This story by Manuel E. Arguilla describes an innocent but sexually charged encounter between a Filipino man and woman on a hot midsummer day. The man, who is driving a bullock cart along an isolated stretch of road, notices a young, surprisingly sweet and fresh woman on her way to collect water. He stops and follows her up a dry gorge to a well, where he watches her draw water. After she leaves and later returns for more water, they strike up a conversation. Themes include sexuality, physical attraction, shyness and respect.
Although the man initiates the conversation, it is clear that the woman expects that something may develop out of the second meeting. She has already told her mother about the man and presumably obtained, or feels she doesn’t need, permission to invite him home to sit out the heat of the day.
The tone of their conversation is shy and awkward. They don’t even exchange names, sticking to the polite honorifics Ading and Manong. Nevertheless, , in the sweltering heat of the day they each become acutely aware of the other’s body and, by the time she invites him home, he is ready to follow her slender, lithe figure to the ends of the world.
Midsummer Full Text / PDF (2,550 words)