Beau Soir

Cat heaved a long sigh as she closed the apartment door behind her.  After getting stuck for two hours in the terrible traffic, she was home at last. She had somehow miraculously get her tons and tons of work done before the clock strikes seven – which was a record for her considering her evil witch of a boss Samantha usually works her up until nine.

It had been one of the longest days in her life, and she needed a good dose of chamomile tea – stat!

Slowly, Cat removed her tan trench coat and gently hung it on the hanger right beside the door. The coat was a little wet, thanks to a light drizzle that welcomed her home when she stepped out of the car just a few minutes earlier.  A gentle purring voice greeted Cat as soon as she entered her living room. Ludwig, her lovable cat, was rubbing his head on Cat’s legs and begging for Cat’s attention.

“Sorry I’m late. Got you some treats though, Lou.” Cat smiled and lifted up a plastic bag from the grocery store, filled with tuna-flavored cat food that was her Ludwig’s favorite. Ludwig meowed in delight at the sight of the canned goods.

Cat walked to the kitchen and grabbed the can opener from her kitchen cabinet. She opened the can and poured its contents to Ludwig’s bowl. It didn’t take a second until Ludwig showed up and wolfed down the food happily.

“Slow down, boy.” Cat chuckled as she poured some hot water into a mug and placed a chamomile tea bag inside.

The sweet scent of chamomile slowly filled up her small kitchen. Cat closed her eyes and felt every joint in her body screaming in agony. She had been experiencing the same pain for two years now, and life shows no sign of slowing down. If she wanted to get a promotion before she hits 25 by the end of this year, she has to earn it by working like a horse to impress the crazily demanding Samantha Fuller. Even if it costs her her sanity, her social life, and her love life!

All her friends might be on a race to get married before they turn 25. However, Cat knew that love was not a part of the deal when she signed up for this.

As Cat waited for the chamomile to settle in her cup, she reached for her purse and pulled out her Blackberry. She typed a few things to do on her mobile planner for tomorrow, so she won’t forget what she needs to do.  She then checked her email and found out that her boss had simply replied:

'As attached. Should be done by 24^th. Thx’

Cat sighed, feeling a strong urge to grab a baseball bat and smash her Blackberry to smithereens. The only thing that held her back was her good sense. A Blackberry isn’t cheap and her whole life is in that device. She couldn’t afford to lose it just because her boss demanded her to revise the designs (that she had made after four hours of staring into the tablet PC) only after less than fifteen minutes of reviewing it! And now Samantha wants Cat to revise everything before the day after tomorrow!

“I sooo deserve this promotion.” Cat said bitterly as she took a sip on her chamomile tea. Usually the tea works wonders to calm her nerves. But the magic seems to have disappeared tonight. Cat found herself still upset, thanks to Samantha’s email.

‘Maybe I could just erase it and pretend I never got her e-mail…’ Cat plotted and an evil grin emerged on her tired face.

Cat grabbed her Blackberry and opened the Inbox. It was then that she again saw the email she received earlier that day. The email that clouds her mood even more than Samantha’s constant nagging. The email from a man she wishes to have forgotten after all these years. That man is the last thing she needed in a time like this.

But then again, how can you forget your first love?

-------

Cat remembered everything as if it happened yesterday.

It all started ten years ago. It was only a day after Cat and her family moved to this big city and Cat was already having trouble fitting in. She had hated leaving her friends back in her hometown thanks to her father getting a job in the city.

Cat remembered having a fit about the whole moving thing and went to the park to clear her head. She was sulking on her own at the swing when she heard an enchanting sound. That gentle sound was floating with the spring wind, like delicate snowflakes falling to the ground. A peculiar sense of grace enveloping its each rippling notes. Like the oceans tide, it came and it left, leaving an indistinctable path.

Slowly, like a moth drawn to flame, Cat followed the sound until it led her to a figure of a young man who held a small stringed instrument under his chin while his hands breathed life to the instrument with every stroke he took. Cat had only seen the instrument on books and television, but identified it as a violin. She had never known such delicate melody would come from a violin.

After the song ended, Cat couldn’t help but give an applause and such reaction turned the young man’s head towards her. His eyes were the most amazing shade of blue, much like the glorious blue sky behind him. But those eyes reflected loneliness and deep sadness that she couldn’t put her hand into.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Cat stopped clapping. “It was truly the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.”

“I’m sorry you had to hear that.” The young man replied, the tone of his voice a handsome baritone.

Cat’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“My music is not as refined as you think.” The young man replied again “I still have a long way to go.”

Cat gave a slight frown. “What song did you just play?”

Not expecting that question, the young man paused before giving his reply, “Debussy’s ‘Beau Soir’”

“Well I think it’s beautiful.” Cat smiled. “Sometimes, you have to learn to accept compliments, and be grateful that you are still able to play such beautiful music. Rather than striving to be better all the time, have you ever taken some time to reflect and be satisfied at how far you have progressed?”

The young man fell silent upon Cat’s reply. Cat inwardly cursed herself for speaking up her mind without thinking again. She didn’t even know this guy and she’s giving him a hard time already.

Cat cleared her throat and flashed an awkward grin “Anyway my name is Cathleen, but everybody calls me Cat. I hate it though. It makes me sound like an animal.”

“My name is Paris.”

That’s how it all started. Nobody knew how that awkward encounter in the park was the start of an ill-fated love story that never had a chance to truly blossom. Cat had to accept the bitter fact that her first love had left her for a music scholarship in Vienna only three years after their meeting.

