do you remember? | johnny seo

3.

i remember exactly how i met johnny.
it was the beginning of a monday, about 6 in the morning: right when the café opens. i was the only one on the morning shift, which is ironic since monday morning is the busiest time of the week. people hungover on the weekend, dreading the reality of having to actually go back into work, or school.

i was prepping some of the machines before any customers came in, and then i heard the bell ring right as i got the espresso machine to rumble to life. it was unbearably loud, so i turned it off because i wanted to be considerate to the customer.

the customer was a tall, lean, guy, probably in his mid-twenties. his dark hair was tucked into a red cap that read "chicago", and his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his sweatpants. i remember his confidence, even though he looked and was dressed like a hungover college kid. his stride was effortless, and he radiated charm.

i stumbled over the mat under the counter trying to get to the counter as fast as i could; i didn't want to be seen as unprofessional. johnny stood at the counter, looking at the board overhead, and that was the first time i noticed his eyes. a shade of deep brown; something i see every single day, yet it was like i was seeing it for the first time.

he glanced over at me and smiled.

i awkwardly smiled too big, and cleared my throat. "what can i get started for you?"

he looked back up at the board. "i'll have a large iced latte with, uhhh," he stared, lost in thought, "seven shots of espresso."

i accidentally choked on a laugh.

he quizzically cocked his head at me, smiling ever-so-slightly. "you alright?"

i nodded, avoiding eye contact. "mhm," i paused, contemplating if what i was about to say was appropriate, "but, the suicide-prevention hotline number is on a poster by the door, just in case you need it."

this earned an echoing laugh out of him, he clutched his abdomen and bent over, heaving with laughter.
this caused me to start laughing as well, giggling at the mere sound of his joy. his laugh soon became my favorite sound.

after laughing for a few minutes that honestly felt like hours, i started to make his order. while prepping the machines once again, i turned over my shoulder and said, "is this your first time here?"

"yeah, my new job is just down the street, so i figured it'd be cool to try something new. maybe support a local business or something." he smirked and leaned his arms onto the counter.

"or something," i smiled at his nonchalant tone. "well thank you for supporting local," i laughed as i started getting the shots ready. "did you just move here?"

"no, i've lived here for a few years. i grew up in chicago, then moved to south korea for university, and finally ended up here somehow. i just lost my old job, so now i work at the dance studio near here." he awkwardly explained. i doubt he meant to tell me all that stuff, probably just nerves.

"that's cool, i would have loved to study abroad during college." i remember fantasizing about studying in france or spain, learning a new language and a new culture.

i finished up his drink, and handed it to him across the counter. he paid, and thanked me.

"i hope to see you again," i smiled, internally wondering if maybe i came off as unprofessional.

"yeah, i do too," he said as he made his way to the door. "see you... wait, what was your name again?"

i hesitated, my voice catching in my throat ever-so-slightly. "savannah,"

"savannah," he repeated. "that's really pretty."
for a second, i thought he was going to leave without telling me his name, but right before the door closed, he called out from behind the glass, the straw of his coffee stuck between his teeth, "johnny."

he smirked and continued his way down the street.
as soon as i knew he was out of sight, i tried to stifle my smile and felt my pulse. damn, my heart feels like it's about to rip through my chest.

i squealed like a complete geek, and jumped around like i was the one who just had a latte with seven shots of espresso. this is what i do when a cute guy talks to me. i was practically a teenage girl at heart.
i spent the rest of the day imagining him walking back into the coffee shop. i hoped he would walk in flustered and grinning, having been as anxious as i had been, to see each other.

but, it didn't happen.

it didn't happen like that in the slightest.