Darkness cloaked the skies as dusk came. And Charlie Sparrow chooses to stay awake while everyone else falls into perfect slumber.
With a heavy and broken heart, he finds his drunken-self stumbling over to The Coffee Hut, the best local caf” there is. He is then enveloped with the scent of fresh coffee beans and a warm atmosphere. He took in his surroundings and was surprised to see at least four people inside including a barista wiping the marble counters.
‘What would it be?’
‘Black coffee.’
Charlie sits on a stool, places his elbows on the counter and buries his head in his hands. Bitter coffee always managed to get him back to his senses. And it was just what he needed the most, he hopes it would erase away his drunkenness.
After a few moments of listening to the soft indie music playing in the background, the barista named ‘Ruiz’, as seen on her name tag, slid over a cup of steaming hot black coffee right in front of him. He muttered a small ‘thanks’ before drinking the beverage but immediately regretting it as the hotness burned his tongue.
‘Fuck,’ he curses. Was there anything he could do without being so stupid?
Stupid, no, he was a damn idiot. He couldn’t do anything right, he couldn’t even drink his coffee right.
He couldn’t even let go of the memory of a certain girl that had already slipped away from his fingertips.
Springtime was supposed to be happy, springtime was supposed to be about revival, the season of growth. Yet here he was, crying like a baby because his ex-girlfriend was getting married in three days.
‘Will you come with me to the mall? I kind of need a tux, the one I have won’t fit me anymore.’ His friend, Del, spoke through the phone. Charlie was still drowsy for he just woke up, scratching his head.
‘Why do you need a tux though?’
‘For the wedding?’ Del snorts
‘You’re getting married?’ he shuffles tiringly to his kitchen, putting bread in the toaster. Boiled hot water, washed the dishes from last night. He didn’t notice that a silence occurred on the other end of the phone, and he was about to hang up when Del suddenly spoke.
‘I’m guessing she didn’t give you an invitation then.’
That made him stop what he was doing. ‘Who?’
‘Mary’s getting married, Charlie.’
And with that one sentence, he felt as if the world came crashing down at him all at once.
‘When?’ He utters out.
‘Saturday, man. It’s three days away. I’m sorry I thought she would invite you, I mean, you’ve been together for seven years-‘
‘it’s okay, Del. I have to go.’
‘Right. Sorry.’
The bells of the caf” disturbed his thoughts, and in came a girl with auburn hair with cheeks red from the stone cold weather outside. She offered a sweet smile to Ruiz, ‘The usual, please.’
‘One French vanilla with extra foam coming up.’
She then settles two stools away from Charlie, sighing and taking off her scarf. The sweet scent of French vanilla filled the air and he almost cringed.
He hated things sweet.
Minutes have passed, and he was enjoying drowning in his thoughts until the red-head spoke up.
‘So, does bitter coffee keep you awake?’
‘It’s useless, really. But I don’t exactly need it to keep me awake.’
‘Trying to get sober?’
There was something that caught his attention, maybe it was because her aura lightened up the atmosphere of the whole caf” with her unusual sweet smile. Or the fact that her voice can be compared to birds chirping beautifully in the morning.
‘Am I that easy to read?’ Charlie chuckles.
The girl laughs, ‘I had a hard time figuring it out, you know. With your alcohol-stained shirt and crumpled hair, not to mention the weird scent of Jack Daniels lingering around the caf”. You being drunk was just my random guess.’
‘Are you always this sarcastic?’ He questions, frowning as she watched her drink her coffee. What she did next surprised him; she picked up her coffee, stood from her chair and sat next to him smiling.
‘My name’s Park.’
‘Hello Park, I’m Charlie. Do you always approach strangers in coffee shops?’
She rolls her eyes. ‘Do you always ask so many questions?’
And that, was the start of one sleepless night in The Coffee Hut, a caf” that became the center of collision between bitter and sweet coffee.
‘So..’ Park starts, stirring her coffee with a small smile painted on her lips. For an hour they have talked about basic things and so far Charlie has learned that Park Clemente was a cardiologist and spent her free times as an inspired blogger. She had just got home from Greece with her aunt, the only family member she has. She loves springtime and coffee.
