“Vina Tatuesca”

“A beach towel is not the most flattering of garments, nor is that time when a woman just emerges from the shower, the best to gain a flattering view of her beauty. But neither the time nor the towel could prevent Skylar from being stunned by the perfection of Ms. Tatuesca. She gave him a sunlit smile as she passed by, but the freshman preserved his wits sufficiently to take immediate inventory of the multiple wonders that constituted Vina. Thick, wavy, heavy coils of hair the color of horse chestnuts fell down both her front and back sides. Her eyes, a lighter shade of that same nucal hue, glimmered in a way reminiscent of dappled and chastened light playing on the surface of an eddied pool by the banks of a deep river. Luxuriant, lush eyebrows, soft as mink, had been drawn boldly, like streaks of kohl, in long arcs above the lids. Frankly, Skylar could not find words to suit the impression this beauty’s face created.  Yes, nature had set her cheekbones high; of course, nature had fashioned a delicate and understated nose; naturally, nature had given her immaculate skin, which showed the blood coursing under it and close to its surface: but none of these words began to describe the utter charm of that face. He felt bewitched. He had an urge to fall to his knees and pray for a kiss on the forehead, something, no matter what, that brought her body into contact with his. But, in a few seconds, she disappeared behind the door and thence into Royal’s bedroom. Skylar had long noticed that names often bore uncanny resemblances to their owners’ appearance and nature. After Vina had dissolved, like a divine revelation from Olympus that evanesces once its message has been delivered, Skylar reflected on her name: Vina: as intoxicating as the press of the grape and as exotically pleasurable as the notes of the instrument.”