DEEP DARK BLACKNESS
By Kristina Irene U. Velasco

In the balcony, just like any other ordinary night in his life, Aiden, a teenager who’s so fond of astronomy, was again studying the heavens with the telescope his mother gave him upon his admission to college.

“Nothing really special tonight.” he would often tell his best friend Alyssa, who really knew nothing about astronomy except when she relates it with astrological signs and the daily horoscope but who so eagerly supports her best friend in every matter. Many people, especially Alyssa’s group of socialite friends, would actually often wonder how the two are able to spend time with each other. Since Alyssa is a popular head turner in campus and Aiden, an antisocial detached person, people would be in awe at how Alyssa is able to keep up with the boredom when they’re together. But it’s none of the sort for it’s even more exciting for Alyssa to be exploring this person who seemed to reflect the paradoxical image of herself.

“Peaceful universe it is” responded Alyssa, half sarcastic while half meaning it

“Peaceful darkness” Aiden would reply

Alyssa would often wonder how her best friend can call such a night with a million dazzling stars and a half moon that seemed to beam a smile on them darkness. The word seemed too strong for her, a word that carried with it anguish and despair. It would sometimes even make her speculate about her buddy’s attachment for the color black. She just couldn’t understand it. With his black get-up, a black shirt and black pants, with a pair of black sneakers and matched with a black beaded bracelet, a black sports watch and a black stringed necklace with a cross pendant colored of dark brown that it actually looked black from afar, acquaintances often teased him of being totally unseen had he not been fair skinned. But she, even with her noticeably flawless skin, loved wearing bright colors that would even enhance her loveliness.

“What is it with black?” she’d ask

“Black is cool! Aren’t you aware of that?” Indeed, black had been the fad the previous year as everyone seemed to take it as the color of fashion. But Aiden’s affection for that neutral color is unusual that it would sometimes haunt Alyssa’s thoughts and even scare her. But no, she shouldn’t be scared. For as far as she’s aware of, she’s that single person who knows Aiden inside and out and she’s eager to know more.

“Besides black makes the dirt get unnoticed…”continued Aiden

“Who cares about dirt anyway? We all got one inside us..”

“Yeah right, you’ve got one if you don’t forgive” replied Aiden, pointing to Alyssa’ heart.

“And you’ve got two if you’ve been exposed to immorality and don’t know where to use this…” he continued, pointing to his own temple

“Sure, you do know where to use it but knowing nothing about those sensual stuff actually makes you invisible to the eyes of our generation”

“That’s pretty cool for me”

Sometimes Alyssa would just want to give up. She couldn’t make anything out of these nonsense perspectives her friend is giving her. Why won’t he want to get noticed when she herself would practically do anything just to be visible in people’s eyes. Vivid memories flashed in her mind, memories of yesterdays when she would even fight herself up the stage just to get everyone’s attention. No one can doubt Alyssa’s beauty, confidence and even brains. But one thing most people criticize is her attitude, how she sees no one but herself, how she cared for the needs of not a single soul than her own. Nevertheless, Aiden is still there to support her.

“Haven’t you ever hated me?” Alyssa asked

“Would there be any sufficient ground for having that type of emotion towards a pretty lady like you?”

“Don’t you always flatter me! It’s just that there are times when I feel like I’ve taken you for granted.”

“Don’t say that. You know that you’re one of the very few if not the only one who spends some quality time with me and bears listening to all those scientific and historical facts I talk about even though I know it doesn’t interest you.”

A smile appeared in her thin red lips, lips that he so long wanted to kiss.

“I don’t really want to get emotional but I just want to let you know that I feel so special in your presence…”

He knew it, he believed in human’s ability to send messages without words nor touch. He knows that somehow he had shown his dear friend how much he cared for her and their friendship, a friendship that he so long wanted to bloom into something more.

“It’s true that you don’t have many friends like I do but you’re lucky that no one’s ever looked at you in a demeaning manner...”

“And who looks at you in such a way? Alyssa, you know that these are just those people who either wanted you but know that they can’t have you or those who envy you, your appearance, your mind…Alyssa…”

She stood up just like those ordinary nights when he would be on the verge of being vocal about his feelings for her.

“I have to go, it’s getting late” Alyssa said in adieu, as she looked at her watch.

She moves ahead, down the flight of stairs, out the door and crossed the dark street with but a few dim post lights around. She walks, not pacing, but in a manner that so separates models from ordinary teenagers. The street seemed a silent part of a deserted island, no by-standers, no passers-by, just a slim tall, attractive lady who seemed too occupied with thoughts in her mind, not noticing two men in gray shirt and pants, who have been waiting at the back of a parked black sedan. The two instantly blocked her way and startled her. She screamed for help but one of the men immediately covered her mouth with one of his hands while holding her by the waist with the other. The other man was then trying to turn the key on the vehicle. There was a sputter but the engine instantly died.

Aiden, who was still reflecting on the missed opportunity, sensed something. His heart started to pound as if it it would burst any minute now. He wasn’t sure if it is a scream that he had heard or if it was just one of his dense imaginations. He decided to check it out and as he ran downstairs to the garage and out to the driveway, he saw Alyssa a few meters away, struggling against the grip of a man. His instincts told him to rush towards the man and bring his face down towards the ground. She screamed some more but it seemed as though they were the only people in this piece of the earth. She screamed and ran without any direction as the other man helped his partner against this unwanted intruder. The sounds of punching and kicking kept ringing in her ears. She tried to look back but her vision seemed obscure. She can’t make out if it was the one in black or in gray on top of the other. She ran again and closed her eyes. And suddenly, a car sped past her. And then there was total silence, a deafening silence, a silence that would seem to be there forever. She turned her back and saw the image of a young man in black, lying motionless in the middle of the street. She ran and cried and wrapped her arms around her friend, an image Aiden had once pictured in his mind, but not on a scene such as this. Aiden finally got what he wanted. She has finally given him attention and yet he was finally enveloped by a deep dark blackness…