‘What brings you here though? I basically come here every night, but you, I don’t see you around often. Especially on late nights like these.’
Memories from the past few hours suddenly fill his mind, and he laughs humorlessly and gazes down at his own cup. Then his gaze lingers on the cream colored walls and onto the glass windows, taking in the empty streets. He looks at everywhere except her eyes, which were focused on him the entire time.
In a span of an hour and a half, Charlie has learned that Park’s stare was very intense. She looks at him as if he could read his mind, or worse, his soul. It kind of creeped him out, if it weren’t for the round and pretty hazelnut orbs attached below her long lashes.
Charlie was never the one to open up to strangers he meets for the first time, but there was something about Park’s stare, the way she expresses herself, the way her smile looks so warm it screams that you could trust her with all your deepest secrets.
Was he still drunk? His thoughts were acting as if he knows Park so well. He doesn’t seem to have control over his own lips.
‘My ex-girlfriend is getting married in three days.’
Charlie didn’t know exactly why he said it so bluntly, not giving her any warning, but Park seemed like someone who would understand, even if they’ve known each other for two hours. She seemed like the girl you’ve grow comfortable with easily, and maybe that’s what Charlie needed.
Someone to open up to.
‘Ah, and you still haven’t moved on.’
‘It’s hard to, we’ve created so many memories and-and I don’t know how she could just move on and act all normal like all of it didn’t matter at all.’
Images of her start to invade his thoughts, along with the memories they have created, he could remember it all and it was starting to make his head hurt. The way she smiled, the way she clings to him like cologne, her sweet scent of fresh strawberries, the way she won’t let go of his hand, the way she sang to him in his sleep-
‘How long?’
‘How long what?’
‘How long did you love her?’
‘Seven years. And I can’t stop, I don’t know how.’
Park frowned at the mention of seven years, and for the first time that night, she looked down at her coffee and diverted her gaze from his eyes. He wanted to know what was running through her mind.
‘You know,’ she started, ‘There was this theory hat Eros, the God of Love, shoots two kinds of arrows. Gold arrows and silver arrows. The silver ones, are for temporary love. You fall in love with that person, but eventually it fades out. The golden ones, are for soulmates and shit like that. This is where the love is strong to the point that fate even enters its way to keep you and your soulmate together.’
‘So, just like what my aunt would always say; always think of the brighter side.’ Park says, this time she looks deep into his eyes once again. Her eyes twinkling with sincerity as she says the next words, ‘Maybe that girl is your silver arrow, seven years may seem like a lifetime, but maybe the universe is nice enough to not afford to give you something that isn’t for you.’
Charlie was speechless, indeed. Her words seemed to hammer inside his broken heart, daring to fix it, pushing him that maybe moving on was the solution. Park then stood up from her seat, slinging her bag on her shoulder and wrapping her scarf around her neck until the fabric was slightly brushing her lips.
She offered him one last dazzling smile, one that sticks to Charlie’s thoughts for the rest of the night. ‘I hope that someday you meet the girl who has that gold arrow stuck in her heart.’
And maybe he just did.
Two more days left. And Charlie was still a complete mess.
‘I don’t get it, really.’
‘What is?’
‘Why boys do that barging into the middle of a wedding thing, I mean, no offense.’ Park argues, ‘But it ruins something special, you know. Marriage is a sacred thing and it’s just rude to interrupt it like that.’
‘Of course you would say that, little miss I love sunshine and all things bright and flowery.’ Charlie rolls his eyes, it was the second night they have met up. He intentionally came to The Coffee Hut the exact same time he went yesterday just so he could talk to his new friend, who was somehow the reason why he was still sane.
‘I’m just saying.’ She shrugs. ‘It also frustrates the hell out of the bride.’
‘Do you think I would do it?’ Charlie asks, frowning. He wanted to, yes. His heart was craving to see Mary again. But the girl was getting married in two days for God’s sake.
‘You seem like you would, I mean, you were the one who told me you were having a hard time moving on.’
‘Judgemental is what you are.’
