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'Ring'
The bell of the coffee shop rung throughout the store, alerting all of the other customers of my arrival into the small, homely café. There weren't many people seated inside, but that was to be expected since not many people knew of it.
The cafe was always so welcoming, its brown benches along the walls of the store, and little bouquets of sunflowers hanging from the ceiling always reminded me of home. There was always the pleasant aroma of coffee beans and caramel in the air.
I walked past all of the other tables, trying my best not to disturb anyone. I finally reached my destination, the café's counter where I could place my order. It looked the same as always, the white bricks leading up to the wooden countertop, and the fake vines and flowers sitting just gently around the edges.
I smiled, recalling the pleasant memories that took place at this counter. Still, there was a looming feeling in my chest as one thing had changed. The worker behind the counter was different. I knew he wouldn't be there, but for some reason, I couldn't help but falsely hope to see his smiling face asking for my coffee order.
"Excuse me, Miss? May I take your order?"
I snapped out of whatever daze I was in and quietly told the young worker I'd have a caramel macchiato. After all, it's what he recommended to me the first time I ever came here. I must've looked crazy to him, standing in front of the counter for at least half an hour, just staring at the menu. Mark didn't mind. He just patiently waited for me to make a decision.
When he finally got fed up with me not deciding, he walked off and made me a drink. He called it the café's 'specialty'. I remember how I hurriedly took out my wallet in an attempt to pay. But he pushed my hands back and told me that it was on the house. I tried to pay him back, but Mark was just too stubborn. He told me he'd rather get to know me than take my money.
"Caramel Macchiato for Sunny?"
The young worker had called out my name, holding a white coffee cup with little yellow flowers on it. I grabbed the cup and made my way to the corner of the shop where a small bench for two was. Walking to this bench was practically muscle memory at this point.
I placed my drink down on the table and sat down. The day he and I met, I sat at this same table absentmindedly scrolling through my Instagram page. When I looked up from my phone, I was met with his sparkling brown eyes. They looked so energetic and innocent, quite fitting for the coffee shop that he worked at.
"My name's Mark, and you can mark me in your heart!"
Oh, we both cringed when those words came out. It was the cheesiest way anyone introduced themselves to me, but I wouldn't trade that introduction for anything in the world. Our laughter broke out through the small coffee shop, large smiles adorning both of our faces.
