Beck
I sat up in my chair. I was looking through the bills. Electricity was down.
"That's good." I thought aloud.
"Whats good, Mister Beck?" Mariana asked, sitting in a chair next to me.
"Oh, nothing… Electricity bill is going down."
"Mm. That is good." She agreed. She stood up. "Do you mind if I make some coffee, Mister Beck?"
"No, go ahead."
She started pouring the powder in the filter. "I brought some beans from Brazil. Would you like to try some Brazilian coffee, Mister Beck?"
I nodded, focused on the bills. "Thank you, Mariana, that would be wonderful."
"Brazilian coffee is usually served with fruit, and not milk, like the coffee in America."
"I'll just have mine regular, please."
Mariana smiled. "As you wish."
She placed a hot coffee cup in front of me.
"I'm going to bring one of these up to Travis." She said his name softly. "I'll make sure he's okay."
"Thanks, Mariana." I said again.
"Its nothing." She said truthfully.
Travis
There was a knock on my door. I quickly placed all the maps in my drawers.
"Come in!" I called.
Mariana walked in with two cups of coffee.
"Is that for me?" I smiled. She nodded and handed me one.
"Here you go Travis. The beans are from Brazil."
I took a long sip. "Brazil beans are the best beans." I whispered after I swallowed. I placed the coffee cup on the table.
"Mm." She agreed.
There was a pause. Mariana took a long sip of her coffee.
"I know what de silvia acoute is, Travis."
I sputtered and coughed. "What? Did Beck tell you?"
"No." She smiled. "I know all the pieces, Travis. I studied them for six years."
"Six years." I repeated. Damn.
"Are we going to go find it?" She asked.
I cleared my throat and took another sip. "Maybe."
"Why are you studying it if it is just a maybe, Travis?" Damn, I thought again. I was just going to have to tell her that I didn't want her to come.
"Alright, I'm going to find it. But not anytime soon. I still have a lot of studying to do."
"Oh."
Travis turned from the table. "But I think I deserve a break." I placed my cup on the desk and reached for Mariana's hips.
"Not now, Travis." She said normally.
We sat for a little longer.
"Travis…" Mariana started. "I think that…"
"Mm?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.
"I don't think we should see eachother anymore." My heart fell.
"What?" I asked.
"You're not well, Travis, and we're from two different worlds."
"But…"
"I'm sorry, Travis."
"But you said you loved me. And I love you." I whisper helplessly.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry Travis. I truly am sorry."
I tried to understand. "Okay."
We sat there for a few minutes, taking little sips of our coffee until it was all gone.
"I'll take these downstairs." I volunteered, voice still shaking, picking up my glass.
"No, I'll take mine." Mariana whispered, heading for the door. I followed quietly behind her.
Beck
I placed the bills on the table. Mariana and Travis walked into the kitchen.
They were silent.
Travis placed his glass in the sink.
And that's how I knew something was up.
Travis usually leaves his glasses scattered around the house, just to bug me. He never cleans them up, so I have to, because if I don't, then we'll get termites, or something like that.
When he put his glass in the sink…
"Mister Beck, I'll be leaving for Brazil tomorrow morning. I'm going to pack up my things."
Oh. I thought. He's upset because Mariana's leaving.
But then… wait a second… Mariana wasn't supposed to be leaving until two weeks.
Oh… Oh God.
Mariana broke it off with Travis.
I felt deep sympathy for him. He had his heart broken twice, now.
Travis didn't offer to help Mariana with her things. He didn't hit me on the back of the head when he passed by.
He sat on a chair at the end of the breakfast bar and placed his head on the table. He covered his eyes and wept silently.
I watched as sweet heartbreak took over Travis. I almost feel his heart rattling around in his chest.
Poor Travis.
"Oh, God." He said between sobs.
He continued for about two more minutes before picking his head off the table.
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He sat there with one knee on the seat.
"I'm sorry, Beck." He said finally. "I…"
"Don't be sorry." I said deeply.
"I just…"
"I know." I whispered. "It's okay."
He sat up and cleared his throat.
"I'm gonna get myself cleaned up." He said raspily, and then he walked out and went into the bathroom.