I nervously check the flowers and fluff the pillows, as I keep wondering why it's taking them so long. Today is the birthday of my girlfriend of 3 years with Jessica, or at least it's supposed to be. We broke up last month--my fault--but ever since then, I've been trying to win her back. I thought if I made a grand gesture, she might forgive me. So, I had this room booked, decorated beautifully, with my own hands. Her best friend Maya is supposed to bring her here, and I'll surprise her. Then we'll order some room service, spend the night having fun, watching movies, making love, and hopefully be back together. But it's been over 2 hours since our planned time, and I'm starting to get worried. It's over 2 and a half hours late when the call comes from reception, letting me know that I have guests.
Nonetheless, I still get butterflies in my stomach, as I fix my suit, hold the flower bouquet, and stand in front of the door. I go through the speech in my head that I prepared for her, as I hear the anticipated knock on the door. I fix my tie, a bit panicked, and open the door, smiling. There's Maya. I smile nervously and look behind her. But there's no one there. I peek my head out, checking left and right--empty hallway.
"I'm so sorry, Mark," I hear as I look back at Maya. She walks past me into the room, taking off her coat. "She's not coming."
"What do you mean she's not coming?" I ask, following her as the door closes behind me.
"I mean, I tried my best to convince Jess, but she won't budge. Said she wants to spend the night alone, which I understand. She doesn't want to look stupid in front of those bitchy friends of hers," she says, sitting down on the corner of the bed with an apologetic look on her face.
That shatters my heart. I fall onto the chair, dropping the flowers on the table, and shove my face into my palms.
"I'm sorry, Mark. I know you had it all planned. I'm sorry I failed."
"It's not your fault, Maya. I messed up. I understand," I reply. But there's another way. What if I call her? What if I just ask her to come, letting her know that there's no party? Sure, it'll ruin the surprise, but at least it could work out.
I grab my phone and start going through the contacts.
"Mark, what are you doing?" asks Maya.
"I'm gonna call her. I'm gonna tell her that it's me, it's us. She'll come." I say as I search for her number.
"Come on Mark, it's over. It's already too late, and the surprise was important. We'll figure something out." Maya says, walking over.
"No, it's fine. She'll come when I tell her. She'll come if she knows it's me." I know how naive that sounds, but I don't care.
She takes the phone away from me. "Mark."
"Maya, please, let me call her. I can still make it work."
"She knows. I didn't wanna tell you this, but she knows. When nothing else was working, I told her everything. She knows that there's no party, that it's a surprise from you. She doesn't wanna come."
I watch her speak, I hear the words. But it takes me a while to register. "She knows?"
"Yes mark," She says, putting my phone on the table. She drops down on her knees and looks at my face, "She knows." She says sympathetically, watching tears glistening in my eyes.
She holds my hands and rubs her thumbs against mine. "Mark, she's my best friend, but you deserve better."
I chuckle.
"Listen, I know why you two broke up. And it's stupid."
I look at her.
"I can't believe how she made you go through all that. You are a good guy Mark. How she reacted... It's just crazy. I love her, I love her as my friend, but she is a shitty girlfriend." Maya says, as she wipes my tears away.
"I know. I'm pathetic. But I love her. I'm madly in love with her, Maya."
She cups my cheek, "you poor thing. I know. I've seen you Mark, I've known you from before you two met, right? I know what kind of a guy you are. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
I chuckle. "Thanks Maya. I know you are just saying it to make me feel better, but it did actually make me feel better. Thanks."
"No Mark. I meant it. I know how smart you are, how sweet you are. I've noticed you since our first class Mark. You are cute. You are smart. I watched you solve all the problems, I watched you help others. I watched you smile."
I look at her as she says these, and she looks at mine, our eyes locked. And she realizes what she said.
"Right," she says, as she stands up.
There's a very awkward vibe in the room right now. I look around, trying to find something to say.
"Thanks Maya. I guess doing all these was a waste eh?" I say pointing at the decorations, the rose petals on the bed, on the floor. "Guess it's of no use."
"Not necessarily," says Maya, as I look at her. She's still turned around. All I can see is her bare back, in that gorgeous blue open back dress. I can see deep into her lower back. She looks amazing. But I don't know what's going on her face. Don't know what she's thinking. "We can still use it."
"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.
She turns around, and I don't know that look on her face. I have known her for 5 years now, I have never seen her look at me like that. What is that look?
She walks over to me. "Think... think of it as me making it up to you for failing tonight." she says, dropping down on her knees.
"What... is happening..."
She unbuckled my belt, and pulled down my pants.
"Maya... I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't think we should. Jess is still your best friend... and Jason, your boyfriend..."
"Shh, stop talking," she says, touching my bulge over my underwear. Even with everything that happened, I can't believe how hard I am right now. And along comes the guilt.
