Zero

The bell chimed and on reflex, he lifts up his head to see a drenched woman. "Evening. Order?"

She startles at his voice. "Hot cocoa."

He throws his barista smile and makes her order but his eyes never leaving her. Her eyes are blank, void of any emotion. 'How will smile looked on her?'

"Here, you could use a towel."

She rejects it but he insists, "You don't want people staring." At that, she takes it and mutters thanks. Something gnaws at the pit of his stomach seeing her like that.

The quivering lips, hitched breaths and crystal eyes. 'Just cry,' he wants to say but she's gone.

Cleaning tables, he folds his sleeves when he realizes the number, '0'

He rushes out but it's too late.

'I just missed my soulmate.' 

---

She sips her drink, the towel wrapped around her. 'What a nice man.'

Her phone rang again. Angrily, she picked it, "We're over, Mikail! Now, do me favour and leave!"

'Cheater.'

Another fate goes terribly wrong. She caresses the timer displayed on her wrist.

---

Seven more weeks until her fateful encounter.

Stepping in, she can see the same barista at the counter. His eyes widen when he sees her, heart beating wild and palms sweating.

"Hello. A hot-"

"Hot cocoa?" He mentally slaps himself, 'Really smooth, Alif'

Her lips curve into a small smile. "Yes, please."

He nods, not trusting his ability to speak without looking like an idiot.

She turns with her order and bumps right against someone. The person grunts in pain as the hot drink runs down his shirt.

"I'm so sorry!", embarrassed, she quickly takes out her tissue.

The man stops her and that's when she sees him. The butterflies in her stomach are fluttering like crazy and when he smiles at her, it felt as if it is only two of them there.

The forgotten barista turned away with a heavy heart.

---

"Thank you for tonight, Daniel."

She plops onto her bed with a lopsided grin plastered on her face and lets out a contented breath. 'This is it. It's him.'

Highlights of today's flash through her mind; his smile and laughter. How he makes her feels special. He charms his way right into her heart.

She giggles, 'Geez, so cliché.' Being giddy and flustered, it feels like she's back to teenager.

The number '5' at her wrist caught her attention. 'Soon.'

---

"Welco-", his heart leaps.

Her smile catches him off guard. It's like ray of sunshine is filling all over the place. There are stars in her eyes and roses on her cheeks. The curve line makes him feels so right.