S is for Story about You and Me

Rebound

Coward, a person contemptibly lacking in courage. At a certain point in our lives we have to admit that some of us lose the courage to face a complicated situation; we run out of ways to do what we have to do and the end solution is to lamely run off.

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"Excuse me? Do you know where can I find Charlie?" I ask the man standing on the front door of the café that is still close. Without any word the man point his index finger at the back door of the café. I walk and roam my eyes on the small room full of cobwebs and dust.

"Uhm", I clear my throat before I ask. "Do you know where can I find Charlie?"

"I'm Charlie", a girl answered without looking at me.

"Excuse me?... Miss if you don't know where can I find him I'll take my leave now", I uttered irritated.

"Ok", what a quick and uninterested response which makes me feel more irritated.

I decided to just go back to the café some other time. I have so many things to do and way too many things to think about. After a few days I go back to "Aime Café" to have a drink all by myself. Though it is not my ideal place to unwind it's hard to explain but I felt that this place and I have a connection. Well, it may sound odd coming for a guy but I do felt that way.

"If you think that no one understands what you feel; no one sees the pain that you are hiding, and all you want to do is drown yourself with a glass of beer this song is for you", the girl on the stage says then she sings a song that is not familiar to me probably it's an original composition. I must admit it's not bad at all like the beer I'm drinking at the moment.

After three songs or so she says, "do stand by for Sage, I'm Charlie, hope to see ya'll soon. Good night".

"Did I hear her right? She’s Charlie?” I almost forgot about Charlie. So Charlie is really a she and not a he? I'm kind of confused as I scratch my forehead.

"Excuse me, how many people who works here named Charlie?” I asked the bartender with slight curiosity.

"She's the only Charlie in this café sir", the bartender answered politely.

I'm about to ask another question about Charlie but to my surprise she walks to our direction.

With enthusiasm she says, "Hey Loacker! A glass of water please", then she winks at him.

"Here it is Charlie".

"Thanks".

"Charlie?” I blurted out absent mindedly.

"Yes?” she answered as she looks me intently. "Oh, I think I know who you are".

"Really? You remember me?” I asked with an obvious excitement to my voice.

"No I was just kidding mister…?"

"Matthew Weiss", as I offer my hand to shake her hand.

"Oh, I'm Charleese Brown but you can call me Charlie", she says with a bubbly tone.

"Wait, you don’t really remember me? Oh, what about this?” I put out the note she left me a few days ago written on a tissue paper.

If you plan to drown yourself with a barrel of alcoholic drink be sure not to dive with your own puke afterwards or better yet don't drink at all.

-Charlie

P.S. Your car key is on the left pocket of your coat.

She read the note with a smirk before she says, "Oh I remember you now. By the way how did you find me here? Wait up, you’re looking for me? Why? Did something happen to you? I mean I know the place looks dangerous but the people there are nice so if you get mugged or something I'm really sorry. That's the first place I thought of the moment I saw you rolling on your own vomit”.

"Don't apologize ok?", then I smile before I continue to speak. "To answer your questions well, I remember that this place was the last place I went for a drink that night. And yes I'm looking for you oh, by the way I'm sorry for not believing that you're Charlie the first time I asked you. Do you still remember that day?"

"Yah”, with a beaming smile she uttered, "Apology accepted".

"Anyhow, I'm looking for you not because I get mugged on that place but to thank you actually for helping me that night. I thought Charlie is a guy and not a girl so the day when I dropped by I tough you were just messing with me", I laugh after I finished telling her about it.

We didn't notice what time it was. We're both having a great time laugh with the things we are talking about. So when I looked at my watch it's almost 6:00am and we're the only people on the café. I asked her if she'd like to have breakfast with me. After that day I always go to Aime Café not to drink too much but to watch Charlie perform and spend my night and mid morning talking to her. I'm oblivious of the pain I'm into whenever I’m with her. She's like a breath of clean air. Her perky personality excites me. We started to go on  our constant dates and as of this day it's the second month that we are dating. I can't say that I'm now into her or I'm in love with her. Although, whenever I spend time with her I have this feeling of not wanting to leave. I felt like she's my safe haven. I know I'm being unfair to her because I know in my heart I'm still in love with the girl whom I considered as my first and only love. I didn't mean to make Charlie a rebound girl but what can I do? I can't forget Maya. I can't forget out memories .I don't want to throw our 6 years of memories out of the window. I don't want to hurt Charlie by thinking like this but this is the only way I think of; I am now walking away like a coward-ass. I hope Charlie would understand why I’m doing this. Maybe, just maybe we will have our right time. I will come back as soon as I'm ready to love her without thinking of anyone else but her. For now I don't want Charlie to be just my "rebound girl".