Cymbeline

{ 1 }

24 February

If it hadn't been for your bright neon tie-dye t-shirt that you wore that day, I might not have noticed you at all.

It was quite sunny outside, although the winter was still holding onto the cracks on the branches of the trees and the creeks in the roads of the alleys. The breeze that blew sometimes was the proof that winter had not seeped away entirely.

However, you did find it out to be irrationally hot.

I was a regular customer at The Orion, with a fixed seat and a fixed order. So, I sat there, on my favorite seat with my cup of coffee in front of me, the steam rising up in the air. I was reading the chemistry homework that our teacher had assigned us and didn't bother to look when the door jingled. I just shivered a little due to the sudden gush of wind that came in.

Little did I know it was you.

I was simply concentrating on my work. Yet, I could hear your voice behind me, a high pitched steady voice with a ridiculous chirping . It hurt my ears and annoyed me to the least.

"Good morning, Miss. What can I get you today?" Mariah asked and even though my back was turned towards her, I could hear her smile in her voice. I had known her too long, so much, that I could decipher her emotions even before she expressed them.

"Uh, hi, " , you began with the loudest voice in probably the whole of the town and a few people turned their heads to look at you, "I was just wondering if you have mint tea? Like, my friend told me that the mint tea over here is amazing. And I was like, I have to try it then." You said.

Mariah probably nodded because you muttered a 'thanks'. I thought it was over and done with and now your voice wouldn't annoy me as you plunged into a second of silence, your noisy voice vanishing into the Ed Sheeran song playing in the cafe, the steady murmur of people chatting and the soft tinkling noises of cutlery against glass.

But you absolutely had some other plans. Because suddenly you yelled out "Is it always this hot here? I mean Jesus Christ, it is not even summer. I am probably gonna boil down to vapour during summer. It is so hot. My dad told me that it was a hot place, but I wish I could have guessed."

I absolutely groaned.

You were so loud and annoying and so, maddening.

I tried to focus my eyes on the uses of thermite but you had apparently decided that you wouldn't let me. So I held the book in front of my eyes and waited until Mariah handed you your order and you left.

Which she soon did because then, you came and stood right in front of me, your back towards my face and I looked up. Because your ridiculous neon tie-dye t-shirt was way too bright to not notice.

I lifted my head up and watched as you scanned the room for an empty seat. You clucked your tongue against the roof of your mouth when you couldn't find a place. At first, I thought about offering you the empty seat on my table. But after judging how talkative and clamorous you were, I realised I had to finish my homework and so decided against it.

All of a sudden, you absolutely sprinted across the room, probably because you found a place to sit. I watched with horror, as you tripped on your own legs almost 3 times, and my heart jumped a little each time in fear you would fall.

I sure did think you were a noisy pest, if not anything else, but I did not actually hate you. Nobody could hate a stranger you see.

The couch at almost the end of the room, which I felt was your current destination, faced towards me. So, when you squished yourself in between the two men, I had a clear view of you. And despite how infuriating you were, and your ear splitting voice, I found you arresting, a stunning face which captured all of my senses, halting my brain.

You had wide, slanted eyes, appropriately placed behind a pair of glasses, perched upon your tiny nose. You had plump, rosy lips and brown skin and midnight black hair that sat in a bun atop your head, a few strands sticking out of it and some falling on your face.

Everything was so mismatching, nothing complimented the other, yet your face looked so flawless to me. So radiant. So breathtaking.

You were made up of imperfections and flaws and mismatches, yet when everything was conjoined, it looked astounding.

Almost like an angel made out of demons.
Almost like a rose made up of thorns.

Sure you were a noisy pest who talked ridiculously loud, yet you were pretty enough. I watched you as your perfectly manicured hands wrapped around the white mug and you tilted the cup to your pink lips. You took a sip, your eyes trained on the window outside and your other hand pushing the stray hairs from your face.

And then your eyes shot up to your forehead, the mug slipped from your hand and you shot up from your seat, yelling a loud ' F.uck' . The whole cafe stilled and everybody's eyes were on you, judging you, validating you. Parents of toddlers gave you disapproving looks due to your loud cursing. And you blushed, a deep shade of red, looking around the cafe at everybody. Mariah rushed over and you kept repeating that you are sorry. Mariah absolutely waved you off and told it it was alright and that your order was coming up.

Mariah had patience.

My lips twitched upwards into a small smile at how absolutely clumsy you were. I felt like laughing, maybe it was my chemistry homework that drove me insane enough to laugh at other's miseries, but I just felt like it. I held it back, however, realising that it wouldn't be the nicest of me.

And as I watched you standing there, your eyes focussed on the man cleaning up the tea, I lifted my cup of coffee and found it was empty.

So, I decided to do you a favor. Instead of refilling my cup and showing my false indifference, I shoved my book into my backpack. I pushed the wooden chair backwards, the action causing a low creak, and I disposed the cup into the nearest bin. I waved Mariah a quick goodbye, and decided to spare you one last glance, only to make my heart leap into my throat as you stared back at me. But then your eyes swiftly drifted to the empty table and your shoulders sagged with relief as you walked over to it. I opened the door just in time the creak was re-emitted.

A cold gush of wind hit my face and I wondered if I had taken the right decision by letting go of the warmth and comfort of The Orion, I reminisced your face, your wide eyes, black hair and pouty lips and I smiled.

Sure you were a noisy pest, with a ridiculous tie-dye neon t-shirt and with a clumsiness that could make the worst fail, but I had taken a certain liking towards you.

And that was how I was introduced to you. And that was the day, things started drifting towards the change.

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Woo-hoo! The first chapter is up. Honestly, I have been thinking of writing this story for a long time.

Also, if the writing is a bit crappy, it's because WRITING FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A BOY IS DIFFICULT OKAY.

Happy reading. ♥

(sorry for all the internet shouting)

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