The Late Night Coffee Drinkers

Familiarity Revisited Part 2

"Are we stuck in our old familiar ways we always end at our local cafe for dessert and coffee" Millie said, as they entered into their safe haven. The barista knew Millie for two years, as she brings in her friendly vibe. There's no denying that just a little human interaction can make a difference in today's technologically advanced world. "Soy latte" the barista from Millie's usual cafe was transferred to this newly opened outlet, he remembered with a smile. She smiled and nodded "great memory, thank you".

Meanwhile, at a high-end apartment 38D, John was enjoying a cup of Americano which be brewed from his newly bought Keurig, newly shipped from the USA. Wearing a red seamless panty, and a white t shirt listening to 'Come As You Are' by Nirvana, working on financial accounts.

As they've seated down in a familiar place, the vibe, the barista, the lights, the music and the works. "Why are you still single" they haven't delved deep into each other's lives just yet. Millie isn't keen on talking about her relationship just yet, so she'd rather ask about Olivia first.

"I am relatively new here, but I used to date someone. What about you". Millie strategically bought herself some time by drinking a bit of coffee to answer Olivia's question. Silently wondering whether to disclose her relationship or not. It was not on the rocks, but filled with so many lingering thoughts about it. Would he be willing to relocate, make her be the boss or would he be willing to be a full time parent.

"I'm not that single but he is a good man" vague and honest yet direct "he wants to get married and have kids, and I don't want to move for him" trying to cover the paradox of happiness and loneliness she feels deep down.

"I like men with beard" Olivia shared, gulped a becoming cold hot-skinny-latte. "I'm the opposite, but I understand why you're single it's tough when you're here; there are hardly anyone good enough" a dose of brutal truth yet a dash of diplomacy. None of the men are of Millie's approved standards.

Her mind wandered, whilst Olivia was sending messages to her students regarding their field trip. Millie remembered well why soy latte had been her go to drink. Firstly, she became vegetarian almost vegan when she was a new expat in this locality. Secondly, the homesickness. Every Friday back at home, chocolate soy milk was her go to drink with her best friend from South Africa. Though, occasionally drinking Americano... unless on a weight loss season.

"Should we go to the roof deck bar, my colleague had checked out?" Olivia furthered the suggestion. When she showed Millie the photo her colleague sent her, it looked picturesque. Millie would want to go, she checked the bar's website and scrutinised the food and drinks menu but the food isn't to her standards and the drinks are classic from coffee, tea and cola to mocktails and cocktails. She wasn't much for the food, it was mainly to see the view. The lights from the buildings with the dark clear sky on the background. It sold them the idea to try it out. However, what holds Olivia back is the memory of the colleague whom she detests which Millie find annoying that Olivia cannot separate herself from triviality, and seems to hate everything and everyone but herself. Olivia's paradox of a persona, was starting to exhaust Millie.

For some reason, this seemed to be the day of trying out recommendations of colleagues and acquaintances. "Sure, the picture he showed you seemed nice" Millie eagerly agreed, "that person who recommended that restaurant earlier was a friend who I don't talk to anymore. He sounded like you're colleague, everything they do, everyone thing own and go are the best... even a low budget airline that has history of air crash". Olivia was smiling "sounds like my colleague yes. Did I tell you he went to the school dinner for teachers wearing his lion head print t-shirt. It is too loud of a fashion statement for a school function unless we are in a fashion school". Millie giggled, "those kinds of people are just frustrating. Old folks who never seemed to never mature or haven't got into the grips of reality or humanity. And here we are, tired of their bullshit".

"But let's try his bar that he had been, normally though not one hundred per cent accurate where people hang out says a lot about them" Millie reinforced the mood, "speaking of beard would you like this man" she took out her old iPhone and showed her a photo. "Who is he" Olivia asked, "a man with a beard I used to date from Czech Republic. Is he your type" Millie answered, half way through her soy latte. "No" she didn't at all seem interested. "I prefer the southern type, because they tend to be big in size" she is opening up gradually.

"So size matters?" The perk of Millie's beloved underpaid job, is she can definitely look poor therefore people who're not in the business assume she is unsuccessful. True to say, she is poor... she never even tip her barista. It is this 'poor-dom' that makes people talk to her, after all what fear can they have to a poor writer.

"No because you can just the person" Olivia responded, all Millie wanted us to understand why Olivia is still single.

"So in long term relationship and marriage, the size don't matter?" Millie is just ridiculously curious, she had to be.

"In long term it matters, it has to be big. Can we change the topic" Olivia demanded, but it made Millie happy to get what she wanted to know.

There was a few minutes of silence, Olivia isn't as informed as Millie to talk about feasible topics other than the Catholics of Poland. Millie feels frustrated at talking about comparative purchasing power of different currencies, as Olivia doesn't know market analysis.

Sometimes, Olivia's thick Polish accent drives Millie over the edge in silence. For such, her pronunciation of pizza is 'pitsa' and school is pronounced 'skoll' but Millie tries to ignore... as she didn't want to seem shallow, and that she is tolerant though with limits. Feeling afraid and worried about her friend's thick accent, hoping that she will never pick up on them as Millie wouldn't want to pronounce words that way should she become a reporter.

"The sun is setting, should we go to the roof deck" Millie took the lead. They walked towards it, both were anticipating a breathtaking view. Millie had a look at the drinks menu last night, basic cocktails after all this isn't the world class city of Hong Kong. She was only after the view.

As they were walking to the establishment, Olivia thought of a topic Polish politics. Millie's mind... shut down.

On the lift to the roof deck bar, there were two Russian men who are tourists. Olivia for no reason kept quiet, and Millie found it weird.

Finally they arrived on the designated floor for the roof deck bar, and were greeted by the receptionist who led them to their table.

The waitress is friendly in contrast to the first restaurant they entered, after all the roof deck seemed to be the oasis of overly friendly favour giving local gals to men willing to be hooked. There are tourists from other countries, and locals from outside the city. Millie didn't bother with the people and surroundings having warned herself about the quality of drinks available on the basis of her analysis.

The bar has its own lovely streak of cheap disco lights and skimpy dressed waitresses, the prices are reasonably not expensive and the view is not breathtaking unlike what Olivia's colleague had shown on the photo. Nonetheless it could just be that the urbanity lacked character, if there's any. Buildings that were neglected, houses down below surrounded by cars stacked altogether that all seemed out of place and the overall view of similar looking buildings look like collage art project done by a kindergarten.

"It's not bad" Millie's politeness overflows but deep down feels every ounce of frustration. Silently wishing, they could have just stayed in the safe haven of free air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi surroundings of the cafe; and not spend for a round of drink.

Olivia can only hold back so little honesty but they are friends for a few months now and just let it slip "it's actually cheap". Millie smiled, understanding that her friend is far more straightforward "I agree". She is aware that it is cheap, but she doesn't have to pretend that luxury should be her norm. After all, growing up with some luxury as a child is different that not having any of it.

John, despite his bitching apartment with a much lovelier view and Keurig machine felt the need of a human company. He sent a text to Millie - the person who made him feel totally comfortable with the way he is. Having that one person in one's life, is more than just promising.

The duo, still tried their best to enjoy the view of the city it was Millie's determination to make most on what she can. They took selfies, for the keepsakes of the moment.