The Bar and the Messages
The bar was still empty, only a few early souls sipping their coffee.
Kristina had returned — bartender Lukas' wife, warm as always, after a long trip to visit her sick mother.
She and Lukas had been married for ten years, and this bar was their baby.
They were the ones who helped me when I ran away: gave me a job, food, when I didn't have a single cent.
I owe them forever.*
Lukas called across the room:
"Laura! Could you clean table four?"
"On it!" I ran off.
I came back to the bar with a tray.
Kristina wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"How have you been, sweetheart? No one bothered you while I was gone?" she asked with her usual warm smile.
I grinned wide, couldn't help it.
"Everything's wonderful!"
Lukas immediately raised an eyebrow.
"Oooh, I see… you're thinking about Tomas, aren't you?"
Kristina blinked in surprise.
"And who's Tomas?"
Lukas, full of satisfaction:
"Laura's guy. The moment she thinks about him, she smiles like the sun."
"Shut up!" I squeaked, red as a cherry.
Lukas burst out laughing.
Kristina leaned in, curious.
"Well, well, come on — tell me!"
I said shyly:
"He… let me stay with him. He has a good heart, even though he looks cold from the outside. He works all sorts of jobs, can do anything… he was even a medical student once…"
Lukas nodded:
"He came to the bar a couple of times. Looked dark, but actually — a good guy."
Kristina winked.
"Interesting. When are you bringing him over to meet us?"
"Oh, stop it!" I nearly cried from embarrassment. "By the way… could I take tomorrow and the day after off?"
They exchanged a look and then grinned in unison.
"A date?"
"No! I just… have things to do," I stuttered.
Kristina winked again:
"I understand. You can take both days. The weather will be nice."
I blushed to my ears and hurried back to work.
One thought in my head: "What is Tomas doing now? How is he?"
I took out my phone:
"How are you? 😊"
One hour — nothing.
Another hour — nothing.
Third — the phone vibrated. I almost dropped the tray.
Tomas:
"Sorry, just saw this. I was busy. I was supposed to work at the factory, but on the way… I got another temporary job. The pay's good, and now I'll have more free days since I didn't go to the factory. How are you? 😊"
I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt and replied:
"Kristina (Lukas' wife) came back, so things are easier for me too. By the way — tomorrow and the day after I can take days off! Does that work? 😊"
Tomas answered in a second:
"Perfect. Then I'll plan the whole day tomorrow. 😉"
My cheeks burned.
Kristina noticed me staring at my phone with flushed cheeks.
"Mind sharing with your coworkers what's so interesting there?"
I hurried to her.
"I need help! We're spending the whole day in the city and I don't know what to wear!"
Kristina laughed:
"First date?"
"Dat— I… don't know! Maybe!"
"Figure out what you're doing first, then choose clothes," she said.
I texted Tomas:
"Could you tell me what we'll be doing tomorrow so I know how to dress? 😊"
Tomas:
"Warmer clothes for walking and for the evening. As for the restaurant… I don't have anything to wear either. Want to go shopping together? What do you think?"
Me:
"Perfect! I've got warm clothes. And shopping together sounds great ☺️"
Kristina:
"Well?"
"He said warm clothes for walking and evening. And we'll shop together for the restaurant."
"That Tomas is smart. But he still has to try hard if he wants me to like him," Kristina said jokingly.
Lukas popped out:
"Laura, you can go home. We'll handle things. Go get ready for your date!"
"It's NOT a date!" I squeaked again.
"Sure, sure, whatever you say," they both laughed.
"Alright, I'm off. See you the day after tomorrow!"
Walking home, I texted Tomas:
"I just finished work and I'm heading home. When will you be back?"
In my mind: "Home… it feels so good to say that word."
Suddenly a chill ran down my spine — a black car was slowly driving behind me.
The same one that was parked by the bar.
"No. I won't go home yet. They can't know the address."
I ducked into a store.
Tomas replied:
"I'll finish a few things and then head back."
"This time I'll cook dinner!"
I wrote:
"Alright, I'll wait. I'll cook dinner 😊"
At the store I grabbed chicken, vegetables, spices.
"A stew!"
When I left, I looked around — the car was gone.
"Maybe I imagined it…"
I reached home, carried the groceries to the kitchen, and started cooking.
Soon the whole place smelled of warm stew.
The door clicked — Tomas.
"Hey!" he smiled widely.
"Perfect timing! I just finished cooking!"
Tomas inhaled — his stomach growled loudly.
I burst out laughing.
Then I noticed his torn shirt.
"What happened?! Why is it ripped?!"
"Let's eat and then I'll tell you everything," he said calmly.
We sat down.
Tomas ate like he hadn't eaten in a week.
"It's really good… I want you to cook more often," he said with a full mouth.
"Deal," I smiled warmly.
"As for the shirt," Tomas told me what had happened to him on the way to the job.
I spoke with a bit of worry in my voice:
"The important thing is that you're safe."
Tomas smiled gently.
"By the way, I rented a car for tomorrow. Take whatever you want for the day."
We washed the dishes.
"Tomorrow morning we'll eat, get ready, and head out, alright?"
"Alright," I said.
We both went to our rooms.
Neither of us could sleep — we were both too excited about tomorrow.