The Coffee Shop

The shop is more crowded than usual this Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately, I was able to get a table just as two people were getting up. It’s one of those tables that allow you to see the baristas as they prepared the drinks behind the counter. 

I always enjoy sitting at one of these tables. Listening to customers order their drinks and carefully watching the baristas as they mix the different ingredients. Each drink has its own delicate process, a process they always made seem easy.

I sometimes think the only reason I come to this shop is to watch the employees prepare coffee, and I wouldn’t be wrong. Well, I’d admit I come here to watch one specific employee prepare coffee. That might be the most captivating thing about this shop. 

Though I would be lying if I said watching him prepare these them was what captivated me.

What really drew me to him was his smiles. Be it a bright smile showing his pearly whites or a small subtle one that only shows his left dimple, they always manage to put similar ones on the customers faces as well as my own. 

His smile was the first thing I noticed the day I stumbled in this coffee shop, on one of my depressingly short lunch breaks. I remember having had a terrible day at work. That moment feeling like my breaking point. The smell of coffee and fresh piastres had pulled me in and I found myself standing by the counter being greeted by his bright smile and kind eyes. That alone was what got me through the rest of my day.

After that, the days when I’d come here, the times we’ve had small conversations, felt like a small treat to myself for whenever I felt down. Like him and this coffee shop are what help me remember there’s life outside of work. A bit sad but true. Maybe that’s why I’ve found myself slowly falling for him. 

I’m not sure when my crush for him started, all I know is I’ve tried every day to master up the courage to talk to him about anything. Like how work is treating me or whether I’ve decided to branch out of my usual orders.

 Believe me I have even tried to ask him about himself.

All I know is that he finished law school last year, but delt with such severe burnout that he decided to take a year to work on himself. Hence the coffee shop.

Today is the same as any other day. He’s working by the counter taking orders and smiling at the customers as usual. I’m at my table almost done with my café mocha. Fifteen minutes left before I have to get back to the office.

My palms are sweating from the heat of the coffee cup but mostly from the anxiety of me finally going up to the counter and just asking him out on a date… or maybe only asking for his number. 

What would happen if I asked for his number? 

The worst he could say is no or maybe, just maybe he says yes. Which would lead to us finally talking on the phone. I’d master the courage to ask him out on a date. Having been the one to ask him out. I would pick the restaurant and even pay for the date. If all goes well. 

We would have our first kiss on the third date. A relaxing ice-cream date would come after, followed by many more. We would decide to be official. Finally moving in together after a few months of dating. 

Naturally after a while our relationship would become stagnant. Arguments would arise on what we both want in our lives. He wants more and I’m content with how things are. We eventually break-up. He decides to move to another city to find himself. I’m heartbroken off course but I learn to move on. 

Two years pass and I’ve finally quit my job, I’m in a better work environment. Lazily scrolling on social media, I start to wonder what he’s up to. I check his account. I’m surprised to see he’s back in the city. Finally working as a lawyer. Impulsively I press the follow button. A day later he follows back. A “hi” text comes next, we get back into everyday texts. Which eventually leads to him asking me to get coffee with him. I’m reluctant at first but I agree. 

We have coffee at the place where he used to work, we sit on one of the tables I used to sit in, a wave of nostalgia hits me. The days I used to sit here and fantasies about him.

We reminisce about our time together. Even ask how it all came crumbling down. 

That one coffee date becomes the catalyst to us getting back together. 

And two years later we get married… wait… what? 

A cup breaking behind me wakes me from my daydream. Looking at my watch, I only have five minutes to get back to work. When leaving the shop, I turn to face the counter where he was serving a customer. As if aware of my stare, he looks up to me. A smile on his face. This time he even gives  me a small wave goodbye. I return it with my own, the only thought that passes through my mind is, maybe next time, I’ll get the courage to ask him out.... next time.