"Why don't you come?" Lucas asked Nicole as they were having breakfast together in the outdoor area of a cafe in the sunny Parisian weather. "Come on, it's no fun without you."
Hearing the man still trying to persuade her, Nicole just smiled faintly while sipping her coffee and then putting the porcelain cup back on the table. "I think you'll still have fun, even without me. You have a lot of friends who can entertain you well, Lucas."
The man shrugged, "Then, aren't you my friend?"
Nicole seemed to think for a moment, then she answered. "Yes, I'm your friend. But, not your clubmate." While sipping her warm coffee again, Nicole continued her words. "I'm too old and weak to spend time until morning just drinking at a club."
"But, it's my birthday. Shouldn't you come as one of my close friends?" Although she still felt strange with the term Lucas used to define their relationship, Nicole didn't comment much and let the man think of her that way.
"Then I'll send your birthday present to the venue." Nicole tried to give another option that was quite beneficial for both of them.
"Why don't you deliver it yourself?" Lucas asked with a confused look.
"Because, as I said before, I'm old and weak enough to go to a party that only starts at one in the morning." Nicole took another sip of her coffee and realized that this kind of tranquility was what she needed more now, not spending time socializing in a place full of young people.
"Come on, Nic."
Nicole still tried to put the same smile on her lips, but shook her head. "No way, besides I have to prepare to go to Nice this weekend to check on the work there."
Lucas raised both of his hands up while leaning back on the chair, as if he looked frustrated because he failed to persuade the girl. "I've asked you more than ten times this week. It seems like you really don't want to go."
Nicole nodded her head reluctantly, "But, as I promised before, I will ask my assistant to send you a gift." Then she leaned her body forward a little so she could speak more clearly to Lucas who looked so disappointed. "Just tell me what you want, I will ask my assistant to look for it."
Now not only the man's face looked disappointed, but also the look in his eyes that stared at Nicole, as if he didn't expect the woman to say something so hurtful. Didn't Nicole realize that those words sounded like he was worthless to the woman? Or is she really unaware of Lucas' feelings for her?
"Actually, the gift is not that important, but your presence is more important. I just want us to have fun on my happiest day."
Nicole could feel the sincerity in Lucas' words, but her answer remained the same. "I really appreciate it. But, I just can't, I hope you understand my current situation."
There was a long sigh from Lucas as a sign that he had given up and chose to respect Nicole's decision, "Okay." A thin, somewhat forced smile appeared on Lucas' lips, "Have a good trip to Nice. Let's have dinner together after that."
The woman took a sip of the last coffee in her cup and nodded, "Sure. You too, have fun."
However, when Nicole thought Lucas had indeed given up, a surprise appeared at the end. On the day she was going to leave for Nice, suddenly the man was already in front of her house waiting for her while standing next to his silver sports car. Nicole couldn't hide her surprise, especially because Lucas didn't tell her at all that he was coming here and also because the man was already there very early in the morning, when it was still pitch black.
"What are you doing here?" Nicole walked down the stairs in front of her house while carrying a suitcase in one hand.
Lucas took the suitcase in Nicole's hand, but was stopped by the woman. Feeling that he had to explain the purpose of his arrival to Nicole first, before she misunderstood. He finally answered the question in a casual tone, according to his usual style.
"I'm here to see you off."
Nicole frowned, confused by Lucas' answer. "You don't need to bother seeing me off." Then she added again, "The trip from Paris to Nice will take quite a long time, the time you see me off and then back here, means you have missed your birthday celebration."
"That's why, I will see you off." Lucas repeated his words again, but this time with clearer words. "Since you can't come to my birthday party, then I will celebrate it in Nice."
"Why?"
Lucas stepped closer to Nicole and said in a loud voice this time, "Because, I want to spend my birthday with you."
However, Nicole's expression when looking at him now seemed to not appreciate him at all. "I don't think you need to do that."
"But, it's my birthday." Lucas immediately replied, "And who I want to spend that special time with is up to me."
Nicole sighed, "But, you're putting me in a difficult position."
Lucas shook his head, "No. Let's just say I want to celebrate my birthday in Nice, which you also happen to want to go to."
Nicole snorted, "Don't you think that sounds like a deliberate coincidence?"
Lucas shrugged, "You never know, coincidences do happen somehow."
And the first coincidence that happened that day was when Nicole received a call that the driver who was supposed to pick her up to go to Nice, turned out to be unable to come due to an emergency and she had no choice but to find another driver. At a time like this, she wasn't sure she could find a driver who would take her to Nice, especially at this early hour. In the end, the coincidence that Lucas had said really happened.
"Just tell me this is really a coincidence?" Nicole asked in a threatening tone.
"I'm sorry," Lucas said defensively, but the smile on his lips was too wide to support that argument. "Then, how about we go now?"
The man tried to pull Nicole's suitcase once more, which she let him do this time. He then put it in the trunk of his car behind him, while they were already sitting in their respective seats. Lucas started the engine and put on his seatbelt, then his cheerful voice was heard.
"Nice, we're coming."
***