oh, and read my card at the same time.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Clarisse could not handle the anticipation of opening the gift and shook it a few times next to her ear.
The experience of the last seven days came crashing down on her all at once. Harry would be leaving her in approximately one hour. At this point, she would have given anything for him to stay an extra couple of days—but she was aware he had already put himself at risk with his job by overstaying.
Clarisse casually put her head on his shoulder while holding on to her gift and card with both hands, her legs trembling slightly, but enough for Harry to notice.
At the intersection of a busy thoroughfare, a pretty little girl no more than ten years old was holding on to a chain of sampaguita flowers tied together. She raised them at Harry and knocked on the window several times, urging him to buy one. The cab driver advised him not to wind down the window because it was not safe. Harry was in a defiant mood, and unlike his conservative self, this time, he decided to throw caution to the wind. He pulled down the window and asked the little girl for the chain of sampaguita flowers. She put out her hand seeking money while cautiously lifting the sampaguita through the window.
“Here, Harry, give her these coins … it’s twenty pesos,” Clarisse said.
Harry placed the coins into the palms of the pretty little girl. She put the chain of flowers over Harry’s head, smiled and nodded before disappearing into the traffic.
They could smell the jasmine scent of the petals as it filled the cab with a lovely, relaxing fragrance.
“This is for you,” Harry said, placing the flower chain over Clarisse’s head like a classic Hawaiian lei.
“They smell so beautiful,” she said.
“Nothing like your mother’s flowers but I still like them.”
“It was very spontaneous.”
“Your culture has brought out the other side of me,” Harry said.
“You’re spoiling me so much today. Thanks for the flowers … they mean a lot to me.”
Harry could see the street signs for Manila Airport and the planes taking off into the sunset in the distance. They were not far away now from the international airport departures drop-off. Clarisse was silent as she fiddled with the sampaguita around her neck. They did not talk at all for the last five minutes of the cab ride and held on to what precious moments they had remaining.
As the cab arrived at the bustling departures drop-off area, Harry’s heart started racing, and he could feel it thumping against his chest. As he looked towards the entrance to the departure’s hall, he knew his time with Clarisse was finally coming to an end. After the most amazing seven days of his life in Manila, he knew it was time to say goodbye to her.
“Sir, we have arrived. I will help you with your bags,” said the taxi driver.
Harry was motionless—almost refusing to leave the cab and grabbing every moment with Clarisse. She was the bravest of the
two—nudging Harry gently to get his luggage and then flinging the cab door open with her feet. The cab driver managed to access a trolley that was lying around nearby and assisted Harry load up his bags.
They pushed the trolley together through the main entrance to the departures hall carefully to ensure his luggage did not tip over onto the pavement. They both looked at each other intensely for a moment as they passed through the main door.
“So, looks like we are finally here,” Clarisse said. She looked directly at Harry, teardrops cascading from her rosy cheeks. He had a feeling of disquiet and smiled at her.
“I am coming back,” Harry said.
“That’s what they all say, and then they never turn up.”
“I mean it, Clarisse. Once I find out what’s going on with my job, I will return.”
“When?”
“Is three months too long?”
“No, it’s not, because I will wait as long as it takes for you to come back. Promise me?” She gave Harry a sincere, warm hug and put her head on his shoulder. “Promise me?”
Harry held her tight and whispered in her ear, “I promise.”
There was a moment of silence, and all they could hear was the noise around them. They were unconcerned with anything else, and they focused on one another.
“I think I must go, Clarisse. My flight is checking in.”
“Have a safe trip … and don’t forget to blow me a kiss from the plane, I will be watching.”
Harry smiled and said, “I will message you when I get home.”
Clarisse was being brave and did not cry outright. She wanted to show him strength and faith, and not cry like an emotional child. Harry kissed her on the cheek, picked up his bags and started walking to the flight check-in queue. He stopped temporarily, waved at her and smiled. He knew he was coming back, no matter what, and he believed she would be waiting for him. Clarisse blew kisses at him as she waved goodbye. He disappeared past the checkpoint into the main hall of the airport and out of sight.
She felt her phone vibrate several times. It was Harry; he had sent her three emojis of faces blowing a kiss with a winking eye and small flying heart.
She stood there, oblivious to the world around her, and shed a tear.
He will be back—I know he will, she thought.
THE END
Harry’s note to clarisse
Dear Clarisse,
Our time together has been extraordinary, and I have never felt like this before.
I wanted to tell you about my love plus nothing. It’s the type of love that doesn’t need to check boxes, or to test each other, or ask our friends what they think. It’s a love you should not overthink.
It’s about love and nothing else. It just happens, and everyone knows it’s right, instinctively. That is what I have found in you: my love plus nothing.
I will see you in three months.
Love, Harry
PS: I hope you like the gold bracelet with the small gold cross!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janice is an Australian author and lives with her family in Melbourne. Janice grew up in South-East Asia and is very well versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing new adult and clean romance with paranormal and supernatural elements. The concept of writing the City of Affection series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago when discussing the tribulations of her good friend who had travelled to the Philippines to meet his new partner. Fascinated by his experiences, Janice was inspired to write her first new adult and clean romance novel. She enjoys writing about relationships that develop through difficult circumstances. There is drama, conflict and paranormal suspense—always with a positive ending.
the next instalment
The City of Affection is a three-part series that takes you on a heart-rending, paranormal and supernatural romantic experience.
Love is not straightforward in the City of Affection–shrouded in old family superstition and tragic tales. There are no shortcuts to an enduring relationship–love becomes a test of fortitude and devotion. There is constant negative energy at play that threatens to destroy relationships before they can grow into altars of love. For those bold enough to travel to the City of Affection in search of everlasting happiness, difficult challenges await. Each book in the series will immerse you in a different relationship, their challenges and a unique storyline.
Janice Tremayne is working on her next book. The Girl in the Glass Coat, the next book in the City of Affection series, will become available in May 2020.
To keep up to date with her next book, go to Janice’s website.
www.janicetremayne.com
The Girl in the Scarlet Chair: A New Adult and Clean Romance with Supernatural Elements (City of Affection - Book 1) Page 14