Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

8.

'Long Black topped up for Julia!'

Popping the lid on the paper cup, Fenne held the drink out for the businesswoman. The barista smiled as the customer thanked her. She then turned back to the commercial coffee machine and started making the next order.

Fenne's hair was tied back in a ponytail and she wore her black uniform. The cafe she worked at was having a midday rush and with her coworker, Fenne was handling every customer in an efficient time. She steamed the milk perfectly and made iced and hot coffees without spilling any grounds.

The queue was getting smaller and only a few people enjoyed their drinks and goods inside. The dining area was only a narrow path, while some chairs were outside on the pavement. This kept the customer turnover quick and flowing, and made the cafe a popular business in the area.

She went to grab another lid for a latte but touched the metal table below instead. Without breaking her concentration, Fenne crouched down to peer underneath the work station. Another stack of lids sat waiting and she reached out to grab it, hearing the last customer put in their order.

'Just an iced latte, please.'

'Did you want to add any caramel?' Fenne heard her coworker ask.

'That would be nice, thank you.'

With the new stack of lids, Fenne straightened up in front of the coffee machine and finished the latte. She turned to the one of two people waiting and called out the order, prompting an old man to step forward and take it with a 'thank you'.

She went to make the iced latte, which was the last order of the rush, but was stopped when she heard,

'Fenne!'

With raised eyebrows, she turned back to the cafe and felt her heart skip a beat at the next customer.

'Joost! What are you doing here?'

'I'm on my way to get a tattoo. I didn't know you worked here.'

Joost was stood in a button-up shirt and in knee-length denim shorts. His blonde hair curled in a perfect mess and two silver necklaces hung where his shirt sat open. A chain draped from his belt loop and into his pocket and black sneakers covered his feet.

Fenne noticed the thin brown glasses on his nose and tried to remember if Joost ever wore glasses at school. She didn't have the time to think intently, as the tall Klein stepped forward to stand at the service area.

'I'm only here a few days a week. Just for some spending money, you know,' Fenne held the cup with 'iced latte w/c' written on the side. 'You wanted caramel, right?'

Joost nodded with a smile. Fenne had to tear herself away from the crinkles in the corner of Joost's eyes. His cheeks balled and his crystal clear irises shown through his blonde eyelashes. It was enough to make Fenne's knees weak, especially when he was stood where the noon sun shown through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The right side of his face was shadowed by his straight nose and Fenne wandered if his hands were as warm and soft as they were last weekend.

To distract herself, Fenne started to make his iced latte. Murphy's law seemed to take effect as caramel splattered over the edge of the cup and she nearly dropped the lid on the floor. She cursed her sudden nerves and looked through the corner of her eye to the service area.

With his hands in his pockets and bouncing on his heels, Joost didn't pay any mind to Fenne's mess-up. He appeared to be looking around the cafe with a distant look. It looked as if there was nothing of malice or negativity in his thoughts. There was nothing but the May sun on his pale skin and the promise for a cold drink before his appointment.