Storm in a Cup of Coffee

by Keren Or

  “I’m talking about the love triangle...”

  “I still don’t understand you...,” murmured Eli, straightening up.

  “Donna... pursuing Sebastián, who obviously... is pursuing you...”

  “Really?” asked Eli, feeling worse. “I had no idea she was still after him... Since a year has passed...”

  “Well, clearly... she didn’t get over it.”

  Eli really did not know Donna. She knew nothing about that woman, excluding the fact that she had managed to achieve what Eli did not... However, it did not make her happy to know that she could be suffering.

  Sebastián, mysteriously absent for the previous fifteen minutes, appeared, interrupting the conversation.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, noticing her paleness.

  “I need air,” replied Eli, about to vomit.

  “Come... let’s go outside for a few minutes. The fresh air will make you feel better. It helped me.”

  Eli did not recognize the kind, compassionate person who was showing so much concern for her, but she was of age and therefore decided to follow him.

  Thousands of thoughts raced through her head. The majority... should have stayed right there. However, under the effect of the alcohol, holding them was too much to ask.

  “Really, a metamorphosis,” said Eli, immediately embarrassed by her own words.

  “What do you mean?” asked Sebastián, managing his state of drunkenness undoubtedly better than Eli.

  “Nothing...,” she desisted in time. “But I think Donna is looking for you...,” she added, releasing herself from his unexpected embrace as she noticed that Donna was about to get an unpleasant surprise.

  “Let’s go inside,” suggested Sebastián.

  And Donna... remained looking on...

  There were few people left: the closest family of the bride and groom and a few drunk friends, among them Eli and Sebastián, who danced embracing each other... to the rhythm of a set of slow songs. Well, more than embracing... leaning on each other so as not to fall.

  On the way back, Sebastián’s friend, who was careful not to get drunk to the point of passing out, drove.

  Passed out... Sebastián was lying unconscious on the back seat... having surrendered to his “vice” and counting sheep. Eli, still surviving, kept the responsible driver company, finding topics of conversation so neither of the two would not fall asleep....

  When she got out of the car, Eli said goodbye to the driver, but not to Sebastián, who, in his state of drunkenness… wouldn’t remember a thing anyway.

  Definitely for Eli... it was the best night that she had lived up to that moment in her entire existence. She felt larger than life, standing on top of the world and having everything she needed... at her feet.

  Or at least, nearly everything...

  The wedding had ended, but even with the band gone, the tables cleared and the bride and groom on their way to their honeymoon, the effects of that night... would bring a part two...

  Part two:

  “Why didn’t anyone prepare me for such a headache?” wondered Eli on waking up, feeling a hammer banging inside, persistently piercing a hole. Unable to move, she stayed in bed, intending to extend the start of the day... for just a few more hours.

  However... the invitation from Sofi—who came, by surprise, to have lunch—to walk around in the mall to see if she could find new maternity clothes, weighed much more in her emotional balance: Eli, enthusiastic about her future job of aunt, happily dragged herself out of bed.

  After going through the mall from one end to the other, Eli thought she heard her name called by a familiar voice behind her. She turned to make sure she was not dreaming and stood... face to face... with Sebastián himself.

  “What a surprise to see you here,” he said, smiling and leaving his narcissistic image behind.

  “Hello...,” replied Eli, saving her words, but not her smile.

  “What are you doing? Didn’t you say you had piles of backlog work?” Sebastián asked, showing that he had paid attention to her every comment the night before.

  “Yes, I should be working... but, thanks to an individual who kept me drunk all night, I’m still trying to recover...,” replied Eli sarcastically. “And you? I didn’t know you were working here...”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” insinuated Sebastián, flirting. “How about we go out to have a drink tonight?”

  “Today I can’t, but tomorrow, yes,” lied Eli to appear busy, “but not to drink... not again... one more drop and I’ll get hepatitis.”

  “And what do you understand about hepatitis? I didn’t know you also specialized in medicine,” he added laughing.

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Eli threw back at him. “No, actually... I don’t know anything. I studied it in some course, but anyway... I don’t want any more alcohol!” she added, pushing him lovingly.

  “Then, so it will be.”

  “Finally, I found what I was looking for...,” said Sofi, coming out of the store next to them. “Hi, I’m Eli’s older sister,” she added, seeing the good-looking man who was with her sister.

  “Nice to meet you. Sebastián,” he offered with a handshake. “Excuse me, I have to get back to my job. Continue to enjoy the day. A pleasure.” He looked at Sofi and then at Eli before walking away.

  Unlike her first encounter with him, Sebastián was pleasant and charming to Eli. The unfriendly, vain mask had been replaced by a new one, sweet and friendly. But still... Sebastián was a difficult man to digest. He was handsome, with a very good physique, tall, blond and resembling a famous actor. At times he seemed to be serious and hard, while at other times... he suddenly appeared to be timid and bashful. Eli still did not know how to process this change in him, but the trophy... was closer than ever, almost within arm’s reach...

