It was the 21st day of December and the entire atmosphere smelt like Christmas already. The decorations in the restaurant were a sight to behold, in every corner, big or small, and even on the ceiling; the entire five star restaurant was covered in lights and tinsel. There were balloons and candles on the tables as well.
Five hundred thousand lights strung along the ceiling, walls and Christmas trees, with teeny scenes like Santa in his sleigh placed on the different counters. The place was half filled with people but yet it was quiet; that is if you take aside the soothing Christmas music playing in the background, speaking about the birth of Christ, which was what the celebration was all about after all.
Charlotte sat down patiently at one of the tables, it seemed like she was the only person sitting alone in the restaurant but it didn’t bother her, she knew he would be here. He had no reason to bail on her on their first date in the past one month, especially not four days before Christmas. She had a special feeling in her guts about this Christmas, she believed it will be the best she has had but she couldn’t exactly say why.
Agreed, their relationship hasn’t been what it used to be in the past two months, but since he asked her to meet him here today, things were probably going to get better henceforth. Charlotte was curious, he asked her out four days before Christmas, was he planning to propose to her?
Well, she had been expecting the question for the past six months now, but the day was taking too long to come. Maybe this was finally the day she had been waiting for, maybe he would pop the big question tonight. She was willing to say yes without any form of hesitation or delay, she was madly in love with him, and the desire to bear his last name and be the mother of his child hadn’t died since the first day she became his girlfriend.
She had been dating him for two long years now and even though there were small fights between them lately, mostly because he wasn’t giving her attention and was always coming up with excuses, she still had hope for them.
Charlotte placed her elbows on the table and caressed the small decorated flower in the middle of the table, the restaurant was special to her because it was where they met the first time, so she expected that this was an auspicious place to put a ring on her finger, why else would he suddenly call her here?
The twenty-three year old lady was wearing a red strapless gown that revealed her beautiful collarbones, her smooth pale looking skin and those lovely feminine shoulders. She had even taken time to arrange her frontals, she had natural long eyelashes and beautiful cat eyes that would get any man to stare twice.
With large lips that could make any gender crave kisses and a stuck out nose, her chubby cheeks complimented her jawbone. She had a bit of forehead there but it wasn’t that bad, with bunny teeth that was easily cognizable, especially when she smiles; that beautiful and breathtaking smile of hers. Olivia would always say that she had a contagious smile, so if Charlotte was happy, everyone around her would share the same feeling.
Charlotte caught the scent of that masculine cologne and she didn’t need a seer to tell her that he was here, she wouldn’t mistake his scent for anyone, it was unique and special. She could tell he was around and her eyes began to search curiously for him.
And then she caught a glimpse of him with a turn of face, she turned back in that direction immediately and saw him approaching her from the left door of the restaurant. Whoever told the engineer that it was okay for the building to have three exits on different sides?
A smile crawled up her face the moment she saw him walking up to her; of course he knew which table to find her, it was their favorite spot and she called for a reservation the moment she got his message the previous day.
Charlotte considered herself an eight over ten, but with Josh by her side, she was a ten. He was a handsome Irish young man, who looked good in a hat, but he wasn’t in a hat today, rather he had come in a gray colored Italian suit; that didn’t make him look any less good, he was totally rocking that outfit.
Charlotte could tell that there was something different about him, something had changed about him. Was it the vigor and energy he used to have for events like this? Something was off about him today.
“Hey,” Josh said almost in a whisper as he approached her, and then he took a seat on the other side of the table.
That was weird, yes he was an Irish gentleman and he was usually calm but a simple hey was a bit too boring, especially from him. He didn’t even call her babe or smile like he would usually do.
“Hi, I thought we agreed on seven?” Charlotte teased over his lateness, ignoring his behavior. She had her eyes fixed on his breast pocket to see if she could catch a glimpse of a ring box or something, she had to be right about this.
“Sorry about that, I got caught up with something.” He replied coldly. “There is nothing on your table,” he added as he noticed she hadn’t made any orders.
She furrowed her eyebrows and scoffed. “You know very well that I don’t place orders till I see you, if I wanted to drink by myself, I would stay at home and do it,” she grumbled.