‘Absolutely not!’ Park exclaims, raising her eyebrows. ‘If you do it on the day of the wedding you’ll get a taste of my smug face proudly saying ‘I told you so.”
Another moment of silence slides in, it was comfortable for Charlie though, because it gave him more time to think and to enjoy his cup of black coffee. He looked over to Park’s cup, which was the same as yesterday. French Vanilla with extra foam.
‘You wanna taste?’ She wiggles her eyebrows and he laughs.
‘I hate when coffee is sweet.’ He says, shrugging.
‘Okay, Mr. I worship bitter shit. I dare you to try it.’
He frowns for a moment, debating whether or not he should try the sweet beverage, Mary always liked her coffee bitter and unsweetened, she said it makes her feel childish.
See? He was reminded of her even through the smallest of things, he inwardly groaned. He then surprised Park by gripping her cup of coffee and bringing it to his lips, taking a long sip. He set the cup down before looking at her, and his heart almost jumped as he saw the pair of hazelnut eyes staring at his own lips before she shook her head and chuckled.
‘So? How’d it taste?’
‘It was nice.’ No, it was delicious. The sweetness wrapped around his tongue so powerfully and Charlie wanted more. Heck, he wanted to finish her drink, but remaining casual seemed the most appropriate to do.
Ruiz suddenly interrupted, placing a plate of waffles coated with chocolate.
‘What’s this for?’ Charlie asked.
‘It’s my birthday, Charlie.’ Park chuckled, offering a smile to Ruiz. ‘Thank you, you shouldn’t have.’
‘Anything for my everyday customer,’ Ruiz saluted before returning back to her station. Charlie was lost for words, he suddenly felt like although they’ve only been friends for two days, he should at least have a gift for her.
‘Happy Birthday,’ Charlie said, watching as she devoured the treat. She muttered a ‘thank you’ with her signature sweet smiles.
The moment she was preparing to leave the caf” to stroll alone outside the empty streets there was something that triggered inside Charlie that made him follow her suit, not before leaving a huge tip to Ruiz.
The bells of the caf” seemed to made Park turned around only to see Charlie behind her. ‘Are you going to turn into my stalker now?’
‘It’s your birthday.’
‘I know that Charlie, we both know that. Ruiz knows that. What’s your point?’
‘You can’t just go home without celebrating your birthday.’ He says with exasperation, trying to fasten his pace just so he could walk backwards so that they would be face to face.
‘I had coffee and waffles, what else would I want?’
‘A sleepless night adventure with Charlie Sparrow?’ he offered, and Park stopped on her tracks, frowning as she once again gave him an intense stare. She was wondering what made this man, one who’s broken into pieces by a girl he loved, suddenly wanted to spend time with her after tasting her sweet French vanilla coffee.
Seconds passed, minutes even. But Park then chuckled, nodding her head.
‘Show me what you’ve got then, Sparrow.’
Late night drives, long walks at parks, sneaking into old museums and admiring all art and expressing opinions and thoughts, dancing outside the noisy clubs, eating McDonalds takeout at the parking lot, and lots and lots and lots of pointless conversations was all that Charlie could offer for the night. And though it was all simple it made Park’s heart flutter happily. They were lying on the open grass at somewhere in the middle of town waiting for dawn, and both weren’t even sleepy. They have spent the whole night together yet for Charlie it still didn’t see enough.
‘I’ve never done this before,’ Park whispered, staring at the slowly fading dark sky.
‘Me too.’
‘It’s nice.’ She smiles, ‘Having someone I just met do with me the stuff that I have always wanted to do.’
‘I’m glad for being your first then.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Maybe you’re right.’ Charlie suddenly says, ‘I should move on, I should forget her. She’s getting married, and I should be happy for her. But my heart still aches for her.’ He closes his eyes as he felt the tears suddenly form. ‘I don’t understand, I just don’t. I don’t understand love and I lose my mind trying to figure it out.’
