i glanced at my watch and realized that i am 30 minutes early. guess i’m just that excited to be with you. i laughed at myself a bit as i look around our favorite coffee shop. you have always had that effect on me. you always made me feel that being with you is the most important thing in the world and everything else should take a back seat.
and i know that being with me has the same effect on you, i thought to myself as i look around. you have proven that once too many.
with 30 minutes to spare i decided to take stock of my surroundings. that old couple we have always admired is sitting, once again, at their favorite table. peter, the old man, is sipping his latte and mary, his wife, is having tea like she always did. it had always fascinated us how this couple had looked so contented with their daily routine. like they do not care what happens to the rest of the world as long as they are together. and, i have to admit, seeing them together like this never failed to awaken that little grren-eyed monster inside me. i mean, who wouldn’t be jealous of an old couple who is, clearly, still happy with each other?
so, with that green-eyed monster beginning to awaken in me, i took my eyes off the old couple and looked to my right.
and i was surpised to see that matt, the stud we always see with a different girl on his arm, is having coffee by himself. this is a first, i thought to myself. and this is also the first time i have seen him sitting on the same table two weeks in a row. as i stare a bit more i realized that he also has a different air about him. i remember how he used to remind us of a little boy with ants in his pants. like he could not stay in one place for more than 5 minutes. always excited to do something else or go some place else. and, as evidenced by his multiple girlfriends, be with someone else. but today he just looked contented with what he’s doing, which is drinking coffee and reading a book. and, as i look at him, i realized that things can change and that someone like him could embrace a routine just as the old couple had.
wishing him all the best in the world, I turned to look at our favorite barista.
anne is a petite girl who had always had a knack for guessing your favorite drink, even before you order it that first time you visit. and this is the reason why we decided to come back that second time. to see just how good she is. then, we just got hooked to the place. with it’s cozy decorations, pleasant service crew, and interesting clientele. and, as i sit there, anne turned and caught me looking at her. i smiled and she smiled back. she raised her hand and sort of waved at me. but, i know better. she was telling me that i just have to wait for 5 more minutes. something she has always done ever since that fateful day. it has been a tradition between us and i have always been grateful to her for starting it.
i glanced at my watch and realized that the 5 minutes is over. and, like clockwork, anne was there by our table with our usual order. cafe americano for you and cappuccino for me. i smiled at her as she placed them carefully on our table thinking that this is one tradition i will always keep. she straightened up and, as always, patted my shoulder before going back to the counter.
i glanced at our drinks and my mind flashed back to that day, like it always does. i remember sitting here, waiting. our drinks going cold as i stared at them and wondered where you were, why were you late, and why haven’t you called. and, as time passed, it became apparent that you weren’t going to show up for our date. but, even then, i couldn’t get mad at you for standing me up because i felt that you had a pretty good reason for doing so.
the tears started to fall, as they always do. and i remembered how anne turned on the television set in time for the news flash that proved to me how you had always felt for me. you crossed the street in a hurry. you didn’t want to be late for our coffee date. everything else has always taken a backseat, even your own safety.
i reached for your cafe americano and stroked the handle of the cup. i never drink coffee anymore. it reminds me too much of what we shared, of what we will never share. but, i vowed to be here for our weekly coffee date, always at our favorite table with our favorite drinks. hoping for that day when we could finally be together again.
and, taking one last look at our drinks, i picked up my bag, stood up and saw the old couple looking at me while holding each other’s hands. they smiled at me with pity in their eyes. i smiled at them because i know that they will treasure each other more now after that fateful day.
i passed by matt’s table and felt him look up. i smiled at him because i know that the change in him started that fateful day. he smiled back and reached out to touch my hand. i squeezed it for a second and turned to leave.
with my hand by the door, i turned to look at anne. she smiled and waved. i waved back and left, knowing i will be back again next week. same day, same time.
shakenotstired 