It was very cold that morning.
The breeze was always there, letting its presence be known as it danced with my hair and grazed my arms and legs.
Although, it was cold that morning, my insides felt very warm. And I suspected it had nothing to do with the coat I was wearing over my jacket or the scarf wrapped around my neck, but with the fact that once I entered through the doors of that cafe, I would see you again.
Of course, there was a possibility that I had been played with, taken advantage of my naivety, but there was a part of me saying that you were someone who could be trusted. So as I reached my destination with my heart beating wildly, and pushed one door open, the bell dinging above me, I scanned the entire place. I looked around slowly, and when I did not see your face that was sure to stand out in the not so crowded cafe, I did a double take and a triple, just to make sure.
When my search came out unsuccessful, I hoped. That maybe you were in the bathroom, or outside, answering a call, just a little late, or I was too early. But as I glanced at my watch, I decided that it was no use coming to this cafe. With a heavy heart, I decided to head back home and watch Gone With the Wind for the nth time. Just as I was about to turn around and leave, I went smack dab into a warm albeit hard chest.
"I'm so sorry," I began to say, embarrassed. There were about five seconds of silence until I looked up and felt my cheeks grow redder and warmer.
The universe must have not been on my side since the person I had just unceremoniously bumped into was you.
"Hey," you said. "I'm sorry I was late, that was rude of me. But I had to pick these up for you."
You handed me a wrapped box. I took it, stunned. Nevertheless, I held it in my palms, treating it like the most delicate thing ever. To others it might have seen it like a box covered in colorful paper. But to me, it was something much more than that. It was the universe.
"Thank you," I said in small voice, "You didn't have to, though."
"It's no big deal. "
With flushed cheeks, I followed you to a booth and sat down. You grabbed the book I lent you and handed it over. You easily started the conversation, and I realized that talking to you felt comfortable, with no hints of awkwardness. You talked about something, and gave me time to react to it.
"Like why can't scientists just focus on trying to sustain endangered animals instead of trying to bring back extinct ones," you argued.
"I wouldn't mind seeing a saber-toothed tiger or a mammoth. After watching Ice Age, how could I not?"
"Yeah, but would you trade the bringing back of saber-toothed cats or dodo birds with the existence of pandas?"
And we just talked that late afternoon, about anything that can be talked about. Until the sun set and the sky became dark. And as I looked out the window, with you in front of me rambling about something,
I noticed the stars twinkle a bit brighter.
