Cold Coffee | 𝐉. 𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨 ✓

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[Lee Saeyan]
23rd Jan 2023

         Right after two weeks, I saw you make your presence again. You were alone. Your friend no longer by your side. With the sight of your face, my heart couldn't contain itself. The butterflies that would once flutter in my belly, had come alive in mere seconds, when you smiled at me.

         I noted down your order again, it was the same; a strong coffee with a sweet confectionery on the side. You opted for a strawberry cupcake this time. My body shuddered for a minute when your fingers brushed against my hand while you were handing me money for your order. I let my fingertips linger over yours for a moment, until, your touch was seared on my skin—you pulled away almost too quickly.

         You took your cup of coffee and the plate of cupcake, back to the window booth where you were sitting that night. Everything seemed similar to that night, the cascading moonlight caressing your face and embracing your smile. Except, this time, I had caught you in daytime, in the blazing sunlight. The haze of the sun spilled into your eyes; your brown eyes seemed like melted honey, slipping down over your cheeks.

          You had your laptop opened in front of you, fingers pressing keys and creating an euphony of solace. I could hear it through the chatter abuzz in the cafe. It was helping me keep my mind off things, things I didn't want to think about. We shared a couple of awkward glances; even so, your smile didn't falter for one bit. Confounded by your cherry glazed lips, your sun-kissed cheeks, and your nebulous eyes, my heart thrashed on about in its bony cage—it wanted to be set free.

         I averted my gaze then. Because holding your eyes was suffocating for me. Because whenever I'd catch a glimpse of your upturned lips, I'd freeze in my mind. Because, you were riveting, an enigma in the waiting, a mystery to unravel.

         Hours dragged on, you did not move a space in that booth, continuing to type keys on your laptop. Sun changed its position in the sky, once it hung over our heads now it was ready to disappear beneath the sea of clouds. The lushness of vibrant pink and purple in the sky was a reminder, a reminder of how it was blushing because of your smile. My cheeks were tainted in the same shade, flustered and soft.

        You waved me toward your booth, asking for a refill. You had munched on your cupcake, the plate displaying the remnants of gruffly crumbs. I held the kettle of coffee in my hand, but my attention was focused on you. The cause of my distraction was you; your long lashes fluttering at me, your lips still curled in a smile.

        I filled your cup with too much coffee, and watched the white ridges of it overflow with the drink. A murky mess of brown stained the tablecloth beneath, it dispersed along like a river underneath, till it touched your hand. I apologised, and you said it was alright.

        We moved on quick from the mishap. You laid a couple of tissue papers where the coffee was spilled, while I stood by you, wondering what you were up to. You peeked at me through your long lashes, and offered me a warm smile.

        "I write." You said, as if you had read my mind for the question to answer. "I'm a local author. A romance author."

         I went on to ask you if there was any work I was familiar with. You shook your head and murmured, "I'm yet to make a debut."

         "Good luck." I wished you with all my heart, and went back to the counter.

          Our conversation was small, a bit awkward but for me it was overwhelming. I kept replaying it in my mind, the sound of your voice, the way you pronounced your words, all of it. Night rolled around, and you were gone, evanescing into the cold of the night breeze. I came by your booth to clean the table. Your coffee had gone cold again.