In the quiet embrace of Saturday's early hours, I gently unlocked the windows, allowing the morning air to caress my skin. Silently descending, I tiptoed to avoid waking Levi, proceeding to prepare the materials for our tea. As I focused on the task, I felt an unexpected embrace from behind—Levi's head leaning over my shoulder, peppering my neck with tender kisses. Turning, our lips met in a soft morning kiss.
"Good morning, Levi," I greeted, hands gently caressing his cheeks. "Good morning, love," he replied, still half-asleep. A shared giggle ensued before he retreated for a warm bath.
Skipping ahead, after completing the morning preparations, Levi went down and opened the door to our quaint café.
As Levi stepped outside, his gaze fixed something above him—the cafe's signage, indicating the cafe's name. Intrigued, I joined him. "Hey, what's the matter?" I inquired, following his line of sight.
"I just can't help but notice that the shop doesn't have a proper name," Levi remarked, his attention focused on the sign. "Tea Shop? Is that it? No offense, but that's shittiest name I've encountered," he added, injecting humor into the observation.
"I know, right? Someone named it when we were still building this café. I had no idea what to name it, so we settled for 'Tea Shop,' I chuckled, recounting the story behind the lackluster name.
"Who was it? It better not be a guy or else," Levi's potential inquiry or should I say jealousy was halted by my index finger on his lips.
"It was my dad, you jellyfish," I giggled, wrapping my arms around his shoulder. Levi, sporting a bemused expression, questioned, "Who are you calling a jellyfish, huh?" Our teasing echoed through the early morning air.
"Let's head back inside. It's a bit chilly out here, especially this early. I don't want either of us catching a cold," he suggested. I nodded and smiled as we retreated into the warmth of the café, anticipating the arrival of customers.
Our café consistently attracted a multitude of customers daily, offering the finest culinary delights. Nestled in the middle of the alley, it greeted the sun each morning and basked in the moon's glow at night. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and tea wafted through the air, enticing visitors from blocks away.
Observing Levi with a smile as he served a berry cake to an elderly woman warmed my heart. The sight was particularly adorable, accentuated by his reluctant wear of a pink polka dot apron—a victory achieved through playful persuasion on my part. Although convincing him to don the whimsical garment had proven challenging, the joy it brought me made the effort worthwhile.
Despite the routine nature of the day, an inexplicable sentiment lingered in my heart—a blend of happiness and unease. A foreboding intuition whispered that something ominous awaited.
"Oi. Are you okay?" Levi's concerned voice disrupted my thoughts as he entered the kitchen. "Yeah, I'm good, Love. Don't worry," I replied, forcing a smile. A customer's request for a blueberry cheesecake diverted our attention, prompting Levi to begrudgingly respond, accompanied by a playful glare before departing.
Amused by his antics, I returned to my tasks until the day's end, marked by the closing of the shop.
To dispel the lingering unease, I ascended the stairs for a bath. Emerging from the bathroom, clad in a long white hoodie and black shorts, I sought Levi to bid him goodnight.
Approaching the second floor, I encountered a topless, dripping-wet Levi, his lower half concealed by a towel. Engaged to dry his hair, he inadvertently caught sight of me. Cheeks ablaze, I instinctively covered my face.
As the seconds passed, I cautiously peeked through my fingers, finding him staring, surprised, and slightly flushed. It dawned on me that my choice of attire—a hoodie and nearly imperceptible shorts—contributed to our shared blush, reminiscent of high school awkwardness.
Breaking the moment, Levi tossed the wet towel he had used earlier onto my face. "What? Haven't seen a half-naked guy before?" he teased before retreating to the bathroom. Chuckling, I returned to my room, exchanging shorts for comfortable PJs before settling into bed. Another day concluded with a playful encounter, leaving a lighthearted atmosphere in its wake.
*knock* *knock*
In the hushed stillness of my room, a subtle knock reverberated. "May I come in?" His monotone voice sought permission, to which I playfully retorted, "No." Despite my protest, the door swung open, revealing him in a somber ensemble of grey sleeves and black pants.
As he settled beside me, concern etched on his face, he implored, "You can tell me, Alyana. What's troubling you?" Tenderly holding my hands, he recounted an earlier encounter in the kitchen, where my distant demeanor had not gone unnoticed.
Speech eluded me, and my gaze fell. Levi gently lifted my chin, earnestly urging, "Tell me, Alyana. I can't bear to see you like this."
A torrent of emotions welled up, and I admitted, "I don't know, Levi. Something doesn't feel right. I'm scared, though I try to convince myself otherwise. You know how good my instincts are." He enveloped me in a warm embrace, reassuring, "It's okay. I'm here for you."
Amidst the quietude, I hesitantly questioned, "Everything's okay, right?" His comforting response dissipated some of the apprehension. "Shhh. I'm here. Don't cry," Levi whispered, his soothing touch calming the storm within me.
Once tears subsided, he gently placed me in bed. As he prepared to leave, a plea escaped me, "Stay. Sleep here tonight, Levi." His tender smile granted my request, and we shared a moment of intimate vulnerability.
"Levi, could you sing me a song?" I asked, a touch of vulnerability in my tone. His initial resistance melted, and he relented, "Fine, but promise me something in return."
"What is it?" I inquired as he looked away, shyly revealing, "Sing for me someday."
A playful agreement ensued, and I nestled against his chest, lulled by both the cadence of his voice and heartbeat. It became a poignant night, etched in the recesses of my memory.
A bad dream, however, brought a sudden jolt. I awoke, alone and trembling, dismissing the apparition of Levi by my side. Yet, his absence persisted. Desperation drove me downstairs, where an ominous note atop the counter betrayed his departure.
The rain mirrored the turmoil within me as I frantically sought him outside. Each raindrop mirrored my tears, and the thunder became an echo of my despair.
"You lying bastard!" Anguish erupted from me, piercing the calm of the night. The downpour intensified, mirroring the tempest of emotions within. In the relentless search for a vanished presence, the truth unfolded, and I collapsed, torn between anger and sorrow.
[End of Chapter 3]
YOU ARE READING
SpecialTea For You // L. Ackerman
Fiksi PenggemarAlyana Smith is a 29-year-old woman who owns a cafè in the middle of an alley. Her mother died when she was just 7 yrs old. Her father, Erwin Smith took care of her until she can handle herself. At the age of 15, she learned how to stand alone and b...