‘You don’t understand love, Sparrow. You feel it. Your brain would explode to pieces trying to understand it, but once you feel it, things would make sense. Being in love with someone who leaves you for someone else hurts, but as I’ve said, look at the brighter side. It’s good that you have experience love with that girl in the first place, keep it in your memories. True love is hard to find nowadays. Treasure it dearly, it heals your heart.’
‘How do you manage to say all the perfect words?’ Charlie blurts out.
Her head turns sideways to face him, and it suddenly occurs to him how close their faces were and he admires the beauty before him. Park openly embraced mornings and sweetness and all things bright, her words were always sincere and heartfelt, her smile was dazzling and it reminded him of spring, her hazelnut eyes made him want to revive.
She was spring beauty.
The sun was starting to rise, along with Charlie’s heart. The bright day highlighted Park’s features and it surprised him because this girl was way more beautiful with the sunlight shining in her warm hazelnut eyes. The flowers along the field seemed to glow at the sight of her, and it looked like she owned spring.
‘This is too nice,’ She says, frowning. ‘If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up yet.’ She whispers again with her intense gaze. And for the first time that night, Charlie felt his world turn upside down.
When his hand found hers, nothing else mattered for a while and he has come to appreciate where he is and who he’s spending his time with.
‘I told you so!’
They were both driving at The Plaza Hotel, where Mary’s wedding would take place. Charlie sat in the passenger seat of Park’s car, his hands sweating from nervousness.
‘This is crazy, Charlie. What if you get arrested or something?’
‘I won’t-‘
‘or what if you get in a fight with her fianc”? You’re not exactly the masculine type I mean look at you! You’re as thin as a popsicle-‘
‘I’ll do my best to-‘
‘All my advices were all put to freaking waste because you’re doing this absolutely crazy barging into the middle of a wedding thing,’ She rambles on, staring at the road like she wanted to burst into anger.
‘And what if she doesn’t take you back? What would you do to cure that already broken heart of yours?’ She exclaims, and for a while Charlie considers changing his mind. But he’s already even practiced the lines he would say in front of Mary. He sits there terrified.
‘I have to try.’ He says. Maybe there was still a chance, maybe he could get her back. Maybe he could set things right again.
They arrive at The Plaza, and his hands were shaking violently but he shrugs it off and steps out of the car whilst taking deep breaths.
‘Charlie.’
He was losing his mind.
‘Look at me.’
He needed Mary right? He still loved her.
‘Stop shaking, please.’
He was about to crash a goddamn wedding.
‘Charlie!’
He looks at her for the first time that day, it was really sunny. And her hazelnut eyes stood out while her auburn hair framed her face. And more thoughts invaded his head as he struggled to stop himself to do what he wants to do deep inside; To tuck that auburn hair to her ears and give her all the magical things she wanted and deserved with all that he’s got left and to hold her in his arms as tight as he can because she was the only person keeping him from breaking down.
Park has gotten out from her own car, standing close to him. She raised her hand to cradle his cheek, smiling softly.
‘I know I can’t stop you from doing this,’ She says. ‘This is impossible but maybe I’m underestimating you, if you love that girl so much and if you know to yourself that maybe she is your golden arrow, your soulmate,’ She nods, and Charlie watched as she stared at his lips.
His heart started to accelerate.
‘Then pour your heart out, say all the things you want to say to her and never leave out a single word.’
She was like the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise, the hum of the birds that are pleasant to the ears, the brightness that beats down vividness. She welcomes light with open arms. Park was radiant.
Charlie nods, biting his lips. He looks down at his hands that stopped shaking, Park had managed to calm her down.
‘I will.’ He says.
Park watches Charlie walking away, she held in a breath so deep. She held it in long, knowing that if she breathed out so suddenly, pieces of her heart would come apart with it.
Three steps away.
She was used to pain like this, but how crazy was it to admit that she has fallen in love with someone in a span of three days?
Eight steps away.
From afar, Charlie radiated hope and life.
He entered the venue.
And it was all she needed to see.
Because as much as it was terribly confusing and absolutely maddening to understand, there were so many things that are out of control when it comes to love. But everyone has a choice.
Park chooses him. Therefore she chooses to let go.
‘Thank you for the wonderful dream, Charlie.’