Clean | ✓

dwa

After that one faithful meeting that Wednesday evening, Freddie the boss had noticed that Robert had become one of the place's loyal customers. And if you asked the footballer why, he would have said that he found warmth in presence of Karlie.

When Elle is cold and far away from his grip, Karlie came and engulfed him in her warmth.

The coffeeshop had witnessed the blooming of the friendship of the two strangers.

He would come and sat at the far corner table, hidden from the others. Hidden from the crowded world where people know him as Robert Lewandowski, the polish footballer who betrayed Dortmund to find fame at Munich.

He would want to be known as Robert Lewandowski, period.

And Karlie made him feel that way and he likes it. For the past few days, Karlie and Lewy have been hanging out together at the shop. Karlie would join him in half an hour with a delicate smile on her face and a tray in her hand.

'Hi.' She greeted with a grin on her face. She placed the tray on the table and took the seat beside him on the squared table.

'I didn't recall ordering some sociology, psychology books?'

He hid the smirk behind the cup of coffee he had near his lips; blowing the hot drink and slowly sipping it. The brown headed girl frowned and continued to empty the tray, placing a bunch of books and papers, pens and highlighters, another cup of iced coffee and a small bowl of churros.

'I need to study a bit hence-' She pointed at the books. 'I hope you don't mind.'

He smiled, 'As long as I can eat the long stick, I'm good.' She lifted her head for a moment from her book and watched as the footballer took a bite of the fried dough. The expression of his face was as if he was up to his climax and he let a soft moan.

'What is this--'

'It is called churros-' She smiled through her words, '-dumbo. Not long stick.'

'Don't call me me dumbo-' He dipped his hand in the small cup of chocolate dip, '-dumbo.' Two streaks of chocolate decorated the white skin of her cheek and she laughed.

'For fuck's sake, Robert.' She stood to the pantry table to grab the tissue only to return to see him, pressing his lips into thin line with pain. 'Lewy?' She placed her small palm on his shoulder and slowly sat.

'I'm sorry--uh it's just brought up some old memories.' He took a deep breath and shrugged, 'Only Elle dared to call me Robert.' He mumbled. She caught him secretly trying to wipe the forming tears away. 'I'm sorry, I don't really know much about you but I swear I didn't mean to offend you in anyways.' Her hand moved down along his shoulder and stopped when her fingers found his to lace it together.

He could feel a tingle from the base of his neck running down his spine at the sense of her touch.

Where Elle had new everything about him, Karlie sat in front of him cluelessly about him.

It was like he was given a new canvas to start; plain, empty and white canvas. Elle was like the mock test he took 2 weeks before the actual test is which is Karlie. Then it hit him.

If he had failed the mock test, how is he going to pass the actual test?

'Lewy?'

Her voice startled him, dragging him back to the cold ground of reality, 'Are you okay?' He nodded, slowly pulling away the hand she was holding and sat up straight. He cleared his throat and nodded, a pained fake smile now replaced the previous smile on his face.

'I'm okay.'

A warm smile crept up the pretty face and she nodded, 'You know I know that you're lying.' He could read pass the smile; hidden there was a pinch of cockiness. 'Really?' He muttered as she had slowly managed to turn his frown back up.

'I'm soon to be a lawyer.' She nodded, 'I think I know when someone is guilty.'

'Well, then good for you.'

A moment of silence dragged the two adults into a moment of silence, not long enough when she finally decided to ask him again.

'So, are you going to tell me about her?' She asked glancing back to forth between the boy and the paragraph she was reading. 'I don't know, you and I--'

'I get it, we recently knew each other.' She capped the yellow highlighter and closed the book. 'Whenever you are ready, you can tell me and I can make you a hot cup of chocolate and we can talk. It's not good for you to bottle up your feelings.'

He nodded, a faint smile appeared on his face, 'Okay, I have your number on speed dial so be ready.'

The bell above the door dinged, noting them that a customer just entered the shop. She stood up and laughed, 'I feel honoured to be on your speed dial. You make yourself comfy, I'll be right back.'

He nodded and watched as the girl squeezed herself behind the counter, greeting the customer with a cheery and bright smile.

'Do you think I'm making a good decision, mein hase?' He glanced down at the screen of his phone; his wallpaper is the picture of Elle and the headless snowman, smiling from the last trip they had together

Who would know in few days, the smile would stay forever on that youthful face.

A gush of wind came brushing on the side of his body and a smile crept on his face.

'I hope I do, Elle, I hope I do.'

-

-

-

Few days;

'So, I'm seeing a girl. Her name is Karlie.'

Robert muttered, glancing down on the green grass his hand was ripping. 'She doesn't really have fancy job like my favourite site engineer-' He smiled at the cold stone, '-but she's cool. She work part time at the coffee shop. She's studying to be a lawyer. You know the first time I met her, she accidentally served me a cup of latte with extra milk because she was reading this Introduction to Psychology and Criminology something.'

'I kinda like her. I'm not sure what and how to describe the feeling but--'

He looked up and stared on the writing etched on the marble headstone, 'I love you Elle. I swear on my life, it's just I'm confused.' He shifted his body and found himself staring at the blue sky as he laid his back down against the grass.

'Ellie, is it okay for me to move on? Or am I moving too fast?'

He sat up and waited for her usual sign of communication in form of the wind. 'Elle?' He asked, glancing around, 'Schatzi, are you here ?'

He waited but still, nothing.

When he got ignored again; left with no response, he closed his eyes and let a deep sigh. He let himself fall back behind, back against the green grass with his arms folded behind his head and he breathed the cold air in.

Universe might had decided to not give him the answer but deep down, he thinks he's ready.