miraculously devastated - inspired by a true story

chapter one

this was not how it was supposed to end. he never looked back.

until now.

i hated my job. coffee, coffee, and more coffee. and occasionally an iced coffee. i knew that the standard employee is supposed to be happy, and smiley, but no. i needed the money and that was it. college dorm rent was expensive as hell. i was doodling a hanging man on a cup when an old woman walked in. "hi there, uhh..yuri?", she glanced at my fading name tag hanging off the green apron, "could i get a quad long shot grande in a venti cup half calf double cupped no sleeve salted caramel mocha latte with 2 pumps of vanilla substitute 2 pumps of white chocolate mocha for mocha and substitute 2 pumps of hazelnut for toffee nut half whole milk and half breve with no whipped cream extra hot extra foam extra caramel drizzle extra salt add a scoop of vanilla bean powder with light ice well-stirred.... oh by the way, i have a free reward." she old woman smiled, practically smirked at me while i put her order in. i simply glared and wrote 'karen' on the cup without even asking her name. about four minutes later, her drink was done, and it looked gross. she grabbed her drink off the counter and left before i could even call her over. i sighed and took my place behind the register. glancing at the clock, i thanked the heavens that my shift was over. there was almost no one in the shop, which i was fine with, it was a small business anyway. i picked up the sharpie and continued my doodle of a hanging man on a cup. i didn't bother picking my head up when someone walked up to the counter.

"hi welcome to the human bean how-" my cup fell to the floor. it was him.

(guys its flashback time)

may 10, 2022. the eighth grade.

i really did like him. i didn't mean to fall for him. it was just...how could you not? irresistible charm, and this smile that could literally light up the room. and the humor. his damn humor never failed to make me start bawling on the ground laughing. the only problem was, i was just a friend. i tried so many things. hugs, and..well, hugs. i dropped so many hints, and yet, he never realized. so i ended up confessing. did he reject me? not really....? well not technically. he was playing basketball at the time, so while i was pouring my heart out, he was watching the game. he said he didn't feel the same way, but somehow we ended up as science partners. i complained and complained to my friends about how oblivious and stupid he was, but what if he really just didn't like me that way? we remained friends until the end of the school year, but i went to a different high school. i never saw him again. he wrote his name and nothing more in my yearbook. no good-bye, no nothing.

"long time no see din." my mouth hung open. and it stayed there. the entire time i surveyed him. his tan skin currently covered in a turtleneck sweater, and slightly ruffled chocolate-colored hair. he was even taller than before. i was over him. definitely. right? yes. when had he ever owned a turtleneck? last time i saw him he was still wearing marvel t-shirts and cargo shorts. although you probably couldn't wear those during the rainy season in rockester, new york.

"din....?" i replied.

"you seriously don't remember?" he grinned, making me bite back a smile. of course, i remembered. that was his nickname for me when our school did a production of aladdin. i was the aladdin understudy, he was aladdin. he was alad, i was din. my friend, lily, was jasmine. was a little bit jealous? yes. watching them rehearse just made me a little squirmy. she found out about the whole situation with me and ayaan and fully supports it. she even writes fanfiction (cough). "that was like the highlight of the eighth grade!" i couldn't hold my laugh anymore when he started singing a whole new world. by reflex, i sang along.

"okay okay, i remember." i smiled, "did you want anything..?"

"yeah-" a loud rumble broke from the sky, and water tore through the sky. it was storming. again. the two of us just stood there in shock looking out the window. i could feel his glance on me as i watched more rain pour onto the streets. couples grabbing each other's hands, running towards the "i don't think it's safe for anyone to go out right now."

"okay, i guess so. no one else is in here, and we close in," i glance down at my watch, 6:57, "three minutes." i walked out from behind the counter and motioned for him to sit down. "now you can tell me all about your seven years away from yours truly."