Short Stories on s*x and Romance

Love amidst the Pandemic

WARNING: NO s*x ON THIS STORY. 

This pandemic is really taking a toll on all of us. I was browsing thru my social media account and I see friends losing jobs or losing people close to them due to the virus.

I still have my job, as I work from home as a freelance writer. I get paid enough for rent, food, clothes, and utilities. And a little bit more for my savings. I can say that I am lucky enough.

One time I was browsing thru suggested pages in my account, when I saw a live video of a man selling his artworks as his way to earn income and half of it will be donated to a food bank. As he was showing off his paintings, there was one thing that caught my eye. A pencil portrait of a woman, who looks like me. It was so realistic; it almost looks photographed. However, he is not selling the portrait. I was waiting for him to get it and give the price. I was not paying attention to what he was saying, when he suddenly went offline.

I cannot be mistaken. It must be me.

“Can I buy that portrait behind you? How much would that be?” I commented on his post.

“I’m sorry, but it’s not for sale.”

I can’t keep on commenting on his post, so I sent him a private message. I sent him the same thing I commented.

“Can I buy that portrait behind you? How much would that be?”

It took a while until I got an answer.

“Oh, it’s you again. I’m really sorry, but it’s not for sale.”

I have to have it. Call me vain, but it was the most beautiful picture of me that I have ever seen. If it was indeed me. Could there be someone else who looks exactly the same as me? Probably. Same shape of brows, eyes, nose, lips, ears and placement of cheekbones. How could I be mistaken?

The portrait brought out the person’s true emotions.

I took a video of getting myself fixed the same way I looked like on the portrait.

“I don’t know why, but I feel that I’m the one on the portrait.” When I was done, I struck a pose before my phone. “Do I look like her or not?”

I sent it to him and he had seen it. A while later he was replying. He would stop, then start again.

“This is so cool!”

“I was riding the train going home two years ago when I noticed a beautiful lady near me.”

“Were you, by any chance, rode the train going to the upper state sometime March two years ago?”

His messages came in one after another.

“Yes! I went to the upper state. That was March 12.” To visit my ex-boyfriend on his birthday.

“You’re such a good artist. You were able to draw me in an hour or less.”

“Can I call you?”

And so, we met via video call.

“Hi.” I said shyly.

“Hi. It is definitely you.” Then he laughed. “Still beautiful.”

“Oh. Don’t know what to answer to that. Thank you anyway.” I was blushing. Hopefully, it doesn’t show in the camera.

“More beautiful when you blush.” He smiled at the camera. This was actually the time I notice his face. Earlier, I was so into the portrait that I did not notice how he looked like. He looks cute. Handsome even, like Sam Claflin in his younger years.

“Uhm, so, are you going to sell me the portrait, uh, Raf? Can I call you Raf?”

“Yes, you can call me Raf. But I still can’t sell you the portrait, Amelia.”

“Okay.” I pouted.

“Don’t be sad. How about we make a deal?”

“What kind of deal?”

“We become friends.”

“Okay. We’re friends now.” I grinned excitedly.

“Not so fast, honey.” He looked at me amused. “To become friends, we work for it, right? We call, we text, we support each other. All of us needs a friend right now. When I feel that we are close enough, then I’ll give you the portrait. Don’t worry, it’s already reserved for you. I won’t sell it to anyone else.”

“I think I’m okay with that. I’m good with having new friends. Anyway, why did you choose to draw me?”

“Because you were attractive… up to present. I told you that you’re still beautiful. You caught my eye. Period.”

Now, I’m blushing again. I never thought I would attract someone to have him draw my portrait. I’m just average-looking. Black hair, dark brown eyes. Skinny, not too thin though, with chubby cheeks. Just someone you can overlook in a sea of people.

“Um, okay. Now I’m embarrassed. I’ll just look at your post again so I can look at your other creations.”

Raf did not reply. When I look at the screen, he was there but just kept smiling.

“Hey. Are you doing anything else? I don’t want to disturb you.”

“Sorry. I got lost somewhere.”

We have started to get talking about our personal lives, about what was happening around us. I’ve learned that he’s 28 years old (same as me), single (that, too), and a graphic artist. He also works from home. He paints and draws on his spare time. He is also a photographer, but was put on hold as he cannot go outside. I have actually looked at his works on his account and they are amazing. We were talking for hours and we did not even notice the time!

“Raf, it’s almost one in the morning. Don’t you have anything to do tomorrow?”

“Is it one already? I’m sorry, I’ve kept you awake.”

“It’s okay.”

“Can we talk again tomorrow, Amelia?”  

“Sure, but after I do my work. Is it okay?”

“Fine with me. See you tomorrow, beautiful. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night.”

I ended the call and did my nightly routine. I lied down in bed waiting for sleep to come. I kept on turning around my bed but I still feel widely awake. Raf’s face kept on flashing in my mind. His emerald green eyes and his beautiful smile.

Fine! I admit that he’s attractive!

He’s there again in my mind, I kept on rewinding our conversation. Eventually, I fell asleep.

***

I was having my coffee in my balcony the following morning, when suddenly my phone rang. It was Raf. I accepted the call, but turned off the video.

“Good morning, beautiful! Hey! Why did you turn off the video?”

“Cause I’m not presentable?”

“Not presentable, but you still hang out at your balcony?”

“Wait. Are you stalking me? How did you know that I’m out at my balcony?” Being his friend might not be a good idea at all. I looked around the area, on the street below me, to my neighboring balconies, until I see a figure waving at me at the building in front of me. At two floors higher than mine, his face is still visible. “Is that you?”

“Who else?” He was laughing at me.