Why was he acting like a complete stranger today? What was wrong with him? He had changed more than she imagined or he was just pretending to be.
“Yeah, I forgot. Well, I don’t think you would have to wait for me anymore,” he said as he slowly locked his suit cuffs that were coming off.
“I know, you are here now, so I will make an order,” she replied solemnly and then she smiled.
“No Charlotte, that isn’t what I was implying. I mean that you wouldn’t have to wait for me anymore, because this is going to be our last date,” he announced.
Charlotte, who was about to call out to the waiter, paused and turned back to him with a puzzled face, she looked like she had not caught what he said. She dropped the menu and pushed her seat closer to hear him properly.
“Sorry, what?” she asked in confusion. Charlotte was really hoping that it wasn’t what she was thinking, it better not be!!
“Yes, actually… that is why I called you here. I am sorry to break this to you, I thought it would be more polite if I did it in person and at the same spot we started, we can't continue this relationship, Charlotte… it is over,” he announced to her.
“What?” Charlotte uttered in a whisper, she could barely even hear herself. Her eyes dilated and it felt like the blood in her veins had stopped flowing, maybe her heart stopped beating as well. Today wasn’t the first of April, was it? Like, this has to be a joke right?
“Hahaha, very funny.” Charlotte laughed nervously, while silently praying for this to be a joke.
Josh sighed and looked down, and then he sat upright and took her hands on the table. “I am sorry Charlotte, but this is no joke. I have given it a lot of thought and this thing between us just can’t work, we both have to call it quits.”
“What? No, no Josh!! I disagree with you!!” she half-yelled. At this moment, she didn’t care who was looking and how the people around were reacting, it was here and now that mattered.
“It is not up for discussion, my mind is made up, Charlotte, now please accept my decision and don’t make a scene out here.” Josh said with pleading eyes.
“If this is a joke, stop it Josh!! This isn’t funny at all. Look, I know we have had our disagreements lately, but it doesn’t call for a break-up, we could work this out, please just hear me out… you can't end our relationship just like that, you know how much I love you, Josh… please don’t do this to us!!” Charlotte begged with tearful eyes. She was trying to hold back the flood behind those lovely eyes and she doubted she could keep them back for long.
“Forgive me Charlotte, you have been one of the best things to happen to me in the past year and last few months, but I have come to terms with the fact that we aren’t meant for each other, we aren’t compatible. So I have no other choice than to say goodbye Charlotte, you have to accept my decision.” He said calmly and then he let go of her hands.
“No, no!! no! Don’t you dare do this to me, Josh!! You… You can’t do this to me, I love you Josh, I would change, I would do whatever you want me to, I would stop whatever you ask me to. Okay fine, I won't bother you for your attention, I will let you work and accept whatever time you have for me without nagging or complaining, please just don’t end what we have, I beg you Josh,” she pleaded amidst stuttering.
At this point, the tears wouldn’t be held back anymore, they were rushing down her face like a damaged tap, ruining her make-up in the process, but she cared less about any of that. Saving her relationship was all that mattered to her right now
Josh stood up and straightened his suit, he was ready to leave. Charlotte stood up as well and rushed to his side of the table, almost tripping down from her heels. She hated those things but she had worn it to please Josh, he always wished she was taller.
Charlotte grabbed his arm immediately and went down on her knees, “Please Josh, I beg you not to do this, please,” she cried, not minding that other people were staring at them right now.
Josh muttered a curse and dragged her up. “Stop embarrassing us, Charlotte. You aren’t a kid anymore, just accept my decision and move on with your life.” He said with little to no remorse in his voice, and then he let go of her.
He turned to leave and she grabbed his suit from behind immediately, but he pulled her hand off him angrily and then headed out of the restaurant while she cried and begged him. So this was it, not the special evening she was hoping for after all. From the looks of it, this would be the worst Christmas of her life.
She didn’t receive a ring here today, not even dinner with the one she loved, she received the most devastating breakup of her life. It was all over, the walls of her relationship had crumbled, and with it, her heart had shattered as well. she couldn’t believe that the very spot where her happiness had begun, was the same spot where her sorrow kicked off. She had invested her feelings and emotions for two long years, but now it had all come to an end.
