“… Is it okay if I call you mine just for a time? And I will be just fine, If I know that you know that I’m wanting, needing your love… Oh-oh-oh, woah woah woah…”
As I waited for my order, I leaned back in my seat and happily hummed the song playing throughout the speakers inside the coffee shop. It was a Sunday morning and since we are closed every Sunday, I decided to drop by to grab a light breakfast and a cup of hot mocha latte after a tiring jog and exercise in the park earlier.
Jack was still snoring when I left the house and I’m sure she still does when I go back. I’ll just buy her favorite Oreo cheesecake and milkshake later.
With my headset on, I continued to settle myself comfortably on my spot.
But then…
I was so busy listening and singing at the same time that I didn’t notice the familiar figure entering the shop and was now approaching my direction until…
“… If I ask of you, is it alright? If I ask you to hold me tight through a cold, dark night. ‘Cause there may be a cloudy day in sight and I need to let you know that I might be needing your love. Oh oh, woah woah—”
“Sam?”
At first, I thought I was just playing tricks by my own ears cause I heard someone’s voice… a very familiar voice not until I looked up and was surprised when I recognized the person who called out my name.
“Oh, Sam, it’s really you!” He grinned, surprise mirrored in his eyes, and my mouth agape as I felt the same.
“David,” I uttered almost a whisper. It took me a few seconds to think if he really was there standing in front of me or if I was just imagining things.
“Hey, what a surprise to see you here! How are you? How’s Cali?” He asked and I had to gulp a few times to suppress the so much excitement that suddenly bubbled up in my chest the moment I realized he was real.
“Uhm… hi,” I paused, staring at him intently because deep down my ears may not be playing tricks at me but my eyes do. “I’m good… and Cali… she’s in San Francisco and… doing fine too,”
I mentally slapped my forehead for stuttering in front of him. I just thanked God he didn’t say anything about it.
“Hmm…” He just said nodding.
“H-How about you— I mean, how’s life? How’s work? Are you still working at the same hospital you used to work before?” I tried to calm my nerves and started asking him when I noticed he didn’t seem to want to ask anything else.
“Well, yes, I’m still working at the same hospital,”
“Ahh…” I felt a little disappointed… just a little for his short answer… not the typical David I used to know before.
“It’s been years…” He murmured, giving me a kind of look I couldn’t even read, so I just smiled and pretended to understand what he meant.
“Yeah, it is,” I said nodding as I smiled.
I was about to ask him again some random question that came to mind just to prolong our conversation and even wanted to invite him to sit in the empty chair in front of me, but I heard my name being called at the counter to take my order. So even though I wanted to talk and ask him more questions, I had no choice but to stand up and excuse myself to get my order.
I actually thought he was going to follow me to the counter, but again I just got dismayed as he stayed where he was and instead took his phone and checked something on it.
After paying for my orders, I eagerly wanted to head back to my table where I left him hoping to talk to him more, but my heart skipped a bit the moment I saw a tall, slim girl standing next to him and like him, she was also wearing a lab gown.
I wasn’t sure what to do next… keep walking towards them, sit at my table and pretend to be oblivious to the idea that had suddenly come to mind, or stop where I was and wait for her to leave. But no matter what I thought of doing, my feet continued to take me to my table.
They were talking about David’s schedules that day and if I heard correctly, he has 3 major surgeries to do the entire day.
I slowly put my orders down on the table and sat down without making noise because I didn’t want to get their attention, especially the girl he was talking to. And since David was facing the opposite direction and the woman was facing my direction, I had the opportunity to observe her closely. And in all honesty, even though a pang of pain crawled and pinched my heart at that moment, I can’t deny the fact that she is beautiful, has smooth, glowing skin, and the way she stared and talked to David, made me feel even worse. It seemed like she was the one Jack referred to as his girlfriend.
A few seconds later, my breath caught in my throat when he grabbed David’s arm and suddenly lunged at him. And since he didn’t budge or even avoided her gesture, I guess it’s confirmed… they were in a relationship. She really is David’s girlfriend.
-‘Aww! Am I that late?’- I silently asked myself trying to avoid the woman’s gaze when she caught me staring at them but it was too late. I just flashed her a soft smile before completely losing eye contact with her and facing my order.
