I never wonder what the night feels like when it's covered by the moonlight and the two people dancing underneath.
I have lost the count in time. It's like a novel and we're the protagonist. I also do not know. I'm the only one thinking about something extraordinary. As I listened to his laugh, my heart beat faster. I do not know either...
The volume has also changed in his features. Became more muscular. He became more mature than before. He no longer looks stressed and always frowns. I wonder what happened in the past two years. He is really different. I could no longer see the problems in his eyes. It seems that a lot has happened and he has learned to fix himself.
I felt like a fool as I watched him.
"You've been staring at me for a while, I'm going to melt with that." He jokingly said. I go back to my senses instantly scratched my nape a little.
"Cheers to the birthday girl." We sat first near the shore. Our thighs lay on the sand. Xyler offered me a bottle of beer. For about ten seconds, silence enveloped the surroundings and only the chirping of the cricket and the crashing of the waves served as noise but that silence was broken again when I spoke.
"I'm still wondering if you're real," I said. Xyler looked at me but I didn’t look at him. I can only see his looks out of the corner of my eye.
"I am." he smiled.
"You seem different now," I laughed a little.
"Yep. A bit of Change makes me better now," he said. "You changed too."
Changes. I don't know if I'm the only person who is sad about changing things although this is the way for us to see better things happen. Maybe because I feel like I'm still here. I feel stuck while others are slowly changing. I smiled bitterly, enough not to notice it.
We looked up at the moonlight at once. I leaned on Xyler's shoulder.
"We're getting older, funny how we're like a kid before. Everything feels so unreal." I said weakly.
"We're still best friends, right?" he asked. I just nodded and smiled.
We are .... I said in my mind with a downhearted tone.
"You know, even if maybe I met a few more people, you're the only one who knows me completely," he added. I smiled at what he said while still leaning on his arm.
Those words are enough for me. I am still special to him. Sometimes we think that when communication is lost, everything is gone. That person may be lost but not the things he remembers about you. I used to be terrified of my decisions. I was so scared that Xyler might disappear because of what I did and yes, he disappeared but look at us now, he is still here. Who isn't afraid to take a risk? We have been together a lot as friends. I'm not numb, I know Xyler looked at me differently then but now? It's difficult to guess it.
"Of course, I still know every part of you," I said. I removed my inclination from him and no doubt faced him. Our eyes met. My lips are so close to his and I don't know ... I don't know why I'm looking at his lips. I want to kiss them. I tried to chase those lips but It end up getting awkward because Xyler turned his face away from me and then drank beer again.
"So, uhm, how are you now?" He suddenly asked. I walked away from a little. The awkwardness of what I did creeps me. I also don’t know why that came to my mind.
"Well, I'm good at the coffee shop. You can come over there sometimes." I smiled a little.
"Sure. Maybe tomm—" someone calling to him.
"Pick it up then."
Xyler answered the call but he didn't bother to go away.
"Hey, Trish? Don't worry I'm on my way. I can't wait to see you." I dropped the beer on my side when I heard Xyler's answer on the other phone line. Looks like he still has an important walk. This night is coming to an end. He looked back at me and smiled. I see the joy in his eyes.
"Don't worry I'll drive you back home. Let's go?" Xyler stood up so it looks like I really need to go home. Honestly, I really don't want to but I can't tell him that we will stay there because he is also going somewhere and he looks happier there based on the excitement in his eyes.
We got in the car and he drove me home. I just stared out the window while he was driving.
"Aren't you getting cold? I'll just turn off the aircon." He asked. I said it was okay. It's not too cold. The clothes I was wearing also dried.
"Where are you going later?"
"Hmm..yeah. Trish was promoted at work, so we're going to celebrate it." His eyes spark as she spoke of the mention of the woman's name. He glanced at me a little as his hands were busy on the steering wheel.
"Trish?" I asked. My tone of voice was just enough to keep me from looking curious about that name.
"Oh, I forgot. Trish is not officially my girlfriend. We're still on the dating stage. You know, take things to slow down if you want to be sure." He flashed a smile again. Well, not officially girlfriend is not too far for getting in a relationship. Isn't?
I smiled hard then turned my attention back to the outside of the window. I just watched the lights outside while the car was running but it seemed like whatever I looked at, my mind was flying to where. My chest ached as if Xyler was probably dating someone too. He said he wanted to take everything slow to that girl. I can’t imagine him saying that thing. He had matured unlike before he was almost always uncertain about things.
Luckily for Trish, whoever that woman is. I just leaned my head to the side and didn't feel like crying at the loss. I’m still grateful because Xyler made my day even just for a moment.
I wish we can hang out again same as this.
It was Cephie who woke me up before I forgot I still had a job. I immediately took care of and picked up what needed to be brought.
I was just right. It was a nice day because there were many more customers so when I arrived, I immediately served coffee to the customers. Sometimes I was stationed there with a coffee machine but serving the customer is what I want to do. It's fun to entertain them. They already know my name because some of our customers come here more often.
"I want a coffee date," Ashley, my colleague at this coffee shop, suddenly appeared next to me. She sighed as he looked at the couple at the other table. I laughed at her reaction.
"Isn't too boring? Like you're always here. There's nothing romantic." Am I hard? Well, we're used to working here.
"Well, let's see." She gave me a devilish smile. "Hey! Adrian!" She walked in place of the tall man Adrian. He's not new here because this is also where I first met him. I laughed as it just kept walking and didn't even pay attention to Ashley.
"Hi?" he smiled at me. That smile was a bit weird but I just smiled back.
"Uhm, Hello? May I have your order, Sir?" I said. I immediately took my note pad then the ballpen.
"No need to call me, Sir. You know my name." He laughed a little. I rolled my eyes. "Let me have white coffee for two."
"Got it! White coffee for two." I immediately listed his order. He seems to love coffee. He ordered two more. I don't see anyone else with him.
I immediately handed Ashley my note to make the coffee. I will take and serve the customer's order from the other customers. I noticed Adrian looking at me. There was even a chance that we looked at each other eyes and I immediately avoided that and tried to return in customer's attention.
"Two white coffee for Adrian and .... Louisa?" Ashley's loud voice suddenly weakened at the mention of my name. I raised an eyebrow at her. I didn't order anything. I frowned again and then took the two coffees that were still on the tray. Ashley is still teasing me and still laughing at me. I just rolled my eyes at her.
Of course, I walked straight to where Adrian was.
"You're coffee, Sir." I keep calling him Sir for the sake of respect. He just laughed at me.
"Sit down first." He handed me a cup. "Here. Relax and take a cup of this coffee. Don't worry I will pay for it"
Okay, it's not part of my job to chit-chat but I didn't refuse his offer and just sat down.
"What is it for?"
"The what?" he innocently asked. I know he gets my point.
"It has a purpose, right?"
"I just wanted to invite you to a party. If only if that's okay with you. No worries I won't insist." He handed me the invitation card. "
It seems like a grand party. Well. let me have my second thought, first. There are also many reasons to say no because first of all, we are not that close.
"Call me if you decide. I'll be your escort."
Escort? I can carry myself.
"Thanks anyway," I said and stoop up and resumed working.