Caress

Allen was wild about antiques. He considers antique collection as his hobby. A far cry from his friends or colleagues who are into latest gadgets, new car models or motorcycle, or new girlfriend etc., antiques collection was his life. But Allen was not naïve in choosing the right price for him to buy. With the help of his friend Edgar, an antique dealer and an owner of an antique shop in which Allen was a regular customer, he always got his taste that he finds affordable to him. But most of the time, Allen spends half of his salary on antique that he found fascinating, much to the chagrin of Janet, her girlfriend of how many years. Janet also experience neglected as a girlfriend from time to time. One day, it was their anniversary, and Allen doesn’t remember. Edgar referred to him that day another piece that he might be interested, an 18th century Spanish king-sized bed. It has shipped to him just recently and contacted Allen immediately. “How much does this cost again?” Allen asked Edgar, while his eyes focus on the said antique. He was in love at first sight. Allen had a strange feeling that he was hypnotize by it. “It cost $56.5 my friend, but for you, I give you a 50% discount”. At affordable price, Allen seems cannot wait to have this as his collection. He immediately paid Allen through check and delivered it tonight at his home. After Allen left, Edgar only grin for his strange friend. He knew Allen ever since they were in their kindergarten. Before, Allen had said to him he might be a product of reincarnation of someone who was born a long time ago. Edgar starting to believe that he was right. But anyway he was happy for Allen, and at the same time, another bucks inside his pocket. That night, Allen was so overwhelm with happiness with his new acquisition. Instead of putting it in another room, he decided to use it as his own bed. He was supposed to be in his bedtime when he forgets something. Oh no, that night he has a dinner date schedule with Janet. It was their anniversary. He checks his mobile phone, and rightfully, Janet miscalled him 30 times. He contacted Janet to apologize. After 10 attempted calls to Janet, she didn’t answer. Instead, she message him “Don’t you ever talk to me again, from now on, we are through, I hate you”. He called her again, but she turned off her cellphone. Allen was devastated; he can’t believe he did this again to the person whom he really and truly loves. And again, his obsession with antiques was to blame. Allen feels confused and seems falling apart. He believes Janet will never forgive him this time. He lights one stick of cigarette and drink a can of beer from his mini refrigerator. After that he fell asleep. That night he has a strange dream. He was on his own bed, he heard the soft cry, but starting to get louder. Allen opens his eyes and right in front of him was a young woman, wearing a white night gown dress, sitting on his bed, covering her face with her palms. Allen was puzzled and at the same time, scared, who is this woman that out of the blue, just appeared in front of her. Is she a ghost or a product of his drunkenness, or this is just a dream? But Allen knows he only drunk 1 can of beer. If ever this young woman was a ghost, from feeling scared, Allen changes his feeling to sympathy for her “Excuse me, but how did you get here, who are you”. The young woman uncovers her face and look enchantingly at Allen. Allen observes the face of the woman. She has a pretty innocent looks - blonde long hair, smoky- green eyes and curvaceous lips. Her looks has a combination of Megan Fox and Natalie Portman. “Mi nombe es Catalina, y usted es…”, the woman introduced herself. Unfortunately for Allen, he doesn’t speak nor understand Spanish. “I’m sorry about that, my name is Catalina, and sorry also for interrupting your sleep. I’m crying because Guillermo has left me, he left me for another woman, now I am falling into pieces” the woman again sobbing. Allen feels sorry, and embraces Catalina. “I am sorry to hear what you have gone through” Allen said. He also has his own feelings of brokenhearted. “That makes the two of us, I was also left by the woman I love”, Allen’s eyes begin to water when he said this. Allen and Catalina at that moment both comforted each other. Until the both of them feel the warmness inside their body. Before they know it, and realizing it, they decide to take off their clothes. They caress each other and make love until both fell asleep. But the alarm clock rings. He open his eyes, it’s now 6:00 in the morning. He looks for Catalina, but she has gone now. Realizing it was a wild dream after all, or wasn’t, because until now, he still feel the warm embrace and the kisses of Catalina. Allen thought this will be the last time she will dream of Catalina. These dreams will go on every night for nearly a month and so on. And as in his dreams, he always makes love with Catalina. Allen cannot stand it, and he knows these weird dreams started when he purchased the antique Spanish bed and put it in his bedroom. He contacts Edgar to know the history and background of the said antique. Allen discovered the real owners are the Gonzalez family, of Spanish descent. And according to them, this was first owned by their great ancestor, their great grandmother, whom name was Catalina. According to them, Catalina’s story was a tragic one. She committed suicide when her husband left him. Now Allen finally realized that Catalina is not a fragment of his dreams. But he was not scared either now he knows the fact that Catalina is a ghost. Instead she feels sorry for her. After his discovery, he decided to go to church. He light many candles and say a prayers for Catalina, then left, when suddenly, far away, she saw a woman who is familiar to her. It is Catalina. He run towards her and called her name. Catalina was wearing a typical Spanish dress of the 18th century, with her parasol, a Spanish type of umbrella. This time Catalina seems smiling and happy. “Thank you for the wonderful nights you have shared with me, now I must go to where I belong. I already found peace and happiness”. Catalina kisses her on the lips as a sign of farewell. “Before I leave, I hope you and your love will enjoy using my bed when you get married”, Allen puzzled who is the person someone he loves is she talking about. “You know whom I talking to Allen, and right now, she is her, looking for you” after Catalina said this words, she disappears, and someone is shouting his voice from afar. The voice sounds familiar to Allen. It was Janet. Janet run towards where Allen standing and she hug him “Edgar called me and he said you are here” Janet pause for a few seconds and then speaks “He also told me that you act strangely after I left you, I was worried Allen”. At that moment, Allen feels some kind of relief. “Allen, I know it sounds silly, but right now, after not talking to you for how many days, I realize how much I love you, and care for you, I don’t want you to go Allen, please come back to me” Janet said tearfully to him. Allen admits that he still love her. He also asks apology to Janet for all his mistakes. From that moment on, Allen is not interest anymore in antiques.