That Night
When Feliks suggested going to a bar that night, Mei wasn't sure about it, she was a bit tired and wanted to go to sleep early. Even Erzi and Emma insisted so much that she had to accept. That Friday night was calm, so it wasn't so many people there, at least.
Her friends were dancing and singing, maybe as a result of the drinks they were consuming. She wasn't in the mood to follow them, so she sat alone, watching them having fun. She liked to dance and sing, but that week had been very awful and stressful.
Mei sighed, if it wasn't for the music, she could fall asleep right there. She decided to wait for a moment, and then say goodbye. Then, a man sat beside her. She didn't pay him so much attention, until she heard his voice; it seemed very familiar, she gave a glimpse and felt surprised.
"Lars? Lars Janssen?" she asked him.
"Mei Wang? How strange to find you here"
"What about you? Do you come here often?" she asked him trying that it doesn't sound as a cliché pick up line.
"No, my friends asked me to accompany them; honestly I just wanted to sleep"
She giggled. Both were in the same situation.
"My friends also brought me here" she admitted pointed at them with a move of her head.
They knew each other, because he was Emma's big brother. They had talked a couple of times, but they couldn't consider each other as friends, an acquaintance was more accurate. Maybe that was their chance to get to know each other more.
Lars invited her for a drink and Mei accepted. They chatted about not very personal matters, then about their jobs, their daily life, their friends. One subject let to another, and they were in an agreeable conversation.
That night, both knew they admired the same authors and recommended each other some novels and poetry. They tried to recite a poem, but ended up for forgetting the end or confuse some words.
Mei found out that Lars liked gardening, he knew so much about flowers, and told her about his grandfather who was a gardener. Mei showed him some pictures of her last draws of flowers.
"They are the best models" she joked and Lars smiled.
They were so lost into their conversation that they didn't realize in which moment their friends had gone. Also, the bar was about to close, both felt really surprised, they thought they were just talking for a moment, but actually some hours had passed.
"I'm sorry for distract you. You must be tired" she said.
"No, it's me who has to apologize, you were tired too" he replied. "At least, let me accompany you to your home"
"Alright"
They walked through the empty streets, in silence. The wind was very cold, but they didn't care. That night felt so different. Finally, they arrived.
"Thank you for this night. I had fun"
"Thank you too" he said looking at his shoes. "Well, bye"
"Wait. Would you like to go for a walk with me tomorrow?" she asked him.
He looked at her for several seconds and nodded. They got each other's phone numbers and she agreed to call him. He seemed happy but didn't tell her. They still didn't know if that could be the beginning of something or if they'd have to wait to know it.
They didn't wait too much for it. Since night, very deep in their hearts, they knew.
Sometimes, when he is reading a poem to her, or when she admires their beautiful garden, or when they are just lying in bed in lazy mornings, they wonders what would have happened if both had rejected their friends invitation, if they would have preferred to go to sleep instead.
Other times, when they see that bar, they smile considering that they "met" each other in a place they didn't frequent. Fate? Luck? Coincidence? They didn't think too much about it. They are happy and that's the most important.