Skip to main content

Latch

Kim wanted Italian, so we went to a place called Afrique’s. This was in Iloilo, a city I know nothing about. We ordered our Sicilian pasta, a seafood pizza, some garlic bread, and a pitcher of cucumber cooler from a fine looking waitress, and while waiting for them to arrive, I went out for a quick smoke.

   It was a long day for the both of us. We were bone tired after sixteen straight hours of repacking and distribution of relief goods to victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Iloilo City was one of the provinces that was most affected by the tropical cyclone, and with the help from our employer, the LGUs, courageous volunteers and generous partners, we were able to distribute relief packs and conduct medical missions to the affected areas.

   Kim was nine years younger than I. She wore a light green spaghetti strap tank top, some cut off jean shorts, and a pair of flip-flops. There were no rings or bracelets on her hands. Her skin was lightly tanned and her silky black hair fell around her shoulders almost to her waistline. She had nice, athletic legs, a trim waist, and shapely hips. When she’s not spending time volunteering for disaster relief, she’s doing content marketing and web design. She was from Bacolod and had braces and was witty and could play the violin. I realized that the best way to win her friendship was through pot, so I took out my pipe, we went out for a toke, and the next thing I knew, she was lecturing me about marketing and Vivaldi.
 
   The sauce on the fettuccine was delicious. The pizza was a bit overrated but was soon gone. We were still chatting about all manner of things at around 10 p.m., but our eyes were getting heavy and we both agreed that it was time to call it a day and head back to the hotel. 

   We talked comfortably for an hour while sipping beers at the lobby. It was amazing. This woman was hilarious and easy to talk to. Then for a long, jittery minute, we stared at each other in silence and then Kim stood up and wished me a good night's rest.
 
   I examined her until we reached the head of the steps. Then I watched her disappear in the darkness of the hallway, and heard the latch of her door slide into place.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

James DeRosso's ceramic monsters

I really like these whimsical ceramic creatures by James DeRosso. Yes, they have bulging eyes and toothy grins, but they're not scary at all. The Portland-based artist started making cute monsters while he was a student to jokingly create gargoyle-like guardians for the kiln. After other students kept taking his quirky little figures, he realized there was a market for them. "I'm enjoying the whole monster making niche," James says. "It's amazingly gratifying to be doing ceramics full time and especially to be a teacher introducing kids to the joy of clay." Be sure to visit his website and like his Facebook page for the latest monster news.

Acorn-shaped meditation pod

Created by LFZ Studio , this giant acorn in France is a cool space to escape the digital deluge. For some, the wooden pod is a temporary escape from reality. For others, it’s a nice place to take a nap. And for a select few, it’s a nerve-wracking dive into claustrophobia. The pod blends perfectly with the forest and the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds create a natural soundtrack for meditation. In this sanctuary, time seems to slow down, allowing for a deeper connection with oneself and nature. |h/t: Design Boom |