hello aini

"hello..?"
                                                       
"hi…"
                                                
I knew this voice, but was it him?, "Oh my God..,, Lance….?? .. I didn’t think it was you… it’s.. umh.. emmhh…" I stopped. I was overwhelmed, I was confused, but most of all, I felt this burst of relief that my mind became so full of datum to even speak a word more.
                                                          
"… mmm…" he went silent for a moment,  but I knew he was smiling just  a little. "So.. how are you doing? "
                                                         
"me? I’m.. well, I’m fine Lance, how are you??" I pushed my back and got up heavily with great effort.
                                                      
"I’m okay Alice, I’m doing well.. Hey, were you sleeping when I called?? Is this a bad timing?? I really don’t want to be a disturbance.." he talked a little faster.
                               
I looked at the time next to my bed. It was 2 AM.

"It’s two in the morning, dear. Of course I was sleeping. And.. hey, you knew I was sleeping!", I thought to myself.
                                                         
Had I not known him very well, I would’ve rejected his call and finished the conversation in the first place. But this is Lance. Lance wouldn’t call anyone at two in the morning with no good reason. And in this case, it had  better be a damn good one.

"No..no, it’s okay Lance. It’s such a sudden, though. It’s late.., what’s the matter??"
                                                   
"I just want to know how you’re doing. Are you alright, Alice? It’s been a long time.." he talked with a calmer tone. But a hint of anxiousness in his voice just couldn’t fool my radar.
                                                
"No, Lance. It’s not that simple. There must be something. Something that bothers you… what is it Lance? Is there something wrong??" as I spoke, I felt an increasing amount of worries. My heart began to beat faster as I waited for his reply.
                                                
"I told you Al, I was just wondering about how you’re doing there.."
                                             
"Lance, I know you. You’re a man of a manner. You don’t call anyone just to know how he’s doing at two in the morning." I paused and smiled, "tell me..what’s tangling your mind..?" I softened my voice.
                                                
"Hahaha.. Yeah, I can never fool you, can’t I  Al?"  I can feel that he’s smiling wider over there. "Umh.. I… umh.. " he stopped and continued with more concern in his voice, "Really, are you alright Alice…? Is everything fine with you or your life?"
                                                       
I’ve known Lance for more than 2 years. And we spent more than half of it as lovers. I wasn’t exactly the best person he can fool. This time is different, I just couldn’t get through his mind. But still, I also couldn’t help myself to smile about it. We’ve been separated for months, yet I can’t get him out of my mind. He was the best I could love, and to know that he still cared so much for me that he called so late just to know my condition, was a wonderful feeling to have. And somehow, beneath this long distance between us, I can safely say that he also still feels the same way. He’s there. And I’m there too. I never left his heart. I still stood right there where we left each other for good.
                                        
"I’m alright Lancey. I’m okay. I’ve got everything under control." I tried to make the most determined sound over my voice. But I thought I was rather hideous.
                                                       
He exhaled in relax. "Okay then. I truly hope everything is fine Al. If you ever need anything, just tell me and I’ll do my best. I mean it, Alice. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you." Oh great. There he goes again, talking in his most strong, willing and determined voice. Did they teach him how to talk tough in front of his ex back in those military academy??
                                                
"I’m fiiiineee Lanceeyyy…I really am… But what brought you this late…? You’re a soldier. A real gentleman. You don’t call a girl  this late for no reason Lance..What is………." suddenly something struck my mind. "Wait…"
                                          
"what Al?"
                                          
"You…. You weren’t getting any nightmare about me were you Lance?", "Nor any bad feeling??" yes. this must be the answer. He did this a few times when we were together. He just couldn’t wait any longer to make sure that I was alright.
                                             
"Hah…? Ahaha. Really, I just can’t fool you.",
                                                   
"Well, I think you better get back to sleep Al. It was late and it’s even later now. The dawn’s about to break. I hope everything is really alright. I’ll call you some other time, okay?" oh no. He’s also doing this again. He always speaks fast when he wants to finish a conversation to avoid hard questions. I couldn’t let him do this. Well, he got into a military academy almost a year ago and couldn’t make any contact with anyone outside his school except in special occasions when he gets his holidays. Last time we spoke was like 4 months ago, we didn’t make any contact since, and all of a sudden he called my cellphone like HUNDREDS of time very early in the morning, just to ask if I was okay??? uh’ huh. No sir. I’m not letting him getaway. ha’!
                                                 
"Heyy heyyy…Not so fast you silly.. You’re going to tell me right now the real reason why you’re calling!"
                                        
"Ahaha, no Al. You’re tired. I can sense it. Just go to bed, I’m sure you’re having a tough day today as you always are. So it’s better for me to end this and let the Sweet Princess goes back to her beauty sleep, okay? see you soon Ali.."
                  
"But..But.."
                               
"Bye Al..take care!"
                                       
Lance turned off the phone. Damn!! I hated when he does that. He gets away really fast and I just couldn’t say anything. Now I’m staring at my cellphone thoughtfully. What-if’s and What-for’s came to my mind rapidly that I started to feel a great migraine over the right part of my head. I thought about his voice, I imagined his face and how he smiled in between words, how he’d look at me when he’s concerned, and how I actually missed him a lot.. like hell. I thought and I thought.. until I fell to sleep in my sitting position……