El Café de los Viernes
(The Friday Coffee)
Elena Navarro iba todos los viernes al mismo café de la Plaza Mayor.
Elena Navarro went to the same cafe in the Plaza Mayor every Friday.
Siempre pedia un cortado y se sentaba junto a la ventana.
She always ordered a cortado and sat next to the window.
Le gustaba observar a la gente que pasaba por la calle mientras leia algun libro.
She liked watching the people who passed by on the street while she read some book.
Aquel ritual era lo único que la relajaba después de una semana larga de trabajo.
That ritual was the only thing that relaxed her after a long week of work.
No obstante, un viernes de octubre, algo cambio.
Nevertheless, one Friday in October, something changed.
Cuando Elena llego, su mesa estaba ocupada.
When Elena arrived, her table was occupied.
Un hombre joven con el pelo oscuro leia un libro y tomaba un cortado.
A young man with dark hair was reading a book and drinking a cortado.
Elena se quedo de pie, sin saber que hacer.
Elena stood still, not knowing what to do.
El hombre levanto la vista y sonrio.
The man looked up and smiled.
Perdone, creo que esta es su mesa habitual, dijo.
Excuse me, I think this is your usual table, he said.
La camarera me ha dicho que alguien se sienta aquí cada viernes.
The waitress told me that someone sits here every Friday.
Elena se sorprendio.
Elena was surprised.
Es verdad, contesto.
That's true, she replied.
Pero no se preocupe, puedo sentarme en otro sitio.
But don't worry, I can sit somewhere else.
El hombre nego con la cabeza.
The man shook his head.
De ninguna manera.
No way.
Me gustaria que se sentara conmigo, si no le importa.
I would like you to sit with me, if you don't mind.
Se llamaba Diego Herrera y era arquitecto.
His name was Diego Herrera and he was an architect.
Habia llegado a la ciudad hacia poco y todavía no conocia a nadie.
He had arrived in the city recently and still didn't know anyone.
De hecho, aquel café le habia parecido el lugar perfecto para leer en paz.
In fact, that cafe had seemed like the perfect place to read in peace.
Durante la siguiente hora, hablaron de libros, de viajes y de la vida en aquella ciudad.
During the next hour, they talked about books, about trips and about life in that city.
Elena descubrio que Diego era gracioso, amable y que también preferia el café con leche por las mananas.
Elena discovered that Diego was funny, kind and that he also preferred white coffee in the mornings.
A partir de entonces, los viernes cambiaron para siempre.
From then on, Fridays changed forever.
Diego siempre llegaba antes que Elena y le guardaba la mesa junto a la ventana.
Diego always arrived before Elena and saved the table by the window for her.
Pedian sus cortados y compartian historias.
They ordered their cortados and shared stories.
A medida que pasaban las semanas, Elena notaba que esperaba los viernes con mas ilusión que antes.
As the weeks went by, Elena noticed that she looked forward to Fridays with more excitement than before.
Una tarde, mientras llovia fuera, Diego la miro y dijo: Quiero que sepas algo.
One afternoon, while it was raining outside, Diego looked at her and said: I want you to know something.
Antes de conocerte, los viernes eran un día cualquiera para mi.
Before meeting you, Fridays were just an ordinary day for me.
Elena sonrio y sintio que el corazón le latia mas rápido.
Elena smiled and felt her heart beating faster.
Queria decirle que sentia lo mismo, pero las palabras no le salian.
She wanted to tell him that she felt the same way, but the words would not come out.
En lugar de eso, puso su mano sobre la de el y susurro: Entonces, es mejor que no faltes ningun viernes.
Instead, she placed her hand on his and whispered: Then, it is better that you don't miss any Friday.
Diego se rio y contesto: No te preocupes.
Diego laughed and replied: Don't worry.
No pienso perderme ni uno.
I don't intend to miss a single one.
Desde aquel día, el café de los viernes se convirtio en algo mucho mas grande que una simple costumbre.
From that day, the Friday coffee became something much bigger than a simple habit.
Key Vocabulary
el cortado espresso with a small amount of milk
la mesa habitual the usual table, the regular table
quedarse de pie to remain standing (lit. to stay on foot)
negar con la cabeza to shake one's head (lit. to deny with the head)
a medida que as (gradually), in proportion as
la ilusion excitement, anticipation, hope
en lugar de instead of, in place of
convertirse en to become, to turn into