You, your cat and our best love story [MewGulf AU]

1.2 You

And all I can think is what are you getting yourself into, Mew... at the age of forty-three, like a schoolboy, you fell in love with a cute young boy, and you were so hung up with this book then… that didn't even see his name on the badge.

I've never considered myself a sucker for quick sudden affairs, or at least I've never taken them seriously. And here it's just some kind of obsession…

Since this moment, my feet carry me to your cozy bookstore every evening after work. Now I know your name. And although some of your customers directly address you by it, especially when people thank you for your help in choosing a book or a nice note on the cover, I... I become some kind of an idiot at this moment - see your smile, your eyes and the play of soft dimples on your cheeks and everything ... completely all the words fly out of my head. I'm just crazy, that's all.

Like I'm the mute, not you .. sweet boy.

God, you're a fool, Mew...just an old, lonely fool.

For all my evening visits during the week, I only make one more purchase. No, not because of lack of money, but because I know that watching you from the corner is still very good... but trying to withstand the close glow of your youth is too much. That message about my smile warms my soul. But one evening, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the note you had sticked on the girl's book in front of me.

"A wonderful choice.

PS: And you are wonderful too."

Ah... what a pity... and I, an old moron, hoped that the message was something special for me. I might have known it was just a matter if marketing. Well, how can I not consider myself a fool after that? What a shame…

I'm not ruffling the shelves today. I pick up the first volume of Shakespeare's sonnets I can find and head to the counter. There is not a single person in the queue. Oh my... I won't even have any time to pull myself together.

"Today in cash. I left the wallet with cards in my car." I say it so quickly and I don't know why I add these explanations. Sure you don't care.

You nod in the direction of the screen above the cash register, take my money and give me a check and the change.

With some excitement, I'm waiting for what you will write down there today…

"Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight Awakes my heart to heart's  and eye's delight...

PS: My favorite sonnet is 47. And Yours?"

While I read the lines from the sonnet, I almost drop the book out of my hands... it takes me a while to realize that it's just a quote. But... do I really need to answer? Or is it just marketing too… So. If I don't say a word now, I'll make a complete fool of myself.

"You know... G-Gulf," please, Mew, don't get so stupid, just don't get stupid! "I don't know Sonnet 47, and neither do the others... but I'll definitely read them now."

I'm wildly embarrassed — why are you so nice, Gulf?.. You nod very quickly, and your smile doesn't melt, but I... I'm going to melt right here. Who's going to scrap me off the floor?

"Gulf, are you working until closing hours today?"

You give me a brief nod.

"You mean another half an hour?"

One more nod.

"Then ... Gulf. I guess my offer may seem inappropriate, but please do not think of me in any wrong way. I... I just want to thank you, you ... then and today... in general, so you cheered me up with these messages," please, brain, do not switch off, "so, what if we go out to have a cup of coffee? The place is not far from here. I have good intentions. You can trust me, Gulf."

Your face doesn't blush, you don't frown, but you just smile so timidly and write something in your notebook. Then you hand me a piece of paper:

"Is it okay if I drink tea? I don't like coffee?"

"Tea?.. I mean, do you accept my invitation?"

You don't nod this time. Still in the same notebook, you write a neat "yes".

And I stand there and don't know how to calm the rapid pulse that threatens me with tachycardia. Meanwhile, you're writing down something again.

"Do you mind if I take somebody with me?"

Tachycardia?.. Whatever it is. I'm going to have a scar all over my heart. Well, of course… I'll be with them like a busy father who has decided to spend the evening with his grown-up children. Well, what now?

"Yes, of course, your... your…"

I don't have time to finish my sentence, because you bend over and soon you have a fluffy ginger cat in your arms, its bushy tail is reaching the counter. Then a new note appears.

"He misses me so much when I leave him home alone that I have to take him to work. He is vaccinated and will sit in his carrier. May I take my cat with me?"

I don't remember if I answered you, just nodded, or just stood there like an idiot, crushing my forehead, with my eyes fixed on you. And with my heart. Glued to your smile.