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The bell above the door rang as Haein stepped into the cosy cafe, her eyes scanning the room for an empty table. Spotting one by the window, she made her way over, her gaze catching sight of the chalkboard menu hanging at the ceiling behind the counter.
As she settled down into her seat, a boy's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Is this seat taken?"
Haein looked up to find a boy with straight black hair that cuts until his jawline and a friendly smile standing beside her table, holding a book about fish in one hand and a bowl of cola with a straw in the other.
"No, it's all yours," she replied, gesturing to the empty chair opposite her.
"Thanks," he said, sliding into the seat. "I'm Leehan, by the way."
"I'm Haein," she smiled at him.
"May I know why you've got a bowl of cola?" she asked wanting to know the answer.
"Well, it just tastes more good and more appealing to look at." He laughed off with his answer.
"What a weirdo," she mumbled, but it was loud enough to have Leehan hear.
Leehan chuckled. "I get that a lot. But hey, at least I'm a weirdo with good taste, right?"
Haein couldn't help but laugh. "Fair point. So, what's with the fish book?"
"Oh, I'm just really into marine biology," Leehan explained, tapping the book lightly. "I find fish fascinating. Did you know there's a species that can change its gender?"
Haein raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's... pretty cool."
"Yeah, nature's full of surprises," Leehan said with a grin. "So, what brings you to this little cafe?"
"Just needed a quiet place to unwind," Haein replied, glancing around the cosy interior. "And a good cup of coffee wouldn't hurt either."
"You're in luck then," Leehan said, nodding towards the counter. "They make a mean latte here."
As Haein ordered her coffee and they settled into conversation, it became clear that despite their initial banter, they had quite a bit in common. Their discussion ranged from books to travel to their shared love of quirky cafes.
Before they knew it, the afternoon had slipped away, and the cafe was starting to empty.
"Well, it's been great chatting with you, Haein," Leehan said, pushing his empty bowl of cola aside. "Same here, Leehan," Haein replied, smiling. "Maybe we'll bump into each other here again sometime."
"Hopefully," Leehan said, returning her smile. "Until then, happy fish spotting."
With a wave, he headed out of the cafe, leaving Haein with a warm feeling of connection and the lingering taste of good conversation.
"Oh man, I forgot to take his number..." she muttered, but soon enough Leehan came again and gave a piece of tissue to her. Before Haein could say anything, Leehan dashed to the street leaving Haein clueless. She opened the tissue paper that had been folded nicely and it revealed his phone number with a message, call me back.
