Where my friends lead me to thoughts
The warm light filtered through the gap between the curtains and fell on my face. I squinted and turned to the other side, unwilling to wake up. Ella lay on the yellow-orange couch by the window, reading a magazine and sipping lemon water with ice from a large glass.
— Finally, you woke up! — she started when she saw me secretly watching her with one eye open.
— I’m not awake yet, — I interrupted her and, like a small child, threw the blanket over my head.
Ella always woke up incredibly early, even if she went to bed incredibly late.
The alarm clock on the nightstand rang again. Eight thirty, it was about time to get up. I washed my face with cold water, took a shower and, drying my slightly wet hair with a large dark blue towel, went out to the kitchen.
— Do you have anything edible? — Elizabeth inquired, tapping her fingers on the table.
— What would you like? — I smiled back at her.
My apartment was my pride. It had everything. A white studio with a dark blue sofa and rocking chairs, so cozy that you could spend hours there without leaving. A bedroom with a giant white bed, a wardrobe, and a balcony. Two bathrooms. And of course, the attic windows that I absolutely adored.
I pulled out tomatoes, avocado, cheese from the fridge and placed them on the oval wooden table. I made us hot sandwiches and brewed green tea. Probably sensing the pleasant smell, a black cat dashed out from the neighboring room and started rubbing against my legs.
— Do you want a sandwich too, Louis? — I laughed. Louis had been living with me for the fourth year and I loved him unbelievably; it seemed like the feeling was mutual.
— Thank you for the most delicious sandwich of my life, but I won’t drink tea; do you have any coffee? — Ella said after a while and turned on the water to wash the dishes behind her.
— No, it’s finished; there’s always a shortage of coffee in this house, — I sighed sadly.
— Then we’ll have to go to the café.
— Okay, I’ll just grab a few sandwiches for Damiano; I think he didn’t have time for breakfast again this morning. As always, — Elizabeth only quietly mumbled in agreement with me and continued to wash the frying pan.
Damiano Gennari. I started communicating with him through Ella (who would doubt that), as we often went to the café near my house, almost always when I managed to drag myself there, he worked behind the bar. The dark waves of his hair, trendy glasses, and tall stature made him a favorite of all the women who came in to drink cocktails and discuss the latest gossip from high society. Damiano was attractive. Very attractive. Too attractive... Gay. And if the lionesses didn’t pounce on him, he didn’t mind. From my first year of study, Dam had become my best friend.
At the café entrance, a familiar voice greeted us:
— Hello, beauties! Still alive? — The guy was wearing a black t-shirt and the same loose jeans.
— As you can see, — I replied, winking. — But if you don’t make us cappuccinos, an apocalypse will ensue, — I said in a completely serious tone, even frowning for a greater effect.
— Wild night, huh? Really... Delli, who’s the lucky one?
— Oh come on, don’t start that; I had no one, — I waved away his "joke".
— Ella, can’t you even order her a man for an hour? — Dam was sticking to his line. — Look at how tired the poor child is from this wretched life!
— Tired of what?! — I asked. — My life is just a dream, — I prepared to count on my fingers, — fashion, Milan, a blonde who hasn’t found me a man for an hour, a bartender who completely lacks a sense of humor, and how is it so wretched?!
— Calm down, Delli, calm down! Maybe I lack humor, but I’m good friends with logic. And you know what it tells me?
I could already feel him about to say something about my personal life.
— It tells me that if you get a boyfriend, this world will probably explode, and we’ll turn into unicorns.
Ella began nodding her head openly, trying not to laugh at the bartender’s words.
Now I was really raising my eyebrows and throwing both of them a disapproving look. — If you don’t make me a cappuccino, I swear I’ll turn you into a unicorn myself!
— Alright, I get it, I get it, — Dam raised his hands, showing that he was surrendering and turned on the coffee machine behind him — it quietly gurgled.
I finished my second cup of coffee and it seemed I was starting to feel better. Meanwhile, Ella had already struck up a rum with some guy sitting nearby. I wasn’t surprised…
Maybe they’re right about something? I miss that very person with whom I could build some sort of relationship, who could be the meaning of my life. Maybe I should try again?
As long as I can remember, I’ve always been an introvert; I don’t like new acquaintances and even simple communication is hard for me. Memories overwhelmed me, ones I thought had been long forgotten, and I dismissed the nonsense that was creeping into my head. My thoughts slowly returned to reality. I reached for my bag as I needed to write to Sara, as she had requested. Wait a minute. My hand was holding a silk fabric. A handkerchief? Where did I get a man’s handkerchief in my bag... Oh. God. Mine. What the hell did I take his handkerchief for?
