In need of a friend

          Julie asked me if I want to go out for coffee with her. I told her I’m fine and need some alone time for myself. Julie didn’t care. She drove all the way to pick me up. When she arrived, she rang the bell like a thousand times. Kept calling my phone. 10 missed calls. She didn’t want me to be alone. That’s why she’s here, beside me, driving us to a café. I’m lucky that I know her.

          As soon as we are parked, I got out of the car, went on her side of the car, and opened her door. That’s what gentlemen do. Open car doors for their women, except she isn’t my woman, just a friend who is always there for me. She thanked me for opening the door. I thanked her for bringing me out.

          On our way to the café, on foot, we chatted.

“So Joey, why are you so depressed? I knew it soon as I heard your voice when I called you if you want to go out for coffee.”

“My friend died last night.” I told her. “His neighbor found his body lying on the floor, in his room with a torchlight in his hand. An hour later, I received a phone call from his cousin, he told me about it. As soon as I was told about it, I went straight to the hospital. Ignored every red traffic light. Autopsy said he died because of a heart attack.”

“Oh my god. Joey, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry!”

“Thank you Julie.”

          When we got to the café, I opened the door for her. Again, that’s what gentlemen do. Women like that kind of shit. The embarrassing thing is that, the door says, ‘Pull’ I pushed and hit myself at the door. Everyone inside looked outside. I saw some of them smiled, some laughed. I turned around, Julie was trying to hold the laugh. The way she used her hand to cover her mouth was cute, made me smile and giggle.

          I pulled the door, and she went in. After I got in, I’m already loving the café. I can smell the fragrance of coffee and the smell of pies being served. The jazz music playing in the background, piano and trumpet. The voices of people talking to each other. The sound of people typing with their MacBook. I thanked her again for bringing me here.

          We got in queue. While waiting for our turn, I looked at the menu above the cashier. Not sure what to order. Everything seems delicious. The pies. The coffees. God, I’m having a difficult time choosing what to order. I’m scared I don’t know what to order when it’s our turn and make the people behind wait for us even longer, but the girl in front of us was also having a difficult time to order. So I had enough time to pick what to order. Blueberry pie with caramel coffee.

          When it was our turn, we tried to order our foods and drink, but the barista got distracted. We were also distracted because there were this group of three people, two boys and one girl. One of the boys and girl were fighting and the other boy tried to stop them, but somehow three of them were fighting. They were loud. Everyone in the café was looking at them.

          We managed to order our foods and drinks and right now, we can’t find any seats. Luckily, this one girl with a pink MacBook was leaving the café in a rush, and when she left her table, we took it. When we sat down, the three teenagers were still fighting. A barista was about to stop them, but one of the boy said he was done with them and left the café. The other two teenagers also left the café.

          As soon as they left, everyone continued what they were doing, and Julie and I continued to talk to each other.

Out for coffee

          Here I am, sitting alone in the best café in town, waiting for my friends while they order their pies. I only ordered black coffee, not in the mood to eat the pies here, even though the pies here are out of this world.

          On my left, I see people with their MacBook, looking at their screen constantly while sipping coffee. Probably watching YouTube, or reading social media statuses, and probably they're here because of the free Internet. While on my right, I see people talking to each other, laughing at each other’s joke, flirting with one another. And I’m here all alone.

“Stop observing people, dude. You’re making them insecure.” said Matthew when he approached to me.

          I spoke too soon. Matthew is a friend of mine back when we were in middle school; a friend who likes to woo women, make sarcastic comments, and acting, which he doesn't know he's terrible at.

“There you are. What took you so long?” I asked.

“Well, I’m sorry. Sam there can’t pick which pies she wants, and I’m here because I want to tell you to stop creeping everyone out.”

          Sam is another friend of mine, who likes to motivate people, give her shoulders for people to cry on, listen to their every problem and give advice to them on what to do. Like a therapist, but she doesn’t want to be one.

“I’m not creeping them out.” I told Matthew.

“Yeah, you are. Look at that girl over there, with the pink MacBook. She's packing her things because she thinks you are stalking her. Right now she’s in a rush to leave the café because you made her feel uncomfortable!”