But when I was about to take my first sip, I heard her ask David about me.
“Do you know her?”
Of course, I pretended not to hear her question and continued to sip on my drink because… what if I wasn’t the one she was referring to, right?
“Oh, yeah, I know her,” I heard David answer and within the next few seconds, they were already in front of my table, so I had no choice but to look at them. “Tanya, this is Sam…” He paused and I stared at him.
My breath hitched for a split second as I waited for what he would say to introduce me.
“She’s my friend…”
“A friend?” Tanya asked and I gulped.
-‘Was I?’- my mind screamed inside.
“A special friend… I guess…”
I didn’t even bat an eye when he emphasized the word ‘special’ with a smile containing emotion I couldn’t even define.
“Ohh… a special friend,” Tanya uttered with a nod. “And when did that happen? I mean the special friendship thing between you two?”
Since I didn’t want to create any conflict or misunderstandings between them, I decided to finally speak and tried to wave away whatever thought or thoughts she already had in mind.
“Uhm… it’s been years— I mean, it’s been more than two years, and don’t worry, we’re just friends and nothing at all!” I even waved my hand in the air, smiling like an idiot as I tried to explain things to her.
David stood silently next to her as he watched us exchange words. He didn’t even say anything or add some details so his girlfriend wouldn’t get jealous about our past.
“Hmm… but are you sure you two are really just friends now, I mean, you know, nothing is going on between you—”
“No! Actually, we just met again today after two years! Y-Your boyfriend can assure you that…” And then I turned to David. “Right, David?”
“Oh, Uhm… y-yeah!”
I’m not sure if it was a smirk I saw at the corner of his lips before he nodded and answered my question or what but I decided to ignore it.
“Okay, I believe you!”
I bit my lower lip because just like that, Tanya flashed me a genuine smile. And I felt like my conscience kicked me a hundred times deep down inside. She seemed like a nice woman and I think she doesn’t deserve to be lied to, but I believe it’s for her… for her peace of mind.
“Oops! Dear, you have to go back to the hospital because in case you have forgotten, you only have an hour to prepare for your first surgery.”
I instantly looked away when she grabbed his arm and smiled so sweetly at him. How I wanted to disappear from their sight so I wouldn’t have to hear that ‘dear’ endearment she used to call him or even see how sweet they were in front of me, but I didn’t have the power or even ability to do it.
“Yeah, I’ll just grab a drink. How about you, what do you want?” I heard him ask her and since I wasn’t looking at them but at my plate, I missed the opportunity to see how they exchanged winks and mischievous smirks.
“Whatever you’re getting,” she replied and then turned to me. “Sam, do you mind if I take this seat while waiting for David to take our orders?”
“Uhm.. no, of course not! You can sit down!” I immediately responded with a smile. What can I do? She’s already sitting down before asking me if she could take that seat and even if she didn’t ask me it’s not mine anyway.
“Thanks,”
I just smiled again.
I calmed my nerves as I felt her gaze all over my face. I tried to look at her and she just reciprocated my gesture.
“I didn’t know David had a ‘special friend’ before,” For the second time she emphasized those same words.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“I didn’t ask, actually,”
“Hmm…” I took a deep breath and gave a slightly forced smile.
She was about to say something again but was stopped when David came back with two cups of drink in his hands.
“Shall we?” He asked her and I didn’t mind looking at him again because what for, right? I just had to when he placed a slice of triple chocolate cake in front of me.
I was surprised to the point that I forgot that he already had a girlfriend and was just right in front of us when I stared at him and mouthed ‘thank you’ in amazement.
He just returned that smile with a quick nod before taking Tanya’s hand and heading towards the entrance. He didn’t even say ‘you’re welcome’ or anything to answer the silent questions in my head…
-‘Do you still remember? Even after more than two years? How do you still remember?’-
I was so caught up in those thoughts that it slipped my mind that David hadn’t formally introduced her earlier. He just said she’s Tanya and that’s it. I was just the one who jumped to the conclusion that they were in a relationship. But anyway, David did nothing to correct my suspicions, so I guess I was right.