Emiliano Mancilla

“These songs sound good, what are you planning to do with them?” 

Asked me my dear friend Mark about the EP I had just released, during a sunny day of August, before getting fucked up and going to a boat party to enjoy the Saint Istvan festivities and watch the fireworks. 

This time I was just visiting all my friends in Buda, it gave me some kind of clarity to be there. And I think that was the perfect question to ask me. 

There wasn’t any purpose for any of the songs I released but to exist, Mark’s curiosity got me thinking that maybe I could do something about them. When I got back to México, I sent my EP to a channel that ended up interested in recording a live session at the end of the year, and contacted some friends from my last band and a good friend from high school to form a band to play. The good news were that we had a lot of time to prepare the show as there would be playing with me an engineer, a credit analyst, and a doctor, and they needed to work during the weekdays. 

Days passed by and we got some gigs scheduled too, but most of the time, we were focused in our respective occupational responsibilities. 

The job duties asked me to go on Wednesdays and Fridays to the office. And as I didn’t like to drive in the chaotic traffic of México City, and unconsciously needed a life a little bit more interesting, I liked to stay in a hostel that was a 10 minute walk away from the building were I worked. As I was a regular I started getting along with everyone from there, who were cool welcoming people. 

On a Wednesday, one week before “Día de Muertos” I arrived from work, with a mind full of guilt, worries and loneliness. A mix between the clerk life and the sorrow caused by a cute dutch girl I met last summer that I was into, who was no longer replying me as effusively as I was. 

I got into reception and said hi to Arthur, who was the receptionist and the person I talked the most, as his desk was next to the living room, where I spent most of my time, either working (On Thursdays) or chatting.  He was a cool middle aged Mexican who liked to talk about parties, girls and heavy music, I liked that he had the Mexican bully personality every Mexican had, that gave a great sense of camaraderie. 

I was finishing telling him my weekly story of how I felt that I wasn’t performing well at the company and how I though that they would fire me at any moment, when Benny, the main volunteer from the hostel and a good friend of mine, came downstairs, with two pretty girls and 2 other persons. 

“Hermano, it’s so nice to see you, how are you doing?” Benny said 

“All good bro, nice to see you too” I replied

“We are going to Reforma to see the decorations for el Día de Muertos, would you like to join us?” 

“I don’t know, I’m tired, when are you leaving?” 

“We are leaving now, I just need to go for my wallet” 

As soon as Benny finished, Arthur touched my arm and whispered vehemently with a gesticulated manner, like a father giving obvious indications to his son. 

“Go, don’t be stupid” 

And I went and there I met Kelly but most important, beautiful Bonnie. We walked through the city, watching the night streets colored by golden cempazuchitl flowers, skull sculptures and an ocean of people. They had just arrived from Ireland and were about do a 7 month trip from Mexico to Argentina. 

Bonnie had the face of an angel, deep sky blue eyes with pink petals as lips and a warm voice that made me want to hear her conversation all day long.  

Benny wanted to get some weed, hence he took us to a park were it was “legal” to get and smoke. But the vibes didn’t seem friendly and we ended up leaving, They asked for an Uber, and as we could’t get everyone in the car, Benny and I offered to walk back, but before that, my sweet Bonnie asked me for my instagram. Not something to make me illusions but definitely something that was not bad. 

The next day, naturally I worked during the classic clerk hours, 9 to 7 – 8, and once I finished I went to the couch next to reception to talk with Arthur. I was exhausted, but I woke up as soon as I heard my girl coming from her touristic endeavors, she said hi and I replied as energetic as a dog when its owner comes home. I could be her dog any time she wanted, or much better, I could be her cat, as one life wouldn’t be enough to enjoy every detail of her being, and I could die more than once for her. 

The funny thing was that after her cute “hi” she immediately went upstairs with Kelly, I went back to my natural energy and  just kept talking to Arthur. Time passed by through a nice forgettable chat. I remember closing my eyes, taking a deep breath trying to drive away my demons.  And when I opened them, my beautiful Bonnie came and sat next to me!

We started talking and in no time I was resting my head in her lap, and she was caressing my hair and my face. She told me she was physically fatigued as she walked 20 kilometers during the day, showing me with her apple watch that she was telling me the truth, and then she told me about her adventures and that she was going to the “Lucha Libre” the next day. We kept talking and talking until it was too late, where we went to our respective rooms to sleep.

Next day it would be Friday and I would be leaving, while she was staying until Monday. I knew I was into her, and a chunk of sadness developed by thinking that a morning chat could be the last I would get. 

I had to go to the office, where there would be a halloween party in the afternoon. I would stay there until 6 as I needed to go back to my hometown to have a rehearsal with my band. We would have a good gig in two weeks and were preparing the show.

But then I thought.

Maybe I could invite her to the halloween party, in the end I could see my friends from the office every day and have a good chat with them, but it would make me really happy to be chatting at least 3 more hours with her. I was feeling in love. 

I sent her a message hoping she was still awake.

“What are you doing tomorrow before lucha libre? :)” I sent

“No plans! Probably just a few drinks here before” she replied 

“Cool, I have something in mind, but before. would you like to go for some breakfast tomorrow?” 

“Ahh that sounds lovely, what time are you thinking? Please not too early lol, just have to be back so Kelly isn’t by herself too long lol but free otherwise”

“Amazinggg. Well I have a meeting at 10:30, what do you think around 8:30 – 9?”

“Ahh that is a little bit early, hoping to catch up on sleep :(, could we do another morning maybe? Could prob do Saturday morning actually”

“Ohh that’s understandable. What about 11?” Said me knowing that I’d be gone by Saturday

“Will more than likely be out and around all afternoon then back here before the wrestling :(, how about we leave it for tomorrow and see things go? Prob will bump into here anyway just hard to plan haha”

“Yeah I think you’re right :). Let’s see how things go tomorrow” 

And we said good night. 

The next day before leaving I found her in the terrace having breakfast and told her about the halloween party. 

“That sounds like a fun plan, tell me about your costume” She said 

“Well I brought this trench coat I have, and I will use some shorts and the classic no sleeve shirt so it seems like I’m naked and I would be the classic exhibitionist perv from the movies” 

“That sounds like the best costume ever” She said laughing 

“But what shall I use?” She continued

“Well, you could wear one of the Mexican wrestling masks that are here in the hostel”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but I’ll let you know because I’m not sure what time the wrestling tour starts, I think we have to be here at 4:30, I’ll let you know” 

“All right” 

I said goodbye to everyone and I left knowing but wanting to be wrong, that she wouldn’t make it to the party.