          Not sure whether what Matthew just said is true or he’s just messing around.

“Matt, probably she’s just shy, like you when you went to the audition for a 3-second-hobo scene last Saturday, which you couldn't even get.” I insulted.

“Oh fuck off.”

“Fuck you too.” I said with a smile.

“Hey, why are you guys cursing each other?” Sam came to us and asked.

“Oh, nothing, Robert here thinks I suck in acting.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, Matthew, you are pretty horrible.” Sam said without thinking. She widened her eyes and tried to make a smooth recovery, "No offence, just being honest."

“Oh my god. You know what? Robert, fuck you!” yelled Matthew while giving him the middle finger. "And you, Sam, ever since I developed an infatuation towards you, you always agree with him, even if it's an insult. You don't even care how that makes me feel. It hurts, Sam, especially when you both are laughing at me after humiliated me, making me feel like shit.” He vented.

“Wait. Sorry, what? You like me?" Sam asked. "Dude, I thought you were gay." She continued.

          As soon as she said that, I never laughed so hard in my entire life; which got teared me up and made my stomach hurt. I can’t believe she just said that.

“What the fuck?!” Matthew shouted.

          Somehow, they got into a fight, which went on for a while. I tried to stop them because everyone in the café was looking at us. They made a scene. Matthew started making insulting jokes about me while trying to make a point to Sam, which got me into the fight as well, and I somehow insulted Sam. I don’t even know how.

“That's it! Sam and Robert, you can kiss my ass goodbye, I’m done with guys! Fucking idiots.” Matthew shouted.

“Me too!” Sam cried.

          Both of them left the café immediately. I sat back down, thinking what just happened. After a while, I decided to leave the café. I can’t believe it. Just like that, and 10 years of friendship, gone.

“Order for Sam!” the barista called. “Order for Sam?” He tried again.

The witching hour

        Here I am, laying down on the grass. Viewing the sky as the clouds go by. Enjoying this calming moment, with my crush beside me. I think I'm going to ask her out. For your information, I've been her friend since we were 7. When I was 12, I started liking her, because she's my everything. She has always been there for me, when I'm happy and sad.

        Ever since I liked her, I tried asking her out, but none of them was the right moment. I even planned out the conversation if we go out, the things I would say if she says this or that, both normal and awkward conversations. I've been trying for 4 years, so I'm hoping I have the confidence now to ask her out. 

        "Kathy, would you like to go out with me?" I looked at her and asked.

            She looked back, smiled.

        "Sure. I would love to."

         I stood up, offered my hand to her. She held my hand and I helped her stand up. We both walked out of the park, holding each other’s hand. We both crossed the road to get to this wonderful café; we could drink coffee, eat the best pies and enjoy the moment. But a truck ran over us. That was when I woke up, and realized it was just a dream.

          I woke up in a sweat, and everything was dark. My brain felt like its been knotted repeatedly. I barely remembered that I went out with my best friend a few hours ago. We went skateboarding and after that we went into a pub and got drunk, and when I got home, I went straight to bed. I was too drunk to switch off the lights and didn't even change into my pajamas. I laid down on my bed for a few seconds, and slept like a baby. 

        I looked at my wrist, hit the light button on my watch and it see what time it was. It was midnight. I wondered why it was so dark and hot and why I was sweating so much. I didn't even turn off my air conditioner when I got home. Then I realized after a few minutes,  the electricity was out.

        I'm only afraid of the dark when I'm in the dark for too long. And it was already too long; my heart raced. I jumped off my bed, tried to find a way out. Too dark. So I went into my emergency drawer, where I put my first aid kit, torchlight and other things. Before I reach the drawer, I hit something on my wrist. Probably that stupid table I forgot to put back to its spot when I was vacuuming.

        I reached the drawer, took the torchlight out and switched it on. Too bad it was out of juice, but luckily I had another spare of batteries in the drawer. I replaced the torchlight's battery and switched it on. The light wasn't radiant enough, but I was so happy that I could see things.

       I hover the light around to find a way out and I saw a girl in a bloody white dress with long hair all over her face, standing by the door. My heart stopped and that's how I died.