fredtay's Journal

Short Story, still untitled
The crescent moon hung low in the midnight sky, its pale white glow illuminated the sleeping city below. Everything was silent and not a thing stirred. For now was the time to sleep. The streets once jammed with the cars of rushhour traffic were now quiet and deserted save for the few taxis doing some late night trips. A lone cat casually strolled down the empty sidewalk as a tall and thin streetlamp flickered on and off above it. The shops and restaurants that once filled the streets with a myriad of sounds and colors were now closed, lights off, and gates closed. For now was the time to sleep. Forget about the problems and woes of life and give in to the fantasies of illusions of dreams.

It seemed as if the whole world was sleeping in the dark of night, and so should I. But here I am, lying in my bed, wide awake, and staring at the ceiling of my bedroom. Everything around me was pitchblack for the lights have been turned off. The radio starts to play a familiar song. Images and memories of another time and place began to flood my mind.

A half empty glass of rhum coke in a smoky billiard hall, talking with her in the phone despite the blaring music. Sharing an umbrella on a rainy september afternoon. Stories shared on the bench during lazy weeknights. Pieces of moments with her flashed through my mind, a slideshow being played at high speed. Dazzling. Confusing.

The song played on as I pulled my blanket closer. Nothing felt better than cranking the air conditioner all the way up while feeling snug and comfy under the covers. I closed my eyes for a moment as the brief moments with her played on and on, a mad hallucination swirling in my mind. My hand reached out for her but she remained so distant, dancing among the stars in the heavens. Beautiful. Perfect.

The song ended but images of her still lingered in my mind, hoping to forever drown me in those memories. I glanced at my cellphone, its blue backlight lit up and dispelled the darkness of the room, replacing it with a pale blue glow.

No new message.

I felt a pang of sadness even though I wasn’t really expecting anything. But still, a part of me hoped and dreamed, life has infinite possibilities anyway. Sleep started to play its lazy lullaby, but still, I waited, I hoped.

It was one of those instant dream sequences where one second, you’re wide awake, then the next thing you know, you are transported to a hazy, blurry, semblance of a place you’ve been to. Of course it always gets distorted one way or another since it is just a dream anyway, and never are dreams crystal clear. But this one felt real.

My dream was in Starbucks, a fitting place since I have been there the past couple of nights. For some reason, coffee gets you thinking.

I sipped my mocha frap slowly as I watched a group of people outside, in the smoking area of the café, talking to each other, smoking while giggling and laughing at jokes one of their friends was telling them with animated gestures. A man sat down beside me, the whole place was full and the seat beside me was the only one left. I don’t mind.

“I like my coffee hot,” he said.

Not wanting to explain the details why I drank cold coffee because it would entail a lengthy discussion with a complete stranger (although he was extremely friendly and polite), I simply told him, “Well, I like mine cold.”

I glanced at my cell phone again, apparently I was still waiting for her text even in dreams. But even dreams offer no comfort.

“I don’t think that’s what you really want” The man said as he glances at my cell, then at me.

“Yeah, but what I like isn’t here” I replied.

“I can give you what you want, slightly different brand, but it’s hell more delicious.” He said.

I paused, looking at the mocha frap on my table, twirling the straw to melt the whipped cream inside. “Yeah, I’ll try it. Let me finish this cup first.”

“Whew, this place sure ain’t cheap.” The man said as he looks around the place.

“I know. But I’ll pay whatever it takes.” I said after I finished my last sip of coffee.

I opened my eyes and I was back in the darkness of my room. The familiar song ended. The radio had already automatically turned off since I set its timer a couple of hours ago. My cellphone beeped twice, and glowed its pale blue light. A message arrived and I quickly read it.

Memories of her flooded my mind once again, unreachable hopes, impossible dreams. But I was happy.

Then it was another café. I was no longer in Starbucks. This place was huge and spacious. Hundreds of small white light bulbs in the ceiling lit up the room like a clear night sky with thousands of distant stars. The room seemed to stretch infinitely. The smell of perfectly brewed coffee filled the room with its addicting aroma. A cacophony of sounds filled the room as carefree laughter, stories, gossips, and other conversations mixed with the soft classical music. Some customers were alone in a table, sipping their cappuccinos and reading a good book. Others were grouped together, sharing stories of another time and place.

I finished my own cup of latte and proceeded to the exit. The man from yesterday stood there.
“Leaving so soon?” He asked
“Yeah, I had enough”
He raised an eyebrow quizzically at me and asked, “You had enough? But you had just one.”
“Yeah, But I guess I’m happy with my mocha frap.. I love it there.”
“I guess my coffee wasn’t good enough”
“No, it was better. Perfect even. But it really doesn’t matter.”
“You’re the first customer I had who left this place. Will you be coming back?”
“If I happen to be in the neighborhood, I’ll drop by your place. By the way, how much do I owe you?”
“Keep it, it’s on the house.”

The man watched me as I left. I can feel his deep black eyes watching my every step. Come to think of it, there was something strange about those eyes. They were fiery yet they have a hint of sadness inside. I glanced back and saw him waving me goodbye. His lips were parted in a thin smile. He took out a stick of cigarette, lit it with a flick of his fingers, and headed back to the café.

As the door closed, another man approached him.
“What a fool” the other man said.
“Mmm?”
“He’ll never get what he wants back there. Highly unlikely.”
“Tssh… Hope, my friend.”

I opened my eyes and I was back in the darkness of my room. The familiar song ended. The radio had already automatically turned off since I set its timer a couple of hours ago. I sat on the edge of my bed and glanced at my cell phone.

Current Mood: blank