Chapter 89: First Love
"First love for men...?" Tony rubbed his knees looking up at the ceiling. "It’s...It’s something that makes or breaks. Love makes a man who didn’t care for poetry or nature would find beauty in the unfurling of flower petals and can hear the song of the fluttering wings of the butterflies... Nature blurs for him as he thinks of her—ice would be scalding; fire would be chilly, even the nasty smell of the sewer wouldn’t bother him..."
Tony smiled leaning back on the couch. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
Marcella laid Joey on her lap and watched Tony without blinking her eyes. He seemed to be talking from experience. The smile she saw on his face was so different than the smiles she’s seen on his face. He appeared to be in a place that gives him ultimate joy.
So, this is what even thinking about first love is like for a man. It must be the best period of their lives and even the memories would give them this much happiness.
"Even a smidge of caramel on the dessert would make him remember her eyes; the sunshine slipping in between the leaves would remind the shine in those eyes..." Tony continued.
Marcella patted Joey as she rocked him. It seemed like Tony hasn’t finished.
And caramel... He is talking about her...
"In a crowded place, when she meets your eyes... he’d feel like he’d beaten a thousand men to be crowned an Emperor. And when she smiles...Mmm... He’d leave this plane and enter the heavenly plane to dance with the angels. Her voice would be the perfect melody he would get lost in... The nights, the feverish dreams, the painful restlessness like a sweet sting of a scorpion..."
He stayed still for a moment.
Marcella was impressed. She had no doubts love makes one feel all sorts of things. She used to be in love too. She’s almost felt the same.
But to think Tony felt the same... how did he hide it all well?
Wait... is he even talking about me? He wouldn’t be talking about the elementary school teacher he liked, would he?