Victor always watched.
Some
called him a guardian angel. Some called him a stalker. No nickname stopped him
from hovering above proceedings from his throne, almost out of view. Those
familiar with him struggled to ignore him as he watched them; the naïve didn’t
notice him.
The
desert outside was too hot to accommodate everyday life events, let alone
cultivate romance. Victor knew from his past relationships that lovers needed
somewhere to spend time together. After his love life dissolved, he refurbished
a temple and established it as a home for romance, for all explorers. As the
man who spread the legend of the ‘temple of love’ he watched all romantic
proceedings in his new home.
He offered advice.
He set up new couples. He watched new couples take in the building’s history. He
watched newly single guests plead as their lover left the temple. He’d seen
plenty of arguments and reconciliations. It was not enough to repair his love
life, but it was fascinating to view different lives.
Arturo
and Katia, who were not lovers but instead new acquaintances, rushed into the
temple during a storm. Arturo laughed at how drenched they were. Katia scanned
her surroundings. When her face rotated, Victor cursed his spectator’s position.
‘Looks
like this is the temple of love,’ Arturo commented.
‘Are
you sure? Where are all the tourists, then?’ Katia said.
‘It’s
a bit out of the way. I guess people are exhausted by the time they get here.
Anyway, I’m gonna explore this place.’
‘All
right, I’ll meet up with you later.’
When
Arturo disappeared, Victor slipped out of his chair. The rustling of this
motion, followed by Victor’s footsteps down the ladder, couldn’t be heard over
Arturo running. Katia explored the central room – the brightest thanks to the
wide doorway behind her. She ran her hands along the carvings on every pillar.
‘Welcome
to the temple of love,’ Victor announced, stepping in front of Katia.
‘Are
you the owner of this place?’ Katia said.
‘Yep.
Don’t worry, you can stay for free. I might charge that man though.’
‘Why
don’t you charge all your guests? You’d make a fortune.’
Victor
chuckled. ‘I’d take love over gold any day. I’m happy to watch over couples
usually.’
Katia
said nothing, instead staring at him.
‘We
need love,’ Victor said. ‘We need something to look forward to in life.
Something that motivates us. Animals simply seek to survive and continue their
species… but we humans experience much deeper emotions.’
‘I
won’t argue with that, but why here, in this desert? There’s no shelter nearby.
People are only thinking about getting out of the sun.’
‘Not
true, I assure you. You’ve got a lover to stay here with.’
‘I’ve
just met Arturo,’ Katia said, frowning.
‘Oh.
Good.’
‘I’m
sorry?’
‘The
name’s Victor. I’ve seen plenty of lovers here, but I’ve never found the one
for me.’ Victor held out his hand. ‘Let me ask you, Miss—’
‘I’m
Katia,’ she said, ‘and I’ve just met you. No. I won’t go on a date with someone
I’ve just met.’
‘Maybe
not,’ Victor said, ‘but would you get to know me first?’
‘Not
if I have to stay here. Arturo and I are leaving tomorrow. We’re both from Aberdeen,
and we’re travelling back together.’
‘If
I left the temple, would you consider it?’
Katia
shot an unimpressed look at him before leaving the temple. Victor didn’t move.
Arturo, rambling about the temple’s history, rushed back outside, not noticing
Victor.
‘Do
you think the so-called “Guardian of Love” was watching us, ready to set us
up?’ Arturo teased.
‘He
met up with me. He’s just desperate for a lover, that’s all,’ Katia muttered.
‘Hey,
really?’
‘Yep,
and he asked me out. The temple’s weird, and so is he. Let’s go home.’
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