And now that he will be returning, Cat couldn’t help but wonder if he had remained the same throughout the years or if the music had gone into his head.

Personally Cat would have preferred if he would stay as the boy in her memories of that beautiful fateful evening - beau soir.

Chaotic

Present Day


RING RING!
Cat reached for the ringing device, opened her little eyes to peek the caller ID.
Shoot! The boss!
She cleared her throat, trying her best to sound professionally awake.
"Morning Samantha!" Goodness me that was awful!
"What? No! I'm making myself coffee right now, be out in 15 minutes." Lie lie!
"Yes I will bring today's presentations and yes I have called the clients for this afternoon meeting." No need for reminders boss, I've been doing this for two years now!
"See you at the office Samantha!"

She breathed in and out, like she does every morning before panically runs around the apartment trying to chase time. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. And the routine started. 10 minutes shower, 10 minutes make up, 5 minutes shoving all make ups into her bag for more later, 5 minutes for a gulp of coffee. And off she went with wet dripping hair.
I'll use the hand dryer at the office.
She entered her old car and drove off to the office. Nothing usual. Just an ordinary office girl.

"Morning Barbara! Looking gorgeous as usual!" Cat greeted the new secretary. She smiled nervously at Cat.
"Cat! Downstairs for real breakfast in 5 minutes, I have a big juicy news for you!" ordered Sophie, her gossip best friend at the office.
"Let me just dry my hair Soph, and be down soon" answered Cat, always feeling blessed to have Sophie around.
She sat in her new chair, the smell of the new building fills the air. She absorbed. Inhale. Exhale.
"Cat! Where have you been! Client cancelled, said they added a bunch of things in the requirements, they will send the new one in one hour, take a look, fix it as soon as you can. And also take a look that new Axel project I sent you an hour ago, they need reviewing. Please please also take care of the newbies, they are useless to me, make them do something, we didn't pay them to sit around. Well, I think that's it. Leave your work at Barbara's desk, I have a vendor meeting, will be out for a day." rambled Samantha in her new tight skirt and high stilletos.
Can't do breakfast. Crazy boss on the loose. Cat texted to her best friend while she slowly sank herself into her new chair, pressing the "Start" button in her laptop.

One word that can describe Cat's job is chaotic. She didn't know why, but she somehow loved this chaoticness, always filled with tight deadlines and crazy demands. The job dissolved and engaged her everyday, that she lost herself into it, ignoring the other parts of her life. Her job was her priority, nothing else mattered.

By the end of the day Cat's head was filled with calculation, planning and designs while she walked down the aisle which led her to the ladies room. As she opened the door, she bumped into Sophie who immediately dragged her inside excitedly.

"Where were you at lunch? You should give yourself a break Cat! OK, give me one minute. The big news I was gonna tell you this morning," started Sophie.

"Soph, please..not..." rejected Cat, pleading Sophie to shut up just for now.

"I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!" screamed Sophie. Then silence. Pure silence. "Say something Cat! You're not happy for me?"

"I'm sorry Soph, of course I am!! Congratulations lovely lady!" Cat forced a smile, hugged Sophie who was spinning and dancing in excitement.

"Ok, going home now, we should celebrate in the weekend! Don't work too hard Cat!" said Sophie as she closed the door behind her.

Cat opened an empty toilet, sat down on top of the closed toilet seat.

Great, another friend voluntary jumping into the black hole. Screwing her life.

She sighed at her bitter thought, then started sobbing. Within a few seconds, she wiped her tears and put on a brave face.

Cat sat back down into her chair, peeking at the big, transparent window in front of her. She saw the twinkling city lights and traffic jam. She looked at the time, 6 PM, she knew she would come home late again. The red indicator in her Blackberry blinked. She hadn't touched it for a whole day. She picked it up, ready to call fast food delivery, when she noticed 10 unread e-mails. Automatically, she slid the cursor to the icon which directly opened the messages. And there at the top was a message from a familiar name with the subject "Hi".

Thump thump thump.

She could hear her heart beating. The message was opened.

"Hi C, I'm back in town for a visit in a week. I need to see you. Love, P"

Her head spun. She could not breathe. Everything seems blurred.

Why now?

Prolog

Seven years ago…

It was the last day of spring and the airport was extraordinarily packed, bustling with people anxiously waiting for their flights. Among the crowd was a young woman, her eyes lost in the blue sky displayed from the glass windows. The sky was so clear, with almost no clouds concealing its glorious azure. She witnessed as one particular plane soared off towards that very same sky, further and further away until her eyes could no longer see it.

Further and further away to a place beyond her reach… and with it, a large irreplaceable part of her was taken away.

It took a few moments before the young woman realized that warm droplets of tears had trickled down her cheeks. And once the realization hit her, the tears wouldn’t stop falling. She gasped for air and felt anguish finally setting in within each breath she takes. After months of keeping her emotions in the back seat, the woman allowed herself to cry. She cared not that the sight of her arose questioning looks from passersby.

Just once, she wanted to break down and cry.

Tomorrow she would find strength to smile again. She would convince her friends that she was alright, that she was happy her ‘friend’ received the chance of a lifetime. She wouldn’t divulge on them how broken she actually was that her first love had left her to pursue what had ironically brought them together in the first place – music.

She couldn’t blame him. No promises had been made. From the start she knew he was going to leave her. The times that they had spent together would just be a fleeting memory of a young love that never got the chance to truly blossom.

Their story ends here – on the last day of spring.