Crimson Tides

A Cup of Coffee and A Chance Encounter

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the gentle hum of conversation filled the air of the cozy cafe, a familiar haven for Haven and her friend, Ryza. They were both juggling demanding art school schedules, their lives a whirlwind of deadlines, critiques, and late-night studio sessions. This weekly ritual, a shared cup of coffee and a catch-up session, was their lifeline, a moment of respite amidst the creative storm.

As Haven waited for her usual latte, her fingers instinctively reached for her phone, a nervous habit she’d developed since her impulsive Facebook “like” a few weeks ago.  She’d been avoiding Andrzej’s social media, trying to convince herself that it was all just a harmless infatuation, a fleeting moment of attraction that had no place in her busy life.

But the truth was, she couldn’t shake the feeling of connection, the echo of his presence lingering in her mind.  She’d found herself scrolling through his posts, admiring his art, his witty comments, his quiet vulnerability that shone through in his words.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Ryza said, her voice a gentle interruption to Haven’s internal monologue. “Everything alright?”

Haven blinked, startled back to reality.  “Oh, yeah, just thinking about a few things,” she mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.  “School, deadlines, the usual.”

Ryza raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp and knowing.  “Is it about that guy from the art opening?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Haven’s cheeks flushed, a wave of heat rising to her face.  “What guy?” she asked, trying to play it cool.

“You know... the one with the soulful eyes and the mysterious aura,” Ryza said, her smile widening.  “The one you’ve been stalking on Facebook”

Haven groaned, burying her face in her hands.  “You know I can’t help it,” she said, her voice muffled. “He’s just... so intriguing.”

Ryza chuckled, her gaze filled with a mixture of amusement and understanding. “I get it,” she said.  “He’s definitely got that ‘something’ about him.”

Haven nodded, her gaze drifting to her phone.  She couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity, a desire to see if he had posted anything new.  She opened his facebook feed, her fingers scrolling through the images, her heart skipping a beat as she saw a familiar scene.

It was a picture of Andrzej, sitting at a table in a cafe, a cup of coffee in his hand, his gaze directed towards the window, a pensive expression on his face. The cafe looked familiar, the décor, the layout, the warm lighting... it was the same cafe where she and Ryza were sitting.

Haven’s breath caught in her throat. He was here, in the same cafe, at the same time. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of excitement and apprehension washing over her.  Could this be a coincidence, or was it fate?

She looked up, her eyes scanning the cafe, searching for him. She saw him then, sitting at a table in the corner, his back to her, his head bent over a book.  He was even more handsome in person, his features sharp and defined, his aura radiating a quiet confidence that drew her in.

Haven’s mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. She wanted to approach him, to say something, anything, to break the invisible barrier that separated them. But she hesitated, her fear of rejection holding her back.

She looked at Ryza, signalling her about his presence but her friend couldn’t get it. So, she turned her phone to her with it’s screen on his post. Ryza looked up to her. Then, she just giggled, Haven shook her head. Stressed.

What to do?

“Go for it,” Ryza whispered, her voice barely audible above the cafe’s gentle hum. “What have you got to lose?”

Haven took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this was a chance, a moment that could change everything. She stood up, her legs trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on Andrzej. She was about to take the first step, to cross the invisible line that separated them. But just as she was about to approach him, a familiar voice called out her name.

“Haven! There you are!”

Haven turned to see a group of her classmates approaching, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation. They were on their way to a gallery opening, an event she had promised to attend. Haven felt a pang of disappointment, a sense of missed opportunity as she realized that her chance encounter with Andrzej might have just slipped away.

As she was about to leave, someone called out her name.

“Wyndhaven?” her heart skipped a beat with the mention of her full name. His voice. How could she forget his voice?

She signalled a “wait” to her friends and faced Andrzej.

“Hi! You again,” she let out a nervous-awkward chuckle to cover her nervousness.

“Yeah, and you again,” he said.

“Yeah... I saw your post earlier so I thought I should approach you” she confessed.

“My post...” he traced. “Actually, I saw you entered.”

She looked right straight to his eyes. He saw her.

“Really?”

“Yeah... and the truth is... I don’t know how to approach you so I figured out letting you know we’re on the same place will do the magic.” he explained, laughed at the end as if he thought his idea wouldn’t actually work.

Haven was about to say something when her friends called her out again. She glanced at them and realized they are gonna be late.

“They are in a hurry” Andrzej said.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of regret.  “I have to go.  But maybe we can meet up later?”

Andrzej looked up, his gaze meeting hers for a fleeting moment.  He smiled, a hint of warmth in his eyes. “Sure,” he said, his voice a low murmur.  “I’ll be here for a while.”

Haven nodded, her heart filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. She knew that their connection was something special, something that she couldn’t ignore. She had to find a way to see him again, to explore the depths of their connection, no matter the cost.