Film of Love

Quarante Neuf

I walked away from the man I bumped, well, he is not just a man, he is good-looking and… hot. I am embarrassed by the fact that we both stood there without having to say anything to each other—but I felt that he wanted to say something. Just like that, his phone rang and answered it and I took that as a cue to take my leave.

Cosette and I left the two men and went to the restaurant we had been looking for as we searched for some good food. I felt like I was the only one who was lost in the world, but she was also lost in it. As we walked on the way downtown I found many coffee shops that were very well built and designed. It’s so pleasing to the eyes.

We can’t go into those shops because I know that we will be tempted to order some, but it’s not even lunchtime.

“Here it is!” she exclaimed while pointing to a balmy fancy open-air restaurant just across the street we are in. “Goût Reffiné.” I read the elegantly built sign just above its entrance.

We are welcomed with a savory and delectable smell of roasted turkey and a slight smell of hot pasta on splendid plates with colors of blue. I noticed that the color outside contrasts with the inside, having black and gold, while the inside has every shade of blue with gold touches as the highlights.

“This is such a grandiose place!”I commented. We were in awe of the visuals of the restaurant. “Are you sure that this is a bit of an inexpensive restaurant?” I asked, making sure that we were entering a place correctly and not having ourselves embarrassed because of lack of money.

She shrugged and replied. “Well, we can just see their menus and if it’s not on our budget, then that’s time we take a leave then.” I nodded. I realized that we are free to do whatever we want.

“Table for two, ma’am?” we were asked and we nodded. We did not ask earlier because there’s a line inside. I thought it was a reservation type of dining and am grateful it isn’t.

We are seated in the middle with the big chandelier above our heads. We were given our menu and, honestly, I am a bit nervous about it but shocked as the prices are all, a bit inexpensive for such a fancy restaurant.

After a while, we gave our menus back to the waitress as she took them and noted our food—the only thing we are need was to wait for it to be served.

“So,” she started as she opened the napkin and put it in her lap. “Who is it?” she continued and asked me. I think she is talking about an earlier unexpected encounter.

“Well, it’s someone I don’t know and it’s my first time seeing him.” I honestly told her who he is and that’s it.

“I think you just fall in love at first sight then,” she says without batting an eye. Omg! How could she say that bravely and not cringing? I was shocked by her question.

“WHAT?” I asked and scoffed. I think I spoke too loud, people were looking at me like I’m sort of a weirdo.

“Shh!” she gestured to me that I was making a loud noise. “You’re too noisy, but then you’re not even denying it.”

“No, it’s not that!” I exclaimed, denying that I am…well…I don’t know what I feel and it’s crazy and so fast.

“I think you’re just hungry as I am,” I said as an excuse.

“I think I don’t,” Cosette replied. “So tell me, did you feel butterflies flying in your stomach?”

I put my hands to my stomach but then my stomach was not feeling it.

“No.” I removed my hands and looked at her, trying not to make fun of me. I rolled my eyes at her.

“I think his face is familiar,” she said after sipping the water that was served to us and also caught my attention. My heart started to beat fast and I don’t know why I felt nervous all of a sudden.

“Who is it?” I asked.

She pulled out her phone and replied. “I think he is an actor.” I saw her typing and after some time her face went in shock about what she was doing on her phone.

“Why?” I asked. She looked at me and back at her phone and as she turned it to me, the waiter came in to interrupt us but we couldn’t do anything but to let him do his work.

“What is it that you want to show me?” I asked Cosette who is busy taking pictures of the food that has been served to us. I believe that the fantastic and mouthwatering dishes that here are all expensive to the other place and I am wondering why it looks like they’re giving it like it’s free. She finally looked at me and replied. “I will show it to you later after we eat.” I nodded my head, agreeing with her because I felt a bit hungry as I saw the dishes.

“It looks so delicious!” she happily exclaimed. I smiled at her as we will be seizing the moment while the pasta is still hot on the plate. We just order their rigid tangled and handmade fresh pasta as our lunch, the Pates d’Alsace and Aglio e Olio pasta that was served elegantly. I still can’t believe that she never went down in the central when she can easily access here because she is born and raised here, until now. I can see that she is no different from princess Fiona—she was like her, lock in a deadly looking castle and guard by a dragon while she waits to be rescued by her prince charming who will experience all the seasons and defeat the dragon, go to the highest tower and finally having the said “true love’s kiss”.

“Uh…Aryn can we go to the ice cream parlor later?” asked Cosette who is munching her last garlic bread.

“Sure, after we finished here,” I said. I saw her finishing all the food on her plate as well as mine. we have been eating without having any talk as we focus on savoring the pasta in our palates.

-

After eating we paid our bill and went out for a walk and also to go to the ice cream parlor. I make her lead the way this time because she seemingly knows the direction.

“Hey, Aryn!” she began. “I went here when I was young.” She told me as we both looked in the distance. “I always go to the ice cream parlor with my dad when he doesn’t have any sailing with the other seamen.”

I looked back at her and saw sadness reflects in her eyes. I think I do relate to her somehow—both our fathers are working far from home. My father is a teacher in a different country and hers is a seaman and he can be in any other part of the world right now. We are both lonely, and keep on waiting for them to return. I’ll be grateful to meet my uncle and his wonderful stories about the sea, people, places, and everything, I know C feels it too, and hope she will be grateful to meet my father and taste his delicious and unforgettable taste of handmade cookies. Hoping for that time to come.