Valentines
Day
The sun is up. Yesterday had been
really great for the central perk and the crew. It was indeed a sign of a
really good week knowing that many had reserved themselves tables of two and
more for Valentines. The shop had this cozy ambiance which makes costumers feel
comfortable and at home. The dim lighting feels good in the eyes and the aroma
of the brewing coffee and food combines with the over-all atmosphere of the
shop makes it feel romantic and warm.
“Nobody said it’d be easy” like what
that song from the coldplay says. Mark had just been in a deep heartbreak. He
was there that night after he had found out that his girlfriend cheated on him,
with a girl. It was not Mark’s first, but it was his most painful. He had been
in a relationship with Margaux for 3 years. He was planning to propose this
year and everything was so well until just recently. He found out after
surprising her in her apartment with flowers and chocolates at hand. He caught
her in bed with her, and they were not sleeping neither just chilling out. Mark
has an issue with homosexuality since he grew up in a broken family because his
mom left him to his dad after eloping with a homosexual tomboy. He loathed
them.
“I don’t understand!” mark said. He
then swung his arm and stood up the couch and said “I’m sorry, but I have to
go.”
Mark left immediately. Dylan was just
still. He lay further on the couch and noticed Mark’s wallet and car keys left
in the couch. He stood up to give it to Mark outside, but to his surprise, Mark
was back inside, crying.
“You left your wallet and keys, oh, by
the way, can you drive home safely?, I can make you some coffee first before
you leave?” Dylan stood up and fixed the coffee maker, then brewed African
coffee for two, while Mark sat down the couch and holding his head in between
his knees with tears flowing down his obviously red cheeks and to his cheery
lips.
“ Guess what?” Dylan asked. I’m
throwing a single awareness day party on valentines. Its SAD for short. Can you
be the main guest of honor?” smiling a bit in a kidding way. Mark giggled a bit
and then wiped his tears and replied “that’s a really good idea, I bet you just
made that up now” and then he laughed some more with his eyes closed as if they
were smiling. Dylan smiled with cups of coffee in his hand, and went back to
the couch where Mark was sitting, placed
the cups in the table and tapped Mark’s back.
“You need a hug?” Dylan asked Mark. “I
could really use one right now” answered Mark. From tapping Mark’s back, Dylan
enveloped Mark with his arm. Mark hugged tight, and after 5 seconds, they let
go.
They both drink their coffees and
talked about the X-girlfriend, the past, what happened at present, and what to
do in the future.
“keep yourself busy, preoccupied and
surround yourself with people who loves you, we love you” Dylan’s advice, with
a deep inside feeling of something more than friendship when he said the word
“love”.
“I guess you’re right man.” Mark
replied, “time heals and I know I can get over her someday” “you’re gonna help
me with it right?” continued Mark.
Dylan just smiled; he stood up and
cleared the table and got the glasses cups away to the sink and then turned off
the lights, locked the door and went home.
The crews Paul and Jake decorated the
central perk with hearts, balloons and candles with a matching soothing smell
of baked strawberry shortcake and brewed coffee to top the intense romantic
atmosphere for the costumers. Valentines is really in the air. Dylan had been
smiling since he woke up in the morning till it was almost 5 in the afternoon,
even when the number of customers is twice as much as the number during lunch
time. It was the best day yet, for the central perk. During dinner, the shop
was giving away free desserts of blueberry cheesecakes’ for couples and the
wines and other drinks were almost bottle emptied. There was sweet music in the
background, kisses every now and then, and cuddling all over the place. For the
day, the shop opened the rooftop lounge which had pillow couches and low tables
which was perfect for group of friends and drinks. The outer terrazzo was also
full of couples and groups dining, with laughter and joy written all over the
faces. High cocktail tables were also occupied, for the first time since the
opening because people barely wait for tables until that day. The counter bar
had people drinking, and the central perk, for that day was like “the” place to
be.
Mark arrived around 8pm, the shop had
still so many costumers, now, chitchatting and drinking. Mark sat by the bar
beside a young lady and a guy who seemed to be in their first year of marriage;
joyful, blooming and passionate.
Dylan, at the back of the counter,
looked at Mark in the eye and said “ that could have been your story too,
right?” mark just smirked and then asked “so, where’s my SAD party?” smiling
with his eyes.
“Well, as you can see, everybody’s in
love tonight. No need for a SAD party.” “you may not feel love now, but you
know you are loved, right? “ mark said.
Mark hold Dylan’s hands, looked him in
the eye, while holding his laugh while saying “please give me your house
special burger sir, I’m starving like hell” then bursting into laughter. Dylan
got his towel and hit Mark in the head.
That Friday night, Mark didn’t drive
home. He went home with Dylan to spend the night at his apartment. The car
speaker was in full volume, and that song someone like you by Adele was on
repeat. Mark was singing his heart out sweating inside the car and acting like
a baby. He was a man that wanted his childhood back at that moment. Dylan
didn’t know if it was the heartbreak or if it was just the alcohol. But for
whatever it was, he was happy to see Mark that way, a side of Mark which is not
shown to many other people, a side of weakness and vulnerability.
“Thanks for letting me stay in your
apartment tonight, don’t worry, you can trust me, I will not take advantage of
you” Mark said to Dylan while getting inside the apartment.
