The Coffee Date (6): Eventually

Flo checked her phone the moment it rang. A location was sent, her next coffee date with Arn. Or if she could call it one. She took a bike ride, drowned in her thoughts about what happened. It's been months since the last time they met, and a lot of things have happened. Changed.

The breeze stopped. Flo stood by the café and read its name, ensuring it was the right place: Verhalen. A small coffee shop with a big window. It was bright before the sunset, and she loved the ambiance, the smell. She ordered a latte, looked around, and Arn was nowhere in sight.

Flo walked towards a table with a half-full glass and some stuff. She brushed the hesitation away and hoped it would be Arn's seat since she was already told he was there. A while after, a guy in a black shirt hopped into the seat across her.

"Hey," he said.

"Thank God I was right about the seat," Flo smiled in relief.

"You didn't hesitate, did you?" Arn smiled back and packed his stuff, leaving only his glass on the table. "When did you get here?" he asked.

"I arrived here this afternoon and arrived just here a while ago. And my latte is just about to arrive," Flo mumbled 'thank you' to the waitress and sipped her latte immediately. "It's kinda too light,"

"Yeah, the latte here is lighter than other places around. I thought you'd love it,"

"And I thought maybe that's why you pick americano, I guess? As always,"

"As always," Arn laughed.

.

Time flew nowhere, and they didn't even get the chance yet to say what brought them that day: closure. Flo played her fingertips around the drops dripping from her glass, hesitating her thoughts.

"I still keep the flower you gave me on my birthday,"

"I happened to eat the cake you brought me on my birthday," Arn laughed. "Just throw it away," he said while throwing away his gaze.

"I don't think I would," said Flo after taking a moment to get herself together. "It's my birthday present!" she laughed. She tried to.

Arn looked at her. He watched her hand grip her glass. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way,"

She was holding herself back when Arn continued, "…but you know you can't keep it forever,"

"I know," Flo looked at Arn right in his eyes. "It meant nothing, for you didn't even know what you did when you gave me the flower that holds eternity as its meaning," she said. "It just looks so damn good on my desk," she hoped that would break the ice, yet the silence crept in.

"Flo, listen," Arn clenched his fist for a slight moment. "I am really thankful for you and things that grew between us this past year, but to finally see where we are, whom we end up with, and how this happened, I don't hate you. Not even close, not even at all,"

She couldn't look at him in the eyes anymore. "How could I do it? You were there when I was at my lowest," Arn couldn't help thinking about how Flo was always there. The whole time, until she finally decided to be with somebody else. "I can't hate you,"

Flo sipped her latte and used that to prolong the moment to sort out her mind. "I don't know how to say this, but I wonder if you ever guessed what brought me to finally leave us behind,"

"Because I wasn't sure about myself?"

"I've always been the mind reader, but you never really fail to read me," she smiled. "That's one thing, but among some others, it was mostly about the blessing. I prayed so many times if you're the answer I've been seeking, but it's him, and I'm sure she's the answer to your own prayers,"

"Arn, look," their eyes finally met. "It was a beautiful chaos, and for once, it was all true, but we will be okay, right?" she sounded more like seeking validation rather than asking a question.

"It was all true," Arn repeated the part, seemed convincing himself. "And we will be okay, eventually,"

"Eventually,"

.

Two empty glasses, two chaotic minds, and two relieved hearts. It was nearly dark when they finally decided to go home.

"Do you want a ride home or…?"

"It's okay. I'll be picked up. Just… go first,"

Arn stood up and grabbed his bag. "Let me know if I can be of any help,"

She nodded. "Tell her I said hi,"

"Tell him I said hi," he smiled. "I'll see you around, Flo,"

"Goodbye, Arn," she watched him take every step to the doorway, how he opened the door and closed it. She captured the image well in her head and started to write on her phone.

It's funny to finally find out that Verhalen means Stories. You were here first and waited for God knows how long, and it turned out I was the one who stayed longer.

---

It's funny how the universe directed the paths I thought I chose, just to let me realize all the things that happened were not entirely caused by my decisions.

I had my life planned most of the time, but finding you at the end of the time we could spend was not in my plan. I didn't plan to fall for those eyes either.

Somebody told me that it was selfish not to share a plan that big with anyone, but how could I? When the only person I wanted to share it with was finally running her own dreams with somebody else.

I wouldn't turn back anything we shared after all this time; whatever happened, happened.

The only thing I wish I could turn back into was when I was questioned if it's you I'm longing for. I would never hesitate, and I would choose you all over again even if I knew we were never meant to be.