Carlo and Samantha
by Denver E. Torres

Carlo and Samantha have been together as lovers for four years now. The time they have been together is obvious in the way they hold each others hands and the way they look at each other’s eyes. The two look so sweet, as sweet as the red strawberry flavored lollipop Samantha is sucking. And the passers-by can’t help but drop a stare at the ant-inviting and beautiful couple.

Inside the University campus, under the shade of a gargantuan tree, they sit quite comfortably and relaxed while chatting and watching some guys play soccer from a few distance. Their lounging around seems to be the antithesis to the goings-on in the University. The teachers, like celebrities are on chase by their students, begging them for some academic mercy. On the other hand, the students are queuing up in the Finance Office tellers. Other students seem “parkouring” from one building to another to catch up with their concluding classes and to beat the semestral deadlines. Some are sitting down yet busy on pounding to their heads the lessons that they are told to come out in the exams. Yes. It is Friday, the last day of the regular school days and the Finals is to start on the following Monday.  

That afternoon, the 3 o’clock bell rings as sometimes the bell fails to when the controllers fall asleep; Samantha stands up and kisses Carlo a snappy kiss. She bids goodbye and hurry off to her classroom. Carlo on the other hand has to go to the Library to fetch some photocopied materials to study on for the exams. The parting is the usual stares of I-miss-you-already-baby. While on his way to the library, Carlo’s feels his phone vibrating in his pocket.

Before the 6 o’clock class ends, Samantha receives a text message from Carlo saying: we will dine together. See you in an hour at the benches in front of the University Chapel. Samantha excuses herself from the class and go outside to send a reply to Carlo’s message. The text says: Ok. See yah! Mwaaah!!! : )

By 8 o’clock the couple is done with their dinner. Carlo says that he has to go home early to finish up some projects for his major’s class. Chivalric and gentleman as ever, Carlo accompanies her girlfriend to her pad and to make sure she goes home safe. Carlo takes a ride back to Divisoria from Macasandig where Samantha’s pad is situated. Samantha is not from Cagayan de Oro but from Malaybalay Bukidnon while Carlo is an Iliganon.

While in the motorela going to his destination, he sends a message to someone listed in his Phonebook as Friend: Wer r u? Wer will we meet? My rate is P 1500. Deal? A reply comes a minute later. The text says: Ok. Deal. Just make sure that y0ur peNis s as BIG as y0uR r8. Go to Al Fresco Café here in DVsoria. I am wearing a green Lacoste shirt. C u! : )

It is 5 minutes past after Carlo enters the Café; he spots a man in late 30’s puffing a cigarette near the foyer. He is the only one wearing a green shirt. Carlo flashes a smile and approaches the fellow. “I am Carlo,” he says confidently. “I am Jake,” the excited man says. “You are tall and have a nice face as well. Do you play Basketball?,” Jake asks. Carlo replies with nods and smiles.

They talk for a couple of minutes and go out. Jake whistles a cab. He walks near the driver and discretely says: King Henry’s Inn? The driver nods to indicate yes. The cab disappears in the dim corner and the darkness of the night kept Carlo’s surreptitious business.