I had dreams, they were clouds in my coffee

CHAPTER 4

Some days have passed since the incident and my hand is still healing, I can still work but stuff like cutting or washing Mew wants to do it for me . He has been really kind, I took more interest in him and showered him with questions. I learnt he doesn't like to drink coffee, he tried lots of times but hates the taste while he loves the smell and that's the reason he started working here. He told me he had a good job before but he got tired of it and change, but his eyes told me something different, I felt he had some problems for which he had to leave but I'm not gonna force him to tell me. I realized he doesn't like to talk about himself but still answered all my questions without complaining, he's indeed very kind. 

During this time I thought I would also adjust to his presence but it's even worse, the problem isn't someone working by my side as I thought, the issue is this man. Whatever he does it looks alluring, he makes everything look sexy. Every little action, every word his lips pronounce, every stare he gives me send chills through my spine and I either can't look him in the eyes or can't stop staring at him. I don't understand what he's doing to me, it feels as if I'm uncomfortable but I actually yearn for his attentions. I want him to look at me and only me, more than anything I want him to touch me. Until now our bodies have only brushed each other, little touches, there was never a real and firm contact but every time he grazes my skin I feel I'd burn if he gets to touch it, if he would hold it. Hold me.

"Gulf someone here wants to try your new special coffee"  Mew informs me while I'm serving another client "sure, coming right away" 

"Oh hey Mild, how are you? It's been quite some time since you came. I almost thought you found a better coffee than mine " I welcome my friend joking. Mild is one of the first clients I've served, he became a really good friend during the years. He likes gossip like no one else but he's such good company. I met him when I started working here, he's a little older than me but whoever sees him wouldn't think he's older than eighteen. 

"Sorry Kana I had lots of work, actually I had a flight to Cuba and decided to stay there for a week" Mild is a steward and often goes for long routes so he can take a holiday where he lands, he's not addicted to work at all, maybe that's the reason he goes along with my boss. 

While I talk to Mild Mew keeps eyeing us, he's serving other people but I feel his stares on me, maybe he wants to argue because I told him not to talk to clients and now I'm doing it " So you have an assistant now, I'd bet Boss would never give you one" I would've bet that too.

"Mew, this is Mild, he's a friend and one of my favorite clients" I introduce them, Mew answers politely but still cold, not as he usually does. He doesn't smile, doesn't ask any question, just shake hands and pulls away "When you're done chatting we have lots of work" he then tells me with the same cold voice. This man has the biggest dualism I've ever seen in someone, he's either sweet, kind and all smiles or cold, grumpy and intimidating.

"Hey Gulf" Mild calls me whispering "where did you find this guy? He looks familiar? Was he a client of the café or is he some Boss' cousin?"  I explain how Boss found him and the legendary useless interview but he keeps saying he has seen him before somewhere.

When the day is over Mew is still washing everything since he doesn't want me do it until I have stitches but I can still sense something is wrong "Are you perhaps angry at me?"

He shakes his head, but bites his lip too "Is it because of Mild? I know I told you not to lose time chatting but he's a good friend and I haven't seen him for weeks" I try to explain my reasons

"It's fine. You can do what you want." the tone in his voice worries me. So I close the water to hear him better "Something bothers you I can see it" 

He doesn't answer and starts walking away from me. I don't want him to go home sulking so I reach for him and catch his arm strongly to make him turn around back at me. I did it impulsively and immediately let go when I realized: I touched him. I held his arm and just as I thought I feel like my hand burning, I'm certainly blushing and my heart is beating faster.

I can count the times we merely touch each other: one when we shook hands, two when he took a cup from my hand, three when he called me once by patting my shoulder slightly; the only time he held my hand was when I cut myself and there was the cloth in between, so it was an indirect touch.

"S-sorry, I don't want to fight, please tell me what's wrong" , he sighs and his gaze turns sweet again "It's nothing, really. I'm sorry but when I get irritated I'm a little harsh"  his hand reach for my head and rubs the top of it "I'm not angry at you and we won't fight, don't worry" 

I'm trying to focus on his words but the rubbing on my head distracts me too much, we never touched and now he's ruffling my hair  "I have an idea to end this day better than this" I'm actually quite enjoying this already but I still remain silent to hear his idea " let's have dinner together, I'm hungry"

I accepted and we went to dinner in a nice thai restaurant, we talked some more and he took me back home. The days after everything went great, I like working with him and he's even getting better at making coffee, I give him some lessons when we have time and he's trying hard to learn. I'm anyhow still blushing a little when we brush each other or when he whispers in my hear to ask me something clients don't have to hear.

"Mew I forgot to ask you, do you know Mild ? I mean did you recognize his face when you met him the other day? " I ask recalling Mild's doubts but he denies " Because he keeps saying he has seen you before" 

"Maybe we met somewhere like school, mall or park. Bangkok is a city not a whole planet, it's easy to meet someone again randomly" he simply answers

"Gulf!" I'm facing the other side but from the high pitched voice I know exactly who entered the café. Luckily this is the hour the place is most empty. I breathe heavily squeezing my fists before turning around " Poom, why are you here again?"

Mew probably caught the annoyance in my face and voice since he asks me whispering  "Are you okay?" I nod and tell him I'll handle her. "Gulf don't get all difensive like this, I only want to talk to you, I already apologized a thousand times, forgive me pleasee. We're meant to be together" she starts her usual annoying speech. "Poom, stop this. I don't like you anymore, you left me for someone else, now you regretted it but I don't want to see your face again. I won't ever go back to you" 

"But Gul-" she's starting again with her whines when "Oh so you're Gulf's ex girlfriend, right?" Mew comes between us and surprises Poom, and mostly me, with his next words  "I have to thank you for leaving him and you should be happy you're the last woman he's ever gonna touch" he smirks and puts an arm around my shoulders "cause he's mine now" I stare at him trying to understand what the hell is he saying and doing when suddenly his voice gets deeper and colder approaching her closer "and I won't let you or anyone touch him, so take my sincere gratitude and go away, you can go back from wherever you came from" 

She was shocked for a second but I guess he convinced her since she silently walked away. He gets away from him staring at the door and I snap "What the hell was that?Why would you do that? H-how did you think of it?" I yell

"She was bothering you, I just pretended to make her go away and never come back, chill " he says laughing, but I'm blushing and I don't understand if I feel more angry or embarrassed 

"You shouldn't have done that, I told you I'd handle her. Don't put your nose into my stuff" I shout at him and go back to work.