  After finishing their dinner the next day and getting to know each other a little more, Eli suggested to Sebastián that they take a walk along the marina.

  Walking slowly, they passed by the various stalls located on the way, examining from time to time what was on display. After watching the cartoonist and savoring a few mouthfuls from the handmade chocolate stand, they stopped to contemplate the stars and the sea.

  Leaning on a retaining wall, Eli kept looking at Sebastián wondering... what he was waiting for to kiss her passionately... Just when, according to her, he should demonstrate his masculinity, or at least confidence... he became a shy and fearful individual.

  “Would you share some of your thoughts with me?” asked Sebastián, noticing Eli’s blank look.

  “I don’t think you can handle them,” she replied, arousing his interest some more.

  “Try me,” he ventured.

  “I was thinking... What are you waiting for to kiss me?”

  “If you want me to kiss you... Why don’t you kiss me?”

  “Just because... It should be your initiative...”

  “Oh yes? And who says so?”

  “I do...”

  Sebastián smiled and then leaned over, giving her a rather boring, short, simple kiss inappropriate for a man his age.

  “Is that the best you can do...?” asked Eli without scruples. Undoubtedly, thanks to her good teachers, Eli had graduated with honors from the school of seduction.

  “Didn’t it seem enough to you ?” replied Sebastián, baffled but amused.

  “No! I think you can do better than that...”

  Sebastián did not get upset. He was used to being always and only attracted to strong women who know what they want, ask for it and get it. And for that reason... he was attracted by this new, daring Eli.

  Sebastián did not give up and tried again, only this time... he put in effort... And it worked for him.

  The second kiss was long, passionate and everything Eli was hop
ing for.

  Douze Points, thought Eli, recalling the highest score awarded to a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest.

  And while they were walking towards the parking lot...

  “Are you tired?” she asked.

  “No... why? Do you have an idea?”

  “Nothing that comes to my mind at this moment...”

  In reality, many options were going through her mind at that moment, but Eli preferred to wait for Sebastián to take the initiative this time. And surprisingly... he took it...

  “The mall is closed at this time of night... what are you doing?” asked Eli, as he stopped at the back doors.

  “You’ll soon find out. See that guard coming toward us? He knows me...”

  In less than a minute, at one o’clock in the morning, the two “delinquents” were walking along the mall’s empty, dark hallways. Holding her hand, Sebastián took her to the restaurant where he worked. Eli followed him trustingly... like a resigned sheep guided by its shepherd.

  Being the shift supervisor, Sebastián had the key to the premises, and while Eli was closing the door, he managed to disarm the alarm.

  With adrenaline flowing through her veins... Eli began to like how the night was turning out. Evidently, mystery and danger to her were well-known and comfortable territory to be in, and, which, placidly anxious... she was hoping to enter.

  Following him in the dark, they reached the kitchen. Sebastián pulled her to him and began to kiss her, improving his technique with every attempt. Suddenly... he lifted her in the air, laying her down on the counter in the middle of the room. Eli felt the passion and desire as she did at one time for Alex... and Tomás... and Sebastián was showing that he felt the same.

  After half an hour of kissing and petting on the counter, the sink and even on the floor, Eli and Sebastián left the way they had come in. And the next day... he called her again.

  They got together every day of that week and the next day too, and it seemed that it still was not enough for either of them.

  Ema and Julián were happy to see them in love, and Eli was happy to see that life at last was beginning to smile on her again. However, she could not understand why Sebastián took so long to make every little move...

  Despite having the appearance of a Don Juan, Sebastián gave the impression of having no experience at all with women, even though Eli was not the first and at his age it would be strange... for him not to have had anyone before.

  Little by little, Eli began to doubt the feelings Sebastián might have for her, his sexual orientation, his good handling of the use of reason and other things too. She was not accustomed to having a man take the time to know her first.

  On the other hand, she did have experience with men who were only looking for pleasure and as quickly as possible.

  If that was not enough, Ema agreed with Eli completely, and added information on what she knew about him and his personal life. Together, they were trying to figure him out and clarify the mystery. For example, the information… that with Donna he had been the same, which led Eli to the conclusion that the problem was not her... or, at least, that it was not a matter of attraction. But that was not all... Actually, Sebastián was not someone with many friends; apart from Julián, he had a couple more friends, but neither so good nor so close.

  “Perhaps the fact that he grew up as an only child affected his ability to relate to others,” hypothesized Ema, analyzing his strange behavior.

  But still... Eli felt something very strong for him, and believed she... could make the difference.

  Come to think of it, Sebastián gave no real reason for Eli to distrust him or his intentions, but nonetheless... she distrusted him. She predicted that at any moment everything could end. She kept telling herself that Sebastián did not feel the same as she did and that the desire to consummate the relationship was unilateral.

