I decided to give Jesse another chance. He meant well. I'm not going to end our friendship — if you could even call it that — because of that.
"So, do you want to grab a coffee at our break?"
"Sure, I heard The Bridge has amazing beverages."
"They do, I went there this morning," a feminine voice answered behind us. We turned, startled.
"Oh, it's just you," I said.
"Just me? Don't use just when talking about me," and there it is.
"What do you need, Sigrid?"
"I just came to introduce myself. I didn't have a chance to personally meet this lovely guy."
"Yeah, yeah. Save it. Jesse, this is our Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag."
He expanded his hand to shake hers. "Nice to meet you, I'd love to say I've heard great things but I didn't really hear much about you."
Before she could open her mouth to speak, I told her: "Don't try seducing him, he's playing for the other team. Besides, you have a husband."
She didn't say anything in return, she ignored me and shook Jesse's hand, who was red in face from trying to hold in a laugh.
"So, how's that you've come to us?"
"Needed a change. Wanted to do something important where I had bigger influence."
"And how's could you get in without being elected?"
"They were looking for someone with knowledge about the environment and I was, most of my life, included in all the groups, organizations and so on, that promoted the ways to keep the environment clean and how to help. We were activists. I worked with Greta Thunberg for some time. If she wasn't that young, she'll probably be at my place. "
"Well, then we wouldn't meet."
I decided to jump in. "Maybe we would, through Greta or when we're on the protest or something."
"Don't, just don't. I'm not talking with you."
"No, but I'm talking with you."
"Okay, no need to fight. Looks like we're going to start. Bye, Seagull."
"It's Sigrid."
"Yeah, Sigul."
"Sigrid."
"Sigil."
"Doesn't matter. See you."
We watched her as she walked to her seat. Then she began chuckling. Jesse joined me, but we were discreet.
At least, I hope so.
Sigrid wasn't that bad when you get to know her — if she likes you, that is. And she doesn't like me.
"That was good! Sigul!" I laughed.
"Now that we're all here, these are the topics we're going to address..." Mark started.
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"This is a really good smoothie."
We were at The Bridge now. It was around 17:00, and I — for once — left my paperwork in the office.
"I never imagine you'd be a smoothie guy."
"I'm normally not, but since I'm doing something I normally wouldn't, I decided to go for a drink I normally wouldn't drink."
"And what's that you wouldn't normally do?"
"Go get a beverage with someone I've known for a few days, not even that."
"It's a good thing to break the routine and 'normality' sometimes."
"Yes, considering the 'normal' is different for individuals."
"See, you get me. We match."
"Don't start, Jesse," I laughed.
"Can I try?"
"It's just a regular vanilla smoothie."
"Doesn't matter, every new cup is different."
"Oh gosh, here. But don't use my —" it was too late. He drank from my straw. "Hey!"
"What?" he let go of the straw, some smoothie going down his chin.
"You drank from my straw!"
"I shouldn't have?"
"No, you shouldn't! It's my straw."
"Don't get angry, I'll go get another one for you."
"You better! I don't like germs."
He wanted to say something, but decided against it. He stood up and went to the counter, asking for another straw. I looked at his black coffee and decided to revenge.
I took three small sugar bags from the sugar box at the table and opened them, pouring the content into his cup. I smirked, quickly removing the evidence and acting normal.
Jesse came, opening a straw and putting it in my smoothie. "Here you go, sorry. Won't happen again."
"No worries, forgiven," because I put sugar in your coffee. I raised the smoothie cup with my hands, leaning against the chair as I sipped on the vanilla flavour, watching Jesse take a sip.
I felt like a badass from movies.
Then Jesse spit the coffee, it went all over the table and some drops joined the smoothie that was still on the side of his chin. His eyes were widened, and he was looking at me as I laughed, few people joining in.
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Au revoir, until the next weekend. Have a nice week.
