The trap.
He hates Valentine's Day. He really does. Not out of bitterness, not because he's sour, simply because this commercial charade tires him out. For years, he's avoided the sappy dinners and forced declarations, preferring a quiet evening alone with himself accompanied by a good movie.
And then there's something else. A detail that few people know because he prefers to avoid the subject. He's familiar with the unexpected. He anticipates them, tames them. But an evening with a bunch of strangers, a menu he didn't choose, a context he can't control—that's a source of stress for him.
But this year, there's no getting away from it. Her best friend has organized everything.
-I'm making dinner, and you're scheduled.
Love at first sight.
A bachelor party... He tried to cancel, but his best friend left him no choice. So here he is, knocking on her door on February 14th, resigned.
He sees him as soon as he walks in. A frank look, a captivating smile. A colleague of his best friend, there "by chance." They exchange words, then entire sentences, as if they've known each other forever.
A parenthesis.
And then the alarm bell rings. He tries to concentrate on the conversation, but it's impossible.
He heads to the bathroom and closes the door, taking a deep breath. His gaze falls on Elixir Bien Elevé sitting on a shelf. He gave it to his best friend. With an almost automatic gesture, he disperses a few drops into the toilet bowl and the sink. The essences of patchouli, lavender, and labdanum diffuse into the air and relax him.
He washes his hands and then leaves the bathroom after taking one last look in the mirror.
Reconciliation.
When he returns to the living room, the music has turned up a notch. The conversations have become lively. They meet again and exchange a smile and a knowing look. They begin to dance.
Maybe he'll finally make peace with Valentine's Day.
Elixir Bien Elevé, the accomplice for important moments.