Serendipitous

Yellow

Drabble Challenge
AMACon4 Day 5
PROMPT: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Rj
  Babe, I'm really sorry but I won't be able to attend the dinner with your family tonight. There's a work emergency and as the chief architect, I've been asked to assist in fixing the problem. I promise to make it up to you soon. I love you!

Dei sighed as she leaned back on the kitchen counter and read the message from Rj for the nth time that evening. "Bakit ko ba binabasa pa nang binabasa? As if the message would change if I read it one more time. You're pathetic, Dei. Stop it already!"

She scoffed as she continued, pacing the room in her agitation. "Haven't you gotten used to this already? This is the sixth time in the past 3 months that Rj had to cancel on you due to 'work issues,' so what else is new?"

She strode out of the kitchen and stared at the dining area of her very own restaurant, a product of her blood, sweat and tears as she tried to build a name for herself as a restaurateur. Finally, "Dei's" has become a household name and tonight they were supposed to celebrate the fact that a second branch will soon be opened in one of the malls in Ortigas.

Now that her family and guests have gone, the usually busy floor is so quiet, one could hear the tinkling of the crystals from the chandelier as the cool air from the air conditioning unit blew over it. Empty chairs unmoved from equally empty tables where the tablecloth lay pristine and untouched.

"Empty, just like how I feel," she muttered. How did they get to this? Where have they gone wrong?

Suddenly, the instrumental to the song "Yellow" by Coldplay crackled over the restaurant's speakers.

"Who's there?" she asked. "Coleen, this isn't funny. Just leave me alone, please?"

One by one, her nieces and nephews stepped into the restaurant, each one holding a yellow rose that they gave to Dei before moving behind her. As the last rose was given, a light turned on the floor of the dining hall and illuminated the ceiling, making it look like stars.

Rj and Dei's family started to trickle in, smiling at Dei in reassurance before joining the kids. Her heart pounding like crazy, she turned to the door as a smooth baritone accompanied the instrumental music playing in the restaurant.

Rj slowly walked towards Dei, looking into her eyes as he sang her favorite song.

Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah, they were all yellow.

I came along,
I wrote a song for you,
And all the things you do,
And it was called "Yellow".

So then I took my turn,
Oh what a thing to have done,
And it was all yellow.

Your skin,
Oh yeah your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful,
Do you know,
You know I love you so,
You know I love you so.

Dei's tears were flowing freely at this time. She sobbed even more when Rj, upon reaching her, knelt and took her hands.

"Babe, I'm sorry for missing out on our dates lately. I know you think I've been neglecting you but I've been planning this for the past 3 months and I wanted it to be perfect. I want you to know that you are the only one who makes my heart happy. From the first time we met, kahit na puno sya ng maling akala, I knew you were the one for me. I waited for you to be ready; for your dreams to be fulfilled before I made this move. I now want us to fulfill our dreams together - the dream of having our own family. Dei Mendoza, will you make an honest man out of me? Please, will you marry me?"

"Oh my God, Rj! Yes! Yes! A hundred times yes!"

And the empty tables and chairs became a witness to the proposal of a love that is bound to last a lifetime.