“Why are you pulling over?” Caleb asked.
“I need a drink”, Adam droved into the almost empty parking lot of the little pub by the road. Adam greeted the bar lady and the cute waitress that was cleaning a table, and chose a table right next to the corner. The old jazz pianist was playing the piano. Caleb ordered a tanker of beer for Adam, another cup of Coke Malibu for himself. I’ll need the extra kick, he thought.
Before Caleb sat himself down, Adam had already downed nearly half of his beer, then said,“Still can’t right believe it, Jean and Desmond getting married huh?”
Caleb appeared to have not heard Adam, took a little sip of his drink, and returned it onto the table. Adam was already taking the last gulp of his beer.
“I’m just glad for them.”
“Really?”
Stunned, Caleb looked up and saw Adam starring right into him. His cheeks were already red, face like a ripe tomato. Just like usual, casual and playful on the outside, yet a sharp and bright mind on the inside. Drinks a lot, but never drunk.
“I’m happy that she’s happy”
“You look far from happy to me”
“You’re drank too much”
“But never drunk”
Caleb knew Adam’s excuse to get a drink is for Caleb to loosen up and relax. He knew this was coming when Adam pulled over. Adam was sensitive enough to know that the night had been a long and tough for him.
“There’s nothing to be done; she’s happy. I’d have done something if she’s not”
“Ah…correction: You should have done something back then. When she was depressed and alone”, Adam ordered another tanker from the cute waitress.
“What do you want from me? I was going away. Away for a very long time. Too long, too far. It’ll never work.” Agitated, Caleb finished his drink in one take, and slammed his cup on the surface table. It was loud, but the jazz pianist playing on the side covered the noise. The bar lady and the waitress didn’t seem to hear the noise.
“That’s more like it. If you feel that much for her, why not give it one last try? I still stick by what I said. You never know till you tried.”
Then there was a long pause between them. Adam, probably coming to his senses, drank his second serving slowly, sip by sip. He would still have to drive them both home safely. Caleb, on the other hand, was starring through the mirror into the dark. Their silence was interceded by the graceful and optimistic jazz music.
Old in body, young in heart huh?
“Give it another try, would you?” Finishing his drink, Adam went up to the bar lady and paid their tabs. He tipped the cute waitress handsomely, before walking himself out to the car.
A smile cracked on Caleb’s face. Once again he took up his cup to finish his drink, only to realise that he had already finished it in his fury earlier. Now he set his cup gently on the table, bided the bar lady, cute waitress and the old jazz pianist goodnight.
At the door he felt the cold breeze against his burning cheeks, drenched a little by his tears. He knew, he passed his chance a long time ago.
Some things, once passed, is gone forever.