Later, they discovered they had crossed paths more than once. They flew from Barcelona to Paris on the same plane, their hotels where on the same street. But they only ran into each other on Xavier's last day in the city. He had taken a free day and had gone for lunch with Meritxell to a small restaurant that was famous for its home-made food. They were siting on a table in a corner, and he was facing the door, although he wasn't really looking at the people who were getting in and out, that's the reason he didn't see Laia. Xavier was focused on his filet-mignion when he heard a familiar voice.
-Xavi, is that you?
There she was, she hadn't changed a bit, she still looked the same she had ten years before.
-Laia? What a coincidence? What are you doing here? Come sit with us.- he said as he asked the waiter to set a pair of chairs at his table.
-Oh, I don't want to annoy you.
-You're not annoying anyone! Laia, this is Meri, my girlfriend. We used to go to school together.- Xavier told to his partner.
-Pleased to meet you.- Meritxell said kissing Laia on both cheeks.
-This is Jordi.-Laia added.
Jordi looked gloomily at the other couple, he had wanted to propose over lunch, and now he would have to postpone it.
-Xavi, is that you?
There she was, she hadn't changed a bit, she still looked the same she had ten years before.
-Laia? What a coincidence? What are you doing here? Come sit with us.- he said as he asked the waiter to set a pair of chairs at his table.
-Oh, I don't want to annoy you.
-You're not annoying anyone! Laia, this is Meri, my girlfriend. We used to go to school together.- Xavier told to his partner.
-Pleased to meet you.- Meritxell said kissing Laia on both cheeks.
-This is Jordi.-Laia added.
Jordi looked gloomily at the other couple, he had wanted to propose over lunch, and now he would have to postpone it.
Laia and Xavier spent the lunch talking about their past days, and then she insisted on spending the afternoon together. After that Meritxell insisted on all of them having dinner together. Jordi was desperate, but Laia accepted so swiftly that he couldn't say a thing.
The stories continued over dinner.
-You know, Jordi, you're a lucky guy. Back in high school I had a huge crush on Laia. She never knew, I never told her, until now, that is. She was, and still is, so perfect, and I was short and fat and shy. So I had enough with being his friend. We promised to be in contact after high school, but I left to study abroad and we never saw each other again. I'm glad to see her again, though.
Meritxell laughed at the story, but Laia stayed silent and smiled. They had all been drinking some excellent French wines and were a bit tipsy, Jordi had loosened a bit and insisted that they all had to meet again back in Barcelona. After dinner Xavier inisted on going out for drinks, but both Meritxell and Jordi were too tired.
-If you don't mind, I'll steal her for the night.-Xavier said to Jordi.
-Of course not.
-Perfect.
They went down to a bar and had some drinks, they put themselves up to date with their lives, and when it was time to leave Laia insisted on walking back to the hotel. Xavier took her by the arm and they walked down the street by the Seine. It was a bit windy and Laia pulled herself closer to him.
-You know? I did know that you loved me, I did. And I always wondered what would have happened if I had given you a chance.
-It's not too late, Laia.
-I know, it's just that seeing you again, after so long, it feels weird. I have Jordi, and I love him, but you... one does not wonder just because, maybe I did love you.
-Laia,...
She stopped, and looked at the lights at the other side of the river. Her hands were trembling as she clutched to the rails. The wind made her long dark curly hair fly everywhere. She pulled it up on a messy ponytail.
-Laia,...- Xavier repeated getting closer.
Without saying anything he took him by his jacket and kissed him.
-You taste sweet.- she said.- I like it.
Xavier was startled, he didn't know what to say. Luckily for him, Laia did.
-We should give it a try, don't you think. Keep it in mind, and we'll figure it out as soon as we are back in Barcelona.
She kissed him again and then took him by the hand. They headed to the hotel as if nothing had happened. Xavier and Meritxell left the following morning, after exchanging phone numbers with the other couple. He and Laia acted as if nothing had ever happened. After they had left Jordi and Laia headed out to explore the city a bit more. Jordi insisted on going to the Eiffel tower for the sunset, although Laia wasn't really fond of high places. They were lucky enough to find a place on top to watch the sunset. Laia was doing her best not to look down when she realized that Jordi was looking at her intently.
-What?
-Laia, do you want to marry me?
Another, cliché, him proposing on top of the Eiffel tower during sunset. He seemed to have a thing for them, Jordi. Laia looked into his eyes, for a second.
-Yes.
-Of course not.
-Perfect.
They went down to a bar and had some drinks, they put themselves up to date with their lives, and when it was time to leave Laia insisted on walking back to the hotel. Xavier took her by the arm and they walked down the street by the Seine. It was a bit windy and Laia pulled herself closer to him.
-You know? I did know that you loved me, I did. And I always wondered what would have happened if I had given you a chance.
-It's not too late, Laia.
-I know, it's just that seeing you again, after so long, it feels weird. I have Jordi, and I love him, but you... one does not wonder just because, maybe I did love you.
-Laia,...
She stopped, and looked at the lights at the other side of the river. Her hands were trembling as she clutched to the rails. The wind made her long dark curly hair fly everywhere. She pulled it up on a messy ponytail.
-Laia,...- Xavier repeated getting closer.
Without saying anything he took him by his jacket and kissed him.
-You taste sweet.- she said.- I like it.
Xavier was startled, he didn't know what to say. Luckily for him, Laia did.
-We should give it a try, don't you think. Keep it in mind, and we'll figure it out as soon as we are back in Barcelona.
She kissed him again and then took him by the hand. They headed to the hotel as if nothing had happened. Xavier and Meritxell left the following morning, after exchanging phone numbers with the other couple. He and Laia acted as if nothing had ever happened. After they had left Jordi and Laia headed out to explore the city a bit more. Jordi insisted on going to the Eiffel tower for the sunset, although Laia wasn't really fond of high places. They were lucky enough to find a place on top to watch the sunset. Laia was doing her best not to look down when she realized that Jordi was looking at her intently.
-What?
-Laia, do you want to marry me?
Another, cliché, him proposing on top of the Eiffel tower during sunset. He seemed to have a thing for them, Jordi. Laia looked into his eyes, for a second.
-Yes.
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