"Why Is It There?"

Prologue

Raquel

Thirty more minutes..., I thought to myself as I was growing more and more impatient. This day was an utter disaster. In fact, the third-bad day in a row. What the fuck was I supposed to do now? I heave a sigh and bury my face in a book. 

(Thirty minutes later)...I stormed out of the room, muttering random words under my breath. I made sure not to look at anyone coming my way. I stomped off straight to the exit of the building and finally slammed the door behind me. The relief of being outside....the fresh air...

I need a Latte, I told myself as I watched another group of girls stroll their way around the campus with several mugs in their hands. It was only a five-minute walk to my favorite coffee bar...but I told myself, not today. I think a part me just wanted to take a really long walk for some time. 

Soon, I arrived at the Barner's Café which was roughly a fifteen-minute walk from the main campus. I had only been here once before; about three years ago...but only to escort a friend of a friend, who would usually pick-up a couple of croissants for breakfast. This time, it was just me; no friend. 

I slowly walk up to the counter and a strawberry-blonde lady in uniform warmly says, "Hello there, how can I help you today?" 

Without hesitation I reply, "Hi... (quickly looking at the name tag on her uniform)...Amanda, can I get a regular Latte please?" 

She quickly responds with another warm smile, "Sure! Would you like it big, medium or small?" 

Leaning forward to have a closer look on the mug sizes, I respond, "Medium, please." 

I watched her quickly jot down the small details. There was quite a number of people in the café and I could easily spot the ones who were constantly staring at me...or probably just my hair which honestly looked like it was undergoing a series of arguments with the wind. Anyways, not that I cared much. I looked back up to Amanda and surprisingly, she was still scribbling down some notes. 

I wonder if this Latte comes with a cookout or something, I sarcastically say to myself. 

Before I could go any further to find a good spot to linger, the barista called out, "Sorry, one more thing. Would you like some whipped cream on it?"

Whipped cream? On Latte? Well, that's new, I silently thought to myself. 

"Uh, ye...yes. Yeah, whipped cream is good." I finally respond.

"Alright. Your Latte will be ready in roughly ten to fifteen minutes. I'll call out the name as soon as it is ready. Is there anything else you need?" she asked.

"Nope...all good, just Latte, thanks." I quickly reply before my eyes take another glance at the mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to my right. I honestly just wanted to grab the cookies too; but I came here for only one thing...and that's Latte...period.

My phone rings. It's Russell...Russell Berk. What the hell does he want now? I wonder.

"Hello? What's up?" I answer sharply.

"Raquel, yeah...lecture is in five minutes. Where you at?" he asks.

"Oh shit...totally forgot about it. Coming..." I say to him while feeling utterly disappointed. Then I hang up.  

Before I could turn back to ask how much longer it would take for my Latte to be served; I hear a sharp male voice call out, "Regular Latte?" "Decaf?"

My phone beeps. Again...and again... and again...

I march to the counter while skimming through the text messages. For some reason, everyone seems to not know where the lecture is being held. With my head deeply buried in my phone, I reach the counter and quickly grab one of the mugs on the left and walk away.

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Dylan

"Amanda, can you pass me the milk in the jar please," I ask politely.

She looks at me with an 'oh face' and says, "Um...actually, I need you to serve the Latte and the Decaf first. Leave the others to me for now."

"Cool," I say casually. 

"Is it two separate orders?" I ask with a confused tone. 

"Uh...yes. The regular Latte is for the lady in the corner with the thick tangled dark hair; and the Decaf is for the other blonde middle-aged woman on the first table," she points out.

"Ah, OK. Got it," I grin, calmly.

I slowly walk towards the counter holding two mugs; each clearly written 'Latte' and 'Decaf' respectively. I look up to see none of the ladies appear to be moving towards the counter; so I simply call out, "Regular Latte?" "Decaf?"

My eyes quickly shift towards the right to catch the glimpse of a lady who looked 5'6" foot tall; I would say, dressed in a khaki sweatshirt and matching pants; had big lustrous and messy hair...and was walking towards the counter, paying absolutely no attention to the steps she was making. Honestly, she looked like she just got out of an animal contest, I thought blankly to myself. 

She reached the counter, quickly grabbed a mug and walked away. 

I watched her walk away. Why would I watch her walk away? I question my thoughts and quickly turn my eyes back to the counter.

Then I notice something is wrong. I look at the coffee mug to my right, and it says 'Latte'.

She left with the wrong mug. Whoever that girl is, she clearly left in a hurry, and with the wrong mug.

Without hesitation, I jumped over the counter door with the Latte in my hand. I rushed over to stop her before she gets too far. It was broad day light. Running with a hot Latte in my hand wasn't exactly fun. 

"Hey!" I shout to her. No response. She is still on the move.

"Hey...sorry...hey, you!" I shout even louder this time; but still, no response. 

Fuck, reasons as to why I need to quit this job once and for all, I say to myself while slowly running short of breath.

I quicken my pace. I reach to her, and I tap her by the shoulder. Honestly, for the next several milliseconds...I was expressionless.  

My face hurts. 

Did she just...did she...just throw a punch at me? I ask myself, unbelievably. 

I look down at my uniform..at my pants. Wet. Damp. Soaked in Latte. Perfect.

 I continue to stare at the mess she had made....I opened my mouth to say something....but nothing. 

No words. I was in utter shock. Did I mention this was broad day light...yeah? I thoughtfully asked my imaginary audience. 

I look back up. She was no longer there. 

Just like that...No apology; nothing. Gone.

And with the wrong mug...

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