Hopes of Paris

Chapter IX: Flames

His ears were blocked with his white earphones, listening to Rydia Celtic Moon. Sall was looking through a jewellery shop for something in particular. Today was the third of May, in the year two thousand and eighteen. Carmen's eighteenth birthday. Sall was looking for something to gift her. He had gone through clothing shops but didn't find anything that would suit her taste. He also tried looking for good looking purses to no avail. His last idea was going to a jewellery shop and looking for something unique that he has never seen anyone use before. Sall's wavy hair by now was shoulder length and he left it like that without putting it up in a bun.

He looked through the glass counters for something, and finally found it. The thing that caught his eye for sure. There was an oval-shaped silver pendant that had a castle inscription on the top side of it, and a prince inscription on the back. The pendant could be opened and a couple of small portraits could be placed inside. Sall remembered Carmen's love for fantasy books and movies, so he decided this would be perfect for her. The jeweler noticed Sall's interest and walked towards him, saying he's gonna give Sall a special price for his interest in such a remarkable piece.

Last year, Sall had passed his baccalaureate exams with minimal effort but decided not to register in any University just yet. He wanted to spend his time working and making some money because he got tired of asking his parents for cash. Sall also turned eighteen this year, so his responsibilities only increased even moreso. This was the first gift he'd get for Carmen from his own money. He knew she'd be excited for it. Upon paying for it and leaving with it packed in a small gift box inside a mini bag, Sall brought his phone out and called Carmen. Her phone rang loudly on her side, and she struggled to leave from under her covers. Once she did, she reached a hand and grabbed her phone off her night table.

"... Yello?" Carmen said upon answering with a deep, not yet-awake voice.

"Carmen? Did I wake you up?" Sall giggled as he continued walking in the streets. "I thought you'd be awake by now, sorry."

"It's fine... What's up?" She wasn't yet fully conscious, she probably didn't even know who was calling her.

"What do you mean what's up? You forgot about our meeting in the café today?" Sall proceeded to giggle once more, finding her oversleeping adorable rather than annoying.

"Huh?!" Carmen jolted up from under the sheets. Her hair was a puffed up mess. "Oh my gosh!"

"It's fine, really! I'll be waiting for you there." Sall truly wasn't annoyed at all. Carmen's well being mattered more to him.

"Okay, okay I'm gonna get ready!" Carmen quickly moved the covers and blankets away from over her and got up quickly, hanging up.

Sall walked in the streets of Rue de l'Université, arriving inside a humble, old school looking café. He asked a few workers there if everything was prepared as planned and they nodded in positivity, assuring Sall. He then asked for his reserved place and they pointed to a special table in an isolated corner of the café. That worked great for Sall, because both him and Carmen loved quiet and calm places. He wanted to make this celebration as special as possible for her. The walls around that corner had a yellowish, rough stone texture. The table and the chairs were made of wood and the table only had an ash tray and a candle lit on it.

Carmen opened the door to the café a few minutes later and looked around for Sall. She was wearing a black skirt with white sandals, and a white tank top. Her hair was tied back in a bun, but she let two strands fall from the sides of the top of her forehead. Carmen was also wearing makeup, had a little blush put on, lipstick, and even a little bit of eyeliner. She found Sall in the last place she looked at, wearing his dark green shirt she had gifted to him last year with his blue jeans and white sneakers. She smiled, walked towards him and greeted him with a smile. Sall noticed her approaching, looked and smiled back as she sat down.