years have passed since jo and dave last saw each other. and unlike any other relationship, theirs was in a way, very unique. their relationship was based on friendship that started as early as first grade. in a sense, a lot of relationship happen to be that way. they have loved, they have cried and they have fought... just like any other relationship.

for years, they barely talked to each other, mainly due to the fact that their last conversation was, in a sense, an ugly one. they spoke badly about each other, calling one or the other a whore, or a son of a bitch. they fought, all because the two of them were in a relationship. they fought for their relationship with each other, which in reality does not exist.

they spoke of themselves as if they are really into each other. they cared for each other, but of that fight, they never made amends. they spoke as if there was really a jo and dave, but there was none. they have never committed themselves to each other, although people saw that they really did.

it's christmas... again. the two never really understood the importance of their own longing for each other, until faith brought them back. jo's current boyfriend, marcus, was an inherent disaster. on the eve of christmas, she found him fucking a girl he barely know. now she knows she was nothing to marcus, but a simple fuck. she left and walked around the cold christmas streets of the city. dave too was in a sheer bad luck. he found a note on his doorstep from his girlfriend, saying that "we we're never meant for each other, i'm sorry i have to give you this instead of my pussy for christmas." ahh the irony, he thought, she must've been thinking that i was only after fucking her. he walked out on a cold christmas evening.

he sat down at a coffee shop closeby, sipping his coffee, smoking, and just trying to be happy at a very stupid time. he heard a voice, "can i have an espresso?" he looked at the cashier, and there was jo.

not exactly knowing what to feel, he wrote a note. it simply says, "if you think i'm stupid for writing this note, please ignore it." and gave it to one of the servers to give to her.

he never did expected her to do something, but he felt a tap in his shoulder and he heard, "dave?" he looked back and smiled, "have a seat jo, it's wonderful seeing you again!"

they talked for awhile, smiling, telling jokes. then dave remembers the ring he was gonna give to nancy. he took the ring out of his pocket and told jo. this was not intended for you, but please accept it as my token of gratitude... and as a way for me to say sorry for all the things i said years ago.

jo frowned, and started crying, she said, "i'm sorry too for saying things i shouldn't have, those are not even true about you."

a moment of silence enveloped the space around them. without saying anything, dave held out his hand, in a way to ask jo's hand for him. she held it out, and they held it while slowly taking off from the coffee shop.

they walked in the neighborhood, talking about the good times they went through, making amends, cherishing every moment.

jo invited dave to her place, asking him if he can spend the christmas eve with her. midnight came, and they held each others hand, talking about life as it treated them. with a gentle hush of the air, they looked at each other.

jo's lips parted, about to say a word, but dave stopped her with his finger, saying "shhhh, no need to say anything." with candlelight creating the christmas spirit and the fireplace that kept them warm, marcus lowered his lips unto hers...

Posted by Ron Valiente