06

The four seasons have passed since then, and another Spring has come. This means that my 21st birthday is now coming quickly. Days that I spent here, then turned into weeks. Weeks to months, and months to years. Three years have passed since the first time I got to know Sky.

Now, our relationship has made a huge leap. We consider ourselves as something more than mere acquaintances. The two of us have a relationship similar to that of closer than friends but less than lovers or something of the like.

Right now, I am about to ask him for a meet-up since he seems troubled for the past few days whenever he visits the coffee shop to buy his coffee. He looks like he is in a daze and when I try to talk to him and ask him about what his matter is all about, he would only look at me as he is in deep thought, and he will also respond to me much later than usual.

For the past three years, I got to know his usual temperament. When he answers his phone to talk with his clients, about anything related to his work, his voice will immediately turn serious as if he is someone I do not know. But when he talks to me, he will have this type of temperament that is exclusive only to me.

He is logical in a way, but at the same time, he also utters nonsensical sentences which contain sweet words to me. Just like how a suitor low-key tells the other person how much he likes her. Though I do not wish to assume that he feels that way towards me. It’s hard to assume only to get yourself be taken advantage of and your heart gets broken. 

I knew that I hold a special place in his life since he treats me differently from others. Although, I would greatly appreciate it if he ever confessed that to me in person about that. Anyway, I wish he would tell me openly anything about his concerns. What are friends for if he can’t even tell me his problems and the things that are messing with his mind this past few weeks? 

I just hope he won’t think badly of me when I suddenly ask him to meet up with him in person despite his busy schedule. I just want to be the friend that he needs as a shoulder to lean on. Although I cannot lend him some money, at the very least I can lend him my ears.

Today is a good day for us to meet up after working hours. My shift will end much earlier than usual today since there is a lot of new equipment which will be installed at the shop today. I can ask him to meet me up and talk to me over some beers.

After taking off my apron and headgear, the uniform we have in the coffee shop, I went to where Raya is. “Aya! I’ll be leaving first just to drop off my things at home. I’ll also be going out to meet up with Sky and I might also come home much later than usual.”

Our colleagues who heard me immediately looked in my direction with that knowing perverted look. It was as if they were imagining the things that Sky and I are doing in private when we meet up with each other.

“Ho ho ho~ Someone is makin-“ Before anyone can bombard me with their questions, I immediately fled away from the scene as I skipped to the door. “Bye guys! See you tomorrow~” I waved everyone goodbye and get out of the shop before anyone can catch up to me and interrogate me.

I walked down the streets as I messaged Sky using my phone which was already out of date and is a very old model. I do not wish to spend a fortune just to buy one of the latest models of cellphones when there are still functioning old models of it, nor do I have the spare money to buy it. I am saving all of my salaries and only take the minimum portion of it for myself. Which is for my bare necessities and nothing for more like luxuries. 

Sky even offered me to buy a new one using his own money which I strongly refused. I even refused to take his old phones since I do not want to take his kindness for granted and I strongly believe that I do not have the right to do so just because we are friends. I should never take our relationship with each other for granted, as it is what our grandparents taught us when we were young.

He replied to my message after a good ten minutes. He is probably still busy with his work at the moment making it hard for him to instantly reply to the message I sent. It makes me proud of him every time he is like this, knowing that he is working hard on his work. I have actually gotten used to it already.

‘Call. Let’s meet at the usual place. I’ll be leaving the company by quarter to five, though the schedule might be changed sooner or later. Just go straight to the place, and if ever, just wait for me. If I’ll be later for a much longer time, I’ll inform you so you can stop waiting for me, and just go home.’

He is still a gentleman even in his text messages. Truly a commendable man, and a man who deserves the perfect woman as a partner or lover. Though I really am not fond of degrading myself, I just can’t help but compare the two of us.

He, who at the very least finished his study and is now working at a company for a stable job, and me, who dropped out in college and is currently working at a coffee shop after leaving home. My pay at the shop is not even close to half of Sky’s salary.

Sweet & Spicy Night was the name of the bar and diner where Sky and I are supposed to meet up with one another. This was also the very bar where we coincidentally met each other for the third time. After that night, we decided to make this our usual meeting place to remind us of our fateful encounter that day.

Since I hate the sticky and smelly feeling I have at the moment after a day’s worth of work, I would like to take a bath to my heart’s content. And because Sky informed me that there is a possibility that he will be late, I should take this opportunity to get myself ready and all dressed up.

I prepared a new pair of jeans, a plain black crop top, and my underwear. Afterward, I went straight to the bathroom to take a nice long bath. I filled the tub with warm water. Taking a warm bath reduces the fatigue in my body so it feels really nice to have one.

I spent an entire hour just being embraced by the warm water filled with dried petals of the flowers from the shop. Though the flowers pale in comparison to the ones on display at the shop, the ones in the house are dried and more fragrant.

I wrapped my body on the dry towel and made my way towards the bedroom where my clothes are. I changed into those clothes and looked at myself in the mirror. I dried my hair while combing it as I made sure it looks nice an untangled properly.

To complete my outfit, I decided to wear my black sneakers and looked at myself one last time at the mirror before finally heading out of the house. 

When I arrived at our meeting place, I thought for sure that Sky would arrive in a much later time. Since he only informs me through text that he will be late only if he has many things left to do at his workplace.

I was surprised to see him getting drunk on our usual table at the corner of the diner and bar, ahead of me. We usually wait for one another before drinking alcohol or something. If anything, we only eat some dishes as we let the time pass by while waiting for the other.

He must have some big predicament in his life for him to be drowning in alcohol like this. ‘What sort of problem could this perfect man have?’ is what I ask to myself although I do not know the answer to that question since I am clearly not him.

I took my seat in front of the half-drunk man and looked at him. He looks like he is low in spirits and so out of it. I decided to order some side dishes at the meantime. I ordered two plates of seasoned meats, a plate of intestines, and other side dish. 

The staff prepared the grill, as I ty to make Sky focus on me and inform him that I already have arrived. “Oh! You’re finally here, Sol~” The drunk man said.

“Yeah yeah. I’ve been here already but you didn’t even notice me. I’m feeling hurt about that. Anyway, what’s up?” He gulped the whole glass filled with beer in one go before staring at me straight to the eyes.

“I have a big problem that can change my whole life. And I will be needing your help about it.”