PitBabe Cast: Imagines

AlanJeff: Grease and Coffee

Note: This prompt was given by 

Jeff had long noticed the man who walked into his café at exactly 01:05 PM each day, without fail. For the past month, the same customer had arrived, settled into the same spot by the window, and ordered the same, peculiar dessert—an affogato, but with a triple shot of espresso and basil-flavored white chocolate ice cream. The flavor combination was unique, a little strange, and undoubtedly an acquired taste. Yet, Jeff never judged. After all, he had his own odd preferences when it came to coffee and desserts—like mint-strawberry ice cream with his affogato. Everyone had their quirks.

Jeff noticed that this customer—whom he'd learned was named Alan—wasn't just another customer. Alan had been incredibly loyal, a steady stream of business for Jeff's small café, and he always came at the same time, ordering the same thing. It was clear he was one of the café's biggest supporters, even if it wasn't a huge crowd, and Jeff appreciated it but there was more. There was something about how Alan would smile whenever he took his first sip of the affogato. That genuine, bright smile, the kind that made his dimples appear and lit up his face—Jeff couldn't help but notice how it seemed to light up the café as well.

Jeff wanted to do something small to show his appreciation, a little thank you for the consistent business Alan brought in, but also for the way his presence seemed to fill the café with a little extra warmth. So, one day, as he prepared Alan's usual affogato, Jeff decided to do something personal—he slipped a little note under the glass holding the affogato, just a quick message of gratitude.

"Affogato for Alan," Jeff said aloud, smiling at the dessert as he placed it carefully on the small plate.

The note was simple, just a small thank you: "Thank you, Khun. Enjoy~" The word "Khun" was a gentle nod to Alan's cultural background, a polite term of respect that Jeff had picked up during their many interactions. Below the note, Jeff had drawn a tiny, adorable rabbit, just for a little extra flair.

When Alan came in that afternoon, he noticed the note immediately as Jeff set the affogato before him. His eyes lit up, and there was a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he read the message. He'd always admired Jeff from afar, making sure to time his daily visits to coincide with when Jeff would be working. He'd been coming to the café for a while now, not just for the coffee and desserts, but for the chance to see Jeff, the cute barista who had captured his attention from day one.

Alan had never been particularly bold or outgoing, so he'd been patient, hoping one day Jeff might notice him. To his surprise, today seemed to be that day. The note, with the sweet little rabbit drawing, made his heart flutter in a way he hadn't expected. He carefully folded it and slipped it into his pocket, a small but treasured keepsake of what felt like an unspoken connection.

As he dug into his affogato, the bitter espresso and the sweet, creamy basil-flavored ice cream swirling together in his mouth, Alan couldn't help but smile. He was genuinely happy—happier than he'd been in a while. The warmth of the café, the rich flavors of his affogato, and the thought that Jeff had acknowledged him in such a thoughtful way filled him with a quiet sense of joy.

Meanwhile, Jeff, as he busied himself wiping down tables on the other side of the café, couldn't help but glance over at Alan. He'd noticed the smile. It was hard to miss, the way Alan's dimples deepened as he grinned from ear to ear. A soft smile tugged at Jeff's own lips, but he quickly masked it, turning his attention back to his cleaning tasks. There was something about Alan's happiness that brought a strange comfort to Jeff, something he hadn't quite figured out yet.

Day after day, Alan continued to return to J Cups. At the same time, in the same order, and each time, Jeff made sure to include a small note. Sometimes they were a simple "Thank you" with a new doodle; other times, he'd add something silly like a drawing of a cat or a quick inside joke. Each note was a little piece of Jeff's affection, his quiet way of saying that he noticed Alan's loyalty and wanted to reciprocate in kind.