  For those persons who seek stability and security in all areas of life, uncertainty is poison. Unfortunately, Eli was just one of those persons. She could not bear the feeling of not being in control and not knowing what would happen the next day. In those circumstances... it was impossible not to fall back on memories of the secure love she had experienced with Tomás, whom Eli... was still missing. A month after she had been going out with Sebastián, they had not yet made love and Eli was curiously desperate.

  “Can I tell you something? I… I don’t know what to think,” said Eli in a moment of sincerity or simply madness. “Forgive me for saying it to you over the phone, but I can’t hold it in any longer.”

  “What are you talking about, Eli? What’s bothering you?” asked Sebastián, not understanding anything.

  “That I still don’t know what you really feel for me. That I can’t understand how it can be... that you still do not want to feel me and make me yours. At times like these... I miss Tomás, and you make it all that harder for me...,” replied Eli, not holding back or breathing, and then... she burst into tears.

  Thoughtlessly, Sebastián did not even have the decency to respond... in any way. Instead, he apologized for having to cut short the call and simply hung up.

  Eli could not believe it. What did I do, my God? she asked herself. Why can’t I ever keep my mouth shut? I probably ruined everything.

  Being alone at home, Eli allowed herself to cry and scream with rage and anguish, punishing herself. To make matters worse... her parents were travelling and would be back in three days, which increased and fueled her sense of sadness and loneliness.

  Locked up in her room, lying on her bed crying, Eli suddenly thought she heard the doorbell. After looking out to see who it might be at that hour of the night, she opened the door, shocked to find Sebastián... agitated and totally soaked.

  “What are you doing here? It’s raining cats and dogs!”

  “I came running as fast as I could...”

  “But why? Why is it so difficult to express what you feel for me?”

  “Because I’ve never felt like this before...”

  Pushing her slowly while he kissed her, Sebastián held her tightly, squeezing her delicate skin. Then he undressed her gradually, until they reached the edge of her bed. Eli did not waste time, by undressing him too.

  And the rest... you can imagine...

  Eli felt those frequent magical heartbeats again, and once more... she trembled... wrapped in the arms, the caresses and the burning body of the man she believed... and felt... she could love.

  And at long last, Sebastián... made her his...

  Shortly afterwards, due to a work project, Eli was sent overseas to set up an international event that would last a whole week. She was promoted, to her surprise, to head of the events department. Eli accepted the challenge and the responsibility that the new position involved without thinking about it twice.

  She was more than grateful for the confidence her superiors had in her, and the compliments she received were like a steady flow of assurance.

  Undoubtedly... Eli was excited about her trip, but yet, at the same time... she found it hard to be separated from Sebastián.

  Fortunately, her budding love was good at sending postcards by e-mail, so every day she received affectionate and loving messages:

  I miss you so much, come back soon..., he wrote in one. And in another: I hope you’re thinking of me at this precise moment... because you can be sure that I can’t stop thinking about you... And Eli rejoiced like never before on receiving the one in which he put: Sweetness of mine, although you already know it... I’ll remind you once more and as many times as you need... that I am sick with love for you. I love you to infinity and even a little more... and despite not being physically beside you, I’m always with you.

  Good luck and success in the final gala. I’m sure you’ll do it! Because you’re my beautiful genius... With all my love, Sebastián.

  From Narcissus...
to Don Juan...

  Despite having been the one who pushed and pulled the cart at the beginning of the relationship, the roles were quickly reversed. Now it was Sebastián who was seeking her company, anxious and expectant, while Eli—who was also feeling love for him—was simultaneously feeling remorse. For the first time, she felt that the door that still remained open would finally be closed—the memory of Tomás... that was still torturing her mind. In her logic she had it clear that she was doing the right thing. That what she was experiencing with Sebastián was what she had so long hoped for. That that... was her way out...

  However, in her subjective world, Eli felt that she was cheating on Tomás; that for the first time she was replacing him with another.

  The absurd part was... that it would be the simple reality.

  And Eli... was still not sure if she would have the courage... to take that way out.

  For months, after making love and making sure Sebastián had fallen asleep, Eli would turn around staring at the wall and cry silently. Inside... she asked Tomás for forgiveness. To forgive her for having had to let him go and leave him forever.

  Sebastián never found out what was going on in his bed... just a few centimeters away from him.

  After they had been going out for four months, when Eli was completely and madly in love with him, and Sebastián was living for her, a situation came to change the course of the relationship: asphyxiated by his own family, Sebastián could no longer bear to be under the roof and the domination of his tyrannical and apprehensive parents. Since he was an only child, they controlled every step he took; they manipulated him at will, putting on his shoulders their frustrated dreams and their radical ideas, demanding much more than he could bear... As a result, Sebastián proposed to Eli that she come to live with him. And for the second time in her life... Eli took her belongings and moved in with the man she loved with the intention to consolidate the relationship... in some near future.

  If at first Sebastián’s parents loved her, valued her and approved of the relationship to the point of constantly pressuring him to marry her—though only because she came from a good family and had a good income—little by little... that was changing.