"Any special requests...?"

Oh how can such welcoming words have such a painful effect. To elaborate, I was at my favorite lounge in Laguna. The one that I visit every now and then sometimes with a companion or friends but mostly alone. This last visit I went alone. I felt I needed to be with my "secret lover".

My "secret lover" is this the lounge singer/pianist. I can't tell you how many times I've visited the place, for I have lost count. But I go there not for the drinks (for I don't drink...much anyway...lol) and I haven't really eaten there....no I go there for Roger.

The relationship that I have with this man is quite simple yet complex. You see Roger and I have never spoken more than 2 or so phrases to each other. They consists of "Thank you" and "You're welcome" and that encounter takes place when I leave his tip on a plate by his piano before I leave.

He plays only classics. Mostly Sinatra. Hmm...my kind of man. During my last visit, the first full song he sang was "Your Song" by Elton John and he looked up at me a few times. He often does when I am there, especially alone. I think he knows I prefer the distance for whenever he is on a break, he'd usually go around to chat with others but never with me. Whenever I come into the lounge he and I would look at each other and nod and I would grab a seat and then our evening would begin. Once done, he and I would nod at each other as I leave. We would go on with our respective lives, until our next encounter.

I often joke with people that if he were to walk up to me, I would either look or run away. Well the last time I was there, I did almost exactly that. Stubborn girl I know. I was alone. There were people there, mostly couples or single guys. The guys extended their invitation for me to join them but I declined them all. I was there for Roger that night. I just had an overwhelming urge to visit him at the lounge, I did not know he was leaving. Everyone kept asking if I was waiting for someone, I think they must have thought I got stood up or something, but some of those who work there knew why I was there and left me alone enough. I had creme brulee and my usual virgin strawberry daiquiri. The best I've had in a long time, perhaps it was because it was with my lover for the last time. Tee-hee-hee

At one point he asked the room "Any special requests...?" and then looked directly at me. I quickly shrugged and then looked away. I guess I was too stubborn to even speak up fearful that I might taint what we've had so far. Yes I know I'm a very eccentric person. Don't ask me why I do some of the things I do, for I am still trying to figure it all out myself. He just chuckled and said "Alright...well if anything comes up" ...

And then the song he played next was "Your Song" by Elton John. How did he know!? I've been listening to that song often lately. The version that's in my car is from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack with Ewan Mcgregor singing...."It's a little bit funny...this feeling inside..." hmmm ...gets me every time.


Anyway, before I left the waitress came up to me and asked if the reason why I was there was because I knew he was leaving. I felt like I"ve been hit with a thousand bricks. What?! Why? How!?? The waitress found out that he was leaving to go sing on Princess Cruises..he was going to travel the world...my lover was leaving me. She couldn't get a card or a last name, might as well...I guess Fate wanted it to be that way.

Shortly before I got up to leave he played..."Love Story"....he's never played "Love Story" in all the times I"ve been there. Perhaps he knew too that this was goodbye and that was his way of telling me. Oooh I'm such a sappy romantic I know. Even I think some of this stuff is funny and silly sometimes, but strangely enough I feed into this side of me whenever I can.

The waitress thought it was very cute that I come in there just for him. She said perhaps I should talk to him. What does she know... =)

So far, he's up there with Sinatra and Bogart in my book and from the looks of it, he'll remain there. Thanks for the memories...