Before The Solitude

I remembered it clearly. That night, rain fell down from the sky.

I was sitting on the sofa at the corner, watching the street in front of the cafe. Not many cars went on this road so far; I only counted 7 for the late 7 minutes.

The door was opened. It made a shrieking sound. I turn around to see who were coming in.

Some men in their black coat went in. Oh, its Johnny, Thom, Colin, Ed, and Phil. Their coats were wet. Actually, they were wet. The beret-shaped-like-hat couldnt protect Thoms half-bald head from soaking. Phil wear khakis parachute jacket which was also as wet as his jeans. Ed is the worst; water was dripping from all over his clothes.

They came inside and put their coat on the hanger besides the door.

I called them. But they didnt seem to notice me sitting at the corner. The rain must be made my sound heard vaguely. It created a raucous sound that made you could hear the song played on the jukebox indistinctly.

They took a sit at the couch near the entrance. The seats werent full, though.

Later they called the waitress and ordered some croissants and coffee, I guess. Its Thoms favorite.

Oh well, it seems that you’re all alone now, thats what came up to my mind.

This rain brought me back old memories. It gave me sort of lonely feeling. Or is it maybe just because I was sitting alone on that leather couch?

I stared at a girl who is sitting in front of me; she loves watching the rain very much. Every time the rain falls out from nowhere, she comes here and sitting in front of me, at the second table from the corner. Then she just sitting there and watching the rain, its like she can tell the difference between every single drops of the rain. After the rain has gone, she goes outside and smells the scent of the ground after the rain. And every time she has done that odd thing, she lifts her head up and smiles to the sky, before actually leaves the café completely.

Once, I asked her,

Do you like it?

She took a glance at me, but then continued to look outside again,

The rain? …I love it.

I looked at her. She had some odd and mysterious kind of look; it just gave me the chill.

How about you? she asked.

…what? …me? I replied.

Yes, you. Do you like it?

I turn my head around so that I could see the raindrops on the window besides me.

It took me a moment until I answered again,

No, I dont have personal feelings against it. Neither I love it nor do I hate it.

Well, she continued, you should love it. Imagine if someone you loved send this rain to you as a prove that she still love you.

Is it your reason?

…no, I have my own reason.

After that, she didnt talk again. It was hard to tell the expression of his face. She was a bit gloomy, but I think she was contented after all.

The rain stopped a few minutes later.

She took some cash from his purse and went outside without saying anything.

She smelled the scent of the ground beneath her feet, and then gave a smile to the sky like all of the after-rain-ritual she always does.

Excuse me, Sir, were closing.

The waitress had come to my table. I look at the clock hanging on the wall, it’s 2 in the morning. I hadnt noticed that I was the only one left there. Johnny has gone. Colin, Ed, Thom, and Phil had left the café too. Half of the lights were already off.

I looked outside. The girl was already gone.

I took some cash from my wallet and put it besides the mug.

Then I walk outside, in a cold autumn breeze. It just gave me the chill.

So I went back home, to you, where I belong..