THE PUNCHLINE IS AT THE END

Entry No. 2

Bert and Emma were engaged to get married next year. After getting off from work at the club, he would enter this cafeteria that opens at three in the morning. This is where Emma works. After a couple of times that Bert ate at the place, he noticed this waitress who had small lips, delicate jaws, full breasts and eyes that actually smiled. He found her very attractive, scolding himself a couple of times because he hadn’t noticed her before. With a simple ‘good morning’ that later turned to ‘hello’, a relationship was formed. He asked where she lived and got off at work earlier so he can fetch her at the cafeteria. To make the story short, they became a couple.

Emma quit her job because of a new opportunity waiting for her. It’s been a week now. She’s waiting for another week and she’d be off to Japan.

Bert argued with her, not giving his permission for Emma to work overseas. He had heard of tales of women being dragged into prostitution. He could not accept her reason that it all depends on the individual involved.

“If you have faith in me and trust me,” she said, “then you’d let me go. I’ll be a waitress there. The same job I had the day you first saw me. I’d only be earning bigger.”

With that, he shut up. He knew that he would never win the argument. He also knew that she needed the money to help her folks back at the province. Bitter to his taste, he accepted the fact that they might not get married next year, or ever for that matter.

Reaching Emma’s apartment, Bert went straight to their room. He found her sleeping. He got dressed and did not wake her up. As he sat beside the bed, she murmured, “You’re early.”

“The show finished early,” he reasoned.

“Could you get me a glass of water,” she was half-awake.

Bert went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. Coming back, Emma was packing some of her clothes. She’s been doing that for a week now, packing things that she said she’d bring to Japan. He lay in bed. When she was finished, she also went to bed and cuddled beside him.

“Bert,” she said, “Before I go away, I would like you to do me a favor.”

“What is it?” somehow he could not find some sleep.

“First of all,” she said while leaning on his chest, “I don’t want you to cry.”

Like all instances when he is not sure of his answer, he was silent.

“Second,” she continued, “I want you to be always happy for me.”

He did not know what to say. He just nodded.

“Promise me that,” Emma sounded pleading and commanding.

“Okay, I promise,” Bert finally managed to say.

During the rest of the night, they did not face each other while lying in bed. Both of them pretended to be asleep.