σηє ѕнσтѕ ; ƒσσтвαℓℓ

Kenan Yıldız - One Shot 4

Coincidence & Coffee

Kenan Yıldız never thought he would find himself stumbling upon an old record shop in the heart of Turin. He would been aimlessly wandering the cobblestone streets, feeling restless. Football had taken over much of his life since joining Juventus, that he barely had time for anything else. But today, he felt an urge to escape the routine, to find something different.

As he entered the dimly lit shop, the musty smell of vinyl greeted him. The walls were lined with shelves of records, and the soften hum of classic Italian song played in the background. Kenan wasn't particularly a music aficionado, but he liked the nostalgic vibe of the place. As he flipped through the records, his fingers landed on an album cover featuring a dreamy watercolour of the Amalfi Coast. He pulled it out, intrigued.

"Good choice," a voice commented from behind him. Kenan turned to see a young woman, her dark hair tied in a loose knot, standing with a warm smile. She held a cup of coffee in one hand and a stack of records in the other.

"Yeah? I was just drawn to the cover." The footballer admitted, holding up the album. She was definitely a beautiful woman, he thought. "Do you know it?" She nodded, stepping closer.

"It's a collection of Italian jazz. Really beautiful, perfect for relaxing with a cup of coffee and a good book." Kenan glanced at her coffee cup and raised an eyebrow. "I take it you're a regular here?" She laughed, the sound light and melodic. "Sort of. I live around the corner, and this place is one of my favorite haunts. I am Y/n, by the way."

"Kenan" he replied, shaking her hand as good as possible, since she was holding her stuff. "I am more of a football addict, but I guess I am exploring new interests today."

The beautiful woman tilted her head, slowly recognising the man who was standing in front of her. "Are you not that famous football player? I have seen you on TV. Strange, it's not every day that you meet a footballer in a record shop." Kenan chuckled, feeling surprisingly at ease. "Yeah I suppose it is but out of character. But what about you? Music enthusiast or just killing time?"

"A bit of both." Y/n said. "I am an art student, so I am always looking for inspiration. Music helps me think, and this shop has a great atmosphere."

They continued talking, moving to a small seating area at the back of the shop. The conversation flowed easily, covering topics from Y/n's favorite artist to Kenans experience in Italy. Kenan found himself enjoying the easygoing nature of their interaction. There was no pressure to be the perfect athlete, just a simple genuine exchange.
"Do you mind if I join you for coffee?" Kenan asked after a while, gesturing the café across the street that Y/n had mentioned earlier in their conversation. The art student smiled. "I would actually like that." They left the record shop and crossed the street to the cozy tiny cafe. Over coffee, Y/n talked about her latest art project—a series of paintings capturing the essence of Turin's hidden corners. Kenan listened intensely, fascinated by her passion and perspective. He found himself sharing more about his own life, beyond the football field, discussing his love for architecture and how he sometimes sketched buildings in his free time.

"That is indeed interesting." Y/n said, her eyes lighting up. "I would love to see your sketches sometimes. Maybe we could do an art trade— one of your sketches for one of my paintings." Kenan smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement at the idea. "I'd like that. Maybe I could even show you around some of the spots I like in the city?" The youngster started to scratch his neck out of nervousness. "Sounds like a plan." Y/n agreed, her smile genuine.

As the afternoon slipped into evening, the café filled with the warm hues of sunset. They reluctantly finished their coffees, neither wanting the conversation to end. Kenan felt refreshing sense of normalcy and connection that he rarely experienced outside his football life. Outside the café, they exchanged numbers, agreeing to meet up again soon. Kenan felt a strange sense of anticipation as he watched Y/n walk away, her steps light and confident. She is really beautiful, he once again realises. For the first time in a while, he felt like he had found a piece of life beyond the pitch—something real and unforced.

He couldn't wait to see her again.