Love In a Cup Of Espresso
A short story
For most, sipping a coffee near the window of a coffee shop on a rainy day could be considered d a heaven-like feeling, ironically because of the sentimentality, it brings. Well, it could be, for him. If only he is on a different day, in a different situation, in a different body, or in a different life.
He took another sip of his espresso (the only one he could afford on the menu board—which, still, is way over his budget), looked outside the window, and pondered how could he manage to get up from this pitfall he's into right now. He's not really the type of person who would go deeper on a particular problem. He likes everything to be over as soon as possible. But then, this new problem (one of his many more pending problems) he has is quite unbearable. God, I'm so lucky. He sarcastically told himself and smiled. He'd like to empty his mind for now. Even just for now. He'd like to enjoy this coffee he has right now that he bought from a fancy coffee shop while looking at the gloomy weather outside. But heck, it only added to his misery right now.
Ugh! If it wasn't for this rain, he wouldn't be here right now in this coffee shop, drinking a very big-ticket coffee. He could have saved the money and he could still find new ways where to get an extra income. Everything is just so perfect.
He can't clear his thoughts, he decided. So, he continued thinking of alternatives as to where he could get money! He needs his problem to be solved right away! Well, he could borrow from his best friend that's for sure. But he has borrowed enough already. He still has a huge balance amount that hasn't been paid yet. What now? Well, he still has another choice. He could contact his father abroad and everything will be done! But of course, he would never do that. He would never ask for help from him. He was the main cause of every problem he has right now.
He was still busy contemplating his miserable life when he received a text from his sister. He even had second thoughts about whether he'll pick his phone or not. Heck! This is a very classy coffee shop so probably every person inside—except for him—is damn rich! He's quite shy to show everyone his very cheap phone. But he came to a decision that he really should. Anyways, the hell they care? They could not help him with his problem.
Bro, we really need money right now. The hospital won't start treating mom unless they are sure of the money.
He frowned as soon as he finished reading the text. He took a deep breath and kept his phone without even replying to her sister.
Damn, this rain. When it poured earlier, the rain, out of nowhere, all the sheds were immediately occupied. And this neighborhood he's into right now's not quite friendly, hence, every shop will kick you out as soon as they realized you are only there for the roof. This coffee is the only place he thought he could buy something he could afford. He sighed. His cup is now half empty and the rain isn't stopping yet. In fact, it even gets stronger and stronger.
"Hey, uhm can I sit here?" He was pulled away from his thoughts when he heard a woman's voice. He looked at her. He smiled and nodded. The woman then pulled a chair out and sat.
"Thank you. Every table here is already occupied." Based on her looks, he could say she's almost the same age as him. Maybe she's a year younger or so. She's wearing a nice dress under a furry coat and is carrying a case of what looks like a violin or a cello or whatever. He could say that she's rich based on her posture and the way she moves plus she's in this coffee shop unless she's just like him—a miserable person searching for a roof.
He just smiled and turned his head back to the window. After a few minutes, a waitress came to their table, serving the woman's food. Oh, god. This woman has a very empty stomach. There were one, two, three, four, five different types of bread or cake or whatever served in their table and a cup of coffee. Their table almost went out of space. She also let out her iPad.
If his half-emptied cup is alive, it would feel really ashamed of all the food it is with right now. "You could have one if you want." The woman said to him while he's drooling over those bread or cake or whatever. He then lifted his eyes to her and smiled awkwardly.
"Oh no, thank you." He said while shaking his head. O—kay, this is embarrassing.
"No, I insist..." She then pushed one plate towards his cup. "... Just consider it a thank you gift for letting me sit here."
"But I don't own the shop nor this table, though." He said.
She just giggled and replied. "Seriously, it's yours."
Well, he was left with no choice but to accept her offer. He smiled awkwardly. "This is kind of embarrassing but thank you."
After that embarrassing moment (for him), they both returned to what they were doing; him, staring at whatevers outside the window while drinking his coffee (and still hesitant to touch the bread that she offered) and her, doing whatevers in her laptop. They were almost filled with silence if only she would stop making frequent grunts and annoyed ugh's. It wasn't really his character to be nosy about other people's business but he felt like whatever's in her laptop that makes her do those noises would interest him.
He looked at her while she's still focusing on her laptop. When she noticed his stare she said "Oh, I'm sorry. Was I too loud? This book I'm reading is so..." After she can't find the right term and by doing hand gestures like she really can't put out the word inside her head, she just continued by saying "... ugh, anyway I'm sorry."
A book? He tried to gather all his courage and asked, "What book?"
"Oh, here." She replied and turned her laptop around for him to see.