“This is crazy. We are actually neighbors.” I raised my hand to my head in disbelief.

“I know, right? Can I take a photo of you?”

“No! Absolutely not! I told you I’m not…”

“Presentable…” Raf finished the sentence for me. “I was trying to find something interesting to capture. Here look at my tele-photo lens.” He put down his phone, then raised his big camera pointing it at me.

“Absolutely gorgeous.” I could him mutter.

“Hey, stop taking photos of me. I’ll go back inside.” He put down the camera, then took his phone back to his ear.

“No, please don’t. I did not any photos. I just wanted to see you clearly.”

I did not reply.

“I’m really sorry. Please. Forgive me?”

“Fine.”

“Thank you. Did you have a nice sleep, Amelia?”

“No. I slept like way past two.” I rolled my eyes at him. “I think I’ll sleep early tonight.”

“No way. I know what you did last night why you were not able to sleep.”

“What?”

“You visited me in my dreams.” Raf laughed naughtily.

“Ha-ha.”

***

We had been calling and texting each other for the past three months. At first though I felt like Raf was being fake and I was afraid that he was stalking me. I’m not sure how to feel about his sweetness towards me. He would always text me sweet messages in the morning. He even sent me flowers and chocolates a few times! Good thing I found out that we had a few common friends. They vouched that Raf is a nice person and really sweet towards people he likes.

“Can’t believe I haven’t thought of this before.” Raf said while we were eating dinner. Of course, in our own apartments.

“What?”

“Can I ask you out on a date?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. We are done with our vaccines anyway.” His face is indeed serious. My mind has been going crazy. First, is he serious about me, that he wants ME to go out with him? Second, how are we going to have our date? “But it’s okay if you’re still hesitant to go out. I understand.”

“How?”

“Answer me first. Can I take you out on a date, Amelia?” I’m starting to like him. Do I still play hard to get? No.

“Yes, Raf. I’d love to.”

“Thank you, beautiful.” He let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll pick you Saturday morning at eleven in the morning. Okay? Wear something casual.”

“Okay.”

***

Come Saturday morning, I was waiting at the entrance of our apartment building. I’m wearing skinny jeans and a light pink tank cropped top underneath a white cardigan. I wore my hair on a high pony tail, with side swept bangs, the same as the one in the portrait. I made sure to put on mascara and eyeliner and lip gloss. I wanted to make my eyes beautiful as most of our time together will be spent wearing mask.

I was there for about five minutes, when a shiny blue truck stopped at the curb. A man wearing a mask went down and opened the passenger door.

“Good morning, Amelia. A rose for the beautiful lady, by the way.” He carefully handed me a yellow rose.

“Thank you, Raf.” He waited for me to get settled before he closed the door and went back to the driver side.

“I was thinking of casual dining first. Most restaurants are open anyway, but in fifty percent capacity. Would Chinese be okay with you?” Raf seemed nervous. He talked so fast; I barely catch what he was saying. All I understand was Chinese.

“Hey, relax. It’s just me.” I was hesitant to touch his hand, but I did. Then I felt him calm down. No sparks, but I like the feel of his hand and holding it. “I love Chinese food, by the way.”

He looked at me for a second and then his eyes crinkled. I knew he smiled at me. He squeezed my hand and we drove to our destination quietly.

***

Our date went nicely. He’s still the same Raf I’ve met online. I’m glad he asked me out. It made the quarantine a lot livelier and interesting.

A few more weeks and we dated regularly, just to have lunch or dinner together. We have also started to go to the supermarket at the same time, having fun picking out each other’s things. This way I got to know him better.

Those were the least we can do during the quarantine. We cannot go to each other’s place, because both our building administrators prohibits guests to visit.

We had been getting along very well. Raf’s the sweetest and most thoughtful guy I’ve ever met. I could not help, but I have fallen in love with him. I think he likes me, but I do not want to assume if his sweetness and thoughtfulness for me falls only at the category of friendship. I was thinking of opening up to him and asking him what he thinks about us.

“Amelia, can I tell you something?” We had just gone from another dinner date. We had just gotten inside the car and Raf has not yet started the engine. Maybe this is a good time to ask him about us as well.

“Sure. What is it?” He looked at me, took off his mask, then held my hand.

“These past few months had been incredible with you in it. I’ve found out that the attractive girl I saw during that train ride was not only beautiful on the outside, but also here.” Raf said while placing a hand over his chest. “I’m sorry…” He paused for a moment. He tilted his head back then muttering to himself.

My eyes cannot hold it any longer, a few tears rolled down my cheeks.

He’s sorry because of what? Is he sorry that he made a mistake? Is he sorry that he asked me out?

“I’m sorry I have already fallen in love with you. Can you be my girl?”

I took off my mask and leaned forward to hug him tight. Raf wrapped his arms around me. Our first embrace.

“Amelia?”

“I thought you would never ask.” I told Raf after I pulled away. “Yes, Raf.”

“Thank you, beautiful.” Raf kissed both the back of my hands. Then a peck on my lips.

I blinked my eyes.

“That’s all you get. I’m sorry.” He chuckled.

“Are you serious?”

“Aww… my girlfriend is mad.”

“Raf…”

“I’m serious.” He locked a strand of my hair at the back of my earlobe. “Because If I kissed you more, I would like more. One thing can lead to another. But I wouldn’t want our first time to be in my truck. You deserve more than that, Amelia. I love you.”

He took something from the back seat and handed to me a box. I could only smile widely when I opened it. It was my portrait, but not the one from two years ago. He made a new one. A colored portrait he did of me during one of our video calls.

“I love you, too, Raf. Thank you."

The end of Part 1.