Cupid's allies

The scene takes place in a peaceful forest on a college campus, Mary and her boyfriend Daniel are holding hands and talking animatedly about how to unite their two mutual friends, Rachel and John.

Mary: Daniel, you have to help me...! Rachel has told me that she feels sad, she has confessed to me that she suffers in silence for John. Ever since she met him in high school she fell in love with him. And now that they are classmates at the University she has tried to make John notice her, she has made an effort to be one of the best in her studies, she keeps herself pretty, she excels in volleyball, but nothing... John avoids her, he barely says hello. Maybe John doesn't like Rachel, maybe he has another girlfriend...?

Daniel: As far as I know John doesn't have a girlfriend. What's more, every time we are in the café he never misses an opportunity to look and look at Rachel. Once when we were talking he told me about the admiration he feels for her, he told me that she is a very pretty, intelligent, cheerful girl, as well as a great volleyball athlete. I think he likes the girl, but I don't understand why he doesn't dare more. We're going to have to do something for those two. Do you think Mary...?

Mary: Yes, let's do it, let's give Cupid a little help, hahaha.

Daniel decides to invite John to his house with the excuse of finishing a school assignment. After completing the homework he is determined to find out if his friend has feelings for Rachel...

Daniel: Where were you on Saturday? I dialed your number all afternoon and it was disconnected. Mary, Rachel and I went to the movies, we would have liked you to come with us, but you were lost...

John: Oh, sorry, if I had known... I was reading a book I love all afternoon and when I am doing that I don't let anything interrupt me, so I turn my cell phone off...

Daniel: I thought that maybe you were with some girl...

John: Nothing like that, Daniel. I only deal with a few girls at the University. And the only one that catches my attention apart from Mary, who is already with you, hahaha, is Rachel...

Daniel: Rachel...? I thought you weren't interested in Rachel at all?

John: And where do you get that from...? Rachel has been the mistress of my thoughts since I met her at high school... I've been in love with her for a long time, something that only you and I know now...

Daniel: I understand less. If you like him so much because you haven't gone beyond a cold friendship...

John: But Daniel, how can you think of that? What chance would I have with Rachel? She's a pretty girl, the best in Volleyball, besides being an excellent student. What is Rachel going to see in me...? I'm ordinary, shy, I don't play sports and I hardly have a social life... I prefer not to run the risk of making a fool of myself trying to go from friendship to something deeper...

Daniel: John, I think you're putting yourself down. Remember what they explained in psychology class about prejudice. I think you are looking at things with prejudice and that's why you don't dare to declare your love to Rachel. I think you're thinking for her. How do you know she doesn't like you? Don't you think she's too attractive to be on her own... How do you know she's not waiting for you...?

John: Gee, I hadn't thought about that. Maybe I'm being too prejudiced as you say. But to tell you the truth, I don't dare....

After that conversation, Daniel goes to Mary's house to tell her the good news...

Daniel: Mary...Mary...I talked to John...!

Mary: Yes, tell me...!

Daniel: John has always been in love with Rachel...! but he's too shy to tell her. Rachel has to take the initiative...

Mary: That's no problem. Rachel is more than brave. Where do you think is the best place for him to talk to her...?

Daniel: John usually hangs out Friday afternoons at the coffee shop behind the mall. That will be a good place...

It's Friday afternoon. John is sitting reading at a table at the back of the nice coffee shop. Rachel is ready...She enters and walks over to his table...

Rachel: Hi John...That's a good book of stories...

John: (Surprised...) Rachel...How are you...Yes, it's a good book... Some extraordinary stories...

Rachel: I love stories...I can tell you one that is special to me...

John: Yes please, sit down, I'm going to order a coffee for you as a reward for your story...Begin...

Rachel: Once upon a time there was a pretty girl who had fallen in love with a very handsome boy since they were in high school...He was intelligent, he said interesting things and saw life with a lot of maturity....By chance they studied at the same University. She saw him every day and her love for him grew and grew. But he looked at her with indifference, it was as if she didn't matter to him. He was not able to feel the suffering that this indifference caused to the girl...

While Rachel was telling her story, John put his hand on hers... and decided to interrupt her...

John: I'm sorry Rachel, I've been a fool for a long time, I thought you weren't interested in me. I'm in love with you...I love you...

Rachel: You don't know how much you have made me suffer my beloved. I hope from now on you won't be such a fool...I love you....John...

John: I love you, Rachel...!