Somehow, behind his miserable thoughts, Wow, I thought I was the only one who read these shits. He smiled. A genuine one. He was glad he found someone who really matches his interest.
"You read these books?" He unbelievably gasped.
"Yeah, why? You read them too?!" She exclaimed.
"God, these books are outstanding! I didn't expect you to read these though. I thought all girls are into chick lit and romance stuff. Plus, these books aren't really that popular." In an instant, he was filled with enthusiasm. Finally, he saw someone who would match his type of genre. Ahh. The days of him in the library spending his time reading these books were the best.
"Well, boy, that is why I like them more. Because they aren't popular! And sorry, you would never see me holding any romance or chick-lit books. They are so gross. These books hold greater stories." She made a disgusted face which made him laugh.
"Which part are you already?" He intrigued.
"Well, I'm almost finished with the fourth book. How about you?"
"Oh, I finished them all." He said and moved his shoulders up and down.
"Wow! Was it good?" Her face was like that of a child who's very curious about hearing the stories about mermaids.
"Well, he didn't real—"
"Oops! Sorry, my bad. Stop there. No spoiling!" She stopped him in mid-sentence.
"Oh, right. Sorry. No spoiling." He said, matching his last sentence with the line and accent of the lead character in the book.
"Oh my god!! If Henry really does exist in real life, I would totally believe he is you." They both laughed. And between their waves of laughter, his worries—his sister's message, her mom in a hospital bed, him finding ways—slowly faded.
"Well, I am the eldest son of the only son so, who knows?" He used the same accent. He slowly grinned and moved his eyebrows up and down.
They both laughed. Again.
"No way! No freaking way!" She exclaimed in between her laughs.
For a while, they talked of nothing but the book. They shared laughter and comments about the characters of their favorite book. They didn't even notice the rain had stopped.
"Oh, it's not raining already." She said as she jerked her head outside.
"Oh, yeah." He said in dismay. He liked talking to her.
He faced her and said, "I hate to break it to you but I really must go now." He prepared to leave.
"Oh, I'm gonna go as well. Where are you heading to?" He was surprised. Where is he going, really? He doesn't know where to go. All he knows is that he can't go to the hospital empty-handed. Ahh, whatever. He will just go see his best friend.
"Oh, I'm seeing a friend near the town plaza." He replied.
"Really? I'll be heading there, too. Mind if we go to town plaza together? We could continue our chat." She said and fixed her things.
"Uh, I don't mind at all. Yeah, we could continue talking about Henry The Great." They both giggled. As soon as they were both finished with their stuff, the left their table with five saucers and two cups, all empty.
"You know that is what I hate about the main character, Henry." She opened the topic as they were going out the door.
"Henry? Why?"
"He's too full of himself! He's too bossy to the point that he thinks he is sovereign! Why are all men like that? You all think you are so dominant." She let out a snore and made a face.
"Hey! Not all of us." He counter-argued.
She just snorted.
"Anyway, you girls are no better. Take Princess Diana for instance, she's taking her position for granted as an heir ruler, ordering around as if she already is the queen." He pointed out.
"Hey! She's my favorite character!" She jokingly hit his arm with hers.
"See?" He said.
"I hate that lady." He added.
"How dare you." She looked intently in his eyes.
They both laughed after that.
"I just loved her strong characteristic, you know." She shrugged.
"Yeah, I'll give her that. If she's a real-life character and I got the chance of seeing her, I think I would immediately kneel, not as a sign of respect but out of being afraid of her." He chuckled.
They had a nice chat. A very nice one. But I guess the end has come, as they reached town plaza.
She looked at her hesitantly, "Uhm, could you stay just a bit? I really need to go the comfort room and I don't want my things inside, you know, kind of dirty there."
He smiled. "Oh, sure."
"Thank you!" She immediately ran inside, leaving her violin case and her tote bag to him. He waited there patiently until she finally came out.
"Sorry, it's like there was a line for freebies in there." She smiled apologetically.
"No problem."
"Uh, I'm heading this way." She pointed east.
"You?" She added.
"Oh, my friend's here." He pointed west.
"So, I guess this is where we part ways, huh." She said.
"I had a nice chat with you." He smiled genuinely.
"Yeah, me too." She returned the smile. "Uh, I'm going now. Bye." She turned her back and started walking.
"Take care." She heard him say. She looked at him and smiled. Then she continued walking.
Wait, I should have gotten his number! She turned her head back, but it was too late. He isn't there already.
He started walking and smiled.
He took the wallet hidden inside his shirts, tucked above his pants. He opened it and smiled wider as he saw a lot of cash and cards inside.
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