Chapter 20
"Good Afternoon, this is The Palace catering service, how may we serve you today?" Said sweet a voice from the other end of the phone. But it wasn't her.
The conversation went on, beignets were mentioned, names were exchanged and the question that had been in his mind had finally been quietly vocalized, "Is Tiana present there at this moment?"
Three seconds of shock came upon the lady on the phone, "At this moment no, but would you like us to mention that a Naveen Maldonia made a call?"
Unsure of whether or not that would be a good idea, Naveen hesitated. Yes, he thought.
"No, it's fine but thank you for your service, looking forward to the event." End.
Claire had re-entered the room, "Now that wasn't so difficult, was it?" She said, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
Temporary, everything about her felt temporary. Happiness, excitement and joy. These all eventually faded away when they had celebrated their 4th anniversary. Way before that, but he oddly found other reasons to keep himself there and entertained. Now celebrating their 5th anniversay, Claire had to choose one of the most successful catering services in the state, a successful catering service that could have to belong to anyone besides hers.
Tiana graduated early. Not that she wasn't already doing exceptionally well, she pushed herself to where she was completely excluded from anything that involved being social, sure she contributed in previous class activities but that was it. She left and never turned back. Started a catering service which he did not expect as he thought she wanted to get a degree in psychology. Who knows if she had, she was a girl of surprises. Or should he say woman, it had been nearly 5 years.
"What's on your mind dear?"
She interrupted his train of thoughts, the question of why he still stayed never properly occurred to him till now, he knew he wasn't the only one she sees. But he anticipates that she would be expecting an engagement any time soon.
Dropping hints in nearly every small action and anything she sees.
"Nothing." He had said, rather coldly. Unwrapping her arms around his middle, he left the room. For sure there would still be reasons to stay, for sure there's still hope in saving this relationship, he had thought.
But what relationship was this anyway, had it just been 'friends with benefits' for five years, and without the benefits. He benefitted nothing at all, she might have.
He needed a change of environment, he wrote Claire a note as he doesn't have the power to say anything to her, then he left.
Naveen had his keys on him but it did not occur to him, all he needed was some alone time. He walked, he hoped to walk into new opportunities or old opportunities he stupidly lost. 5 years of misery, 5 years wasted.
Why hadn't he tried at all to pursue her? Why hadn't he tried doing anything at all.
He almost a year ago now. Soon enough that piece of paper would get him running his family's company. Drowning himself in work and further away from friends and family had to be worth something.
One of the only things he gained after losing her was qualifications. For work and qualifications for being a tired soul at 25. For sure that had been worth it.
Like the sun, Naveen sat and rested. He'd enjoyed it if he had walked further than he already had. He was in an unfamiliar park that seemed familiar.
A rather aged man sat next to him. He smiled, missing a few teeth but still seemed completely genuine.
Naveen tried his best to emit a smile like that as well, but the insides can match the outsides too.
The noises of children lessened as their mothers called them home. He missed home, he missed his mother. He missed everything.
"You see that?" The man said pointing at a bright star that filled the night sky.
Naveen looked up.
"Evangeline loved star gazing. She used to believe that stars are the continuation of a person's light that use to shine within them. I found it rather odd but nonetheless true." He finished with a sigh.
Naveen looked at him, concerned, what could he say?
"Had Evangeline lived up to her saying?" He said making sure he hadn't sound insensitive.
With a smile, he said "Yes." He paused. "She had always been my shining star. Always will be."
"Evangeline must have been lovely." Naveen said with sincerity.
"Do you have an Evangeline?" The man asked out of the blue.
"Pardon?" Naveen asked, as he was taken by surprise.
"What I meant to say was, do you have a special person that shines as bright as the stars?" In all honesty, it did sound a bit cliché, Naveen let out laugh before realizing it was a serious question.
"Once." He said looking down.
"Once? It does happen once. Make it worth every tribulation." He said standing up.
"It was nice to interact with the youth, I'm Raymond, and you've met ma belle, Evangeline." He said pointing to the star once more.
"I'll see you around boy."
Then he walked away without Naveen properly introducing himself.