She feels bad for ignoring him. She really does. It's taken all of her willpower to avoid The Black Bean.
When he texts her, she almost caves.
The reminder of her failed exam keeps her strong.
After almost a month of Black Bean-less afternoons, she has almost forgotten about him.
Almost.
On a Friday evening, Jasmin is out on a walk. Her headphones are in, Agnes by Glass Animals playing, head down.
She has almost completely blocked out the world.
Bumping straight into someone else snaps her back into reality.
It's Smiley Boy.
Oh no.
"Oh god, I'm really sorry!" He exclaims, bending over to pick up her bag.
Jasmin hides behind her hair.
"Oh...it's...uhhhhh.....no big deal" she mumbles quietly.
He finally realises who she is. And he stops.
It must have only been thirty seconds of silence but it feels like years.
"Jasmin?"
She bites her lip and looks down, not daring to say a word.
"I...you....where were you?
She avoids eye contact.
"Were you...avoiding me?" Luke asks, and Jasmin can hear his voice trembling. "Jasmin?"
"I'm sorry." She whispers.
He stares at her intensely. She feels ashamed.
"I failed my history exam."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Because of me?" He asks, concern written all over his face.
"Um. Yeah."
"Crap. I'm so so sorry, I shouldn't have given you my number and...and-"
"Shut up! It was me, okay? Because you're so goddamn gorgeous and I couldn't stop looking and-" Her eyes widen, as she realises what she said.
"You think I'm gorgeous?"
"...Yeah."
There is another long pause. Jasmin just wants to melt, to run away, to be anywhere other than here.
"Come back to The Black Bean Jasmin. Please."
He finally gives her back her bag. She takes it, wordlessly, and watches as he walks away.
YOU ARE READING
Cappuccino
Short StoryJ a s m i n visits the Black Bean every day at 4:15pm to study. L u k e works at the Black Bean serving coffees. She loves coffee. He makes it. It was bound to happen.
