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Hoseok

Sunday, 11 AM – sometimes 1:30PM. The table at the corner of the shop is her favorite spot.

“Hot Americano please,” she smiled as she ordered her usual choice of coffee.

There was a routine of ordering a coffee. Look at the menu, choose the best tasting coffee, and the waiter/barista asks the customer’s name.

Same goes for her, but a bit strange. She would look at the menu as if she was having hard time choosing from the menu, but would actually end up with the usual Cafe Americano, a plain and bitter-tasting coffee. A complete opposite of her. She is unpredictable, lively, and sweet yet strong, just like my favorite coffee - cafe mocha. What made her different from the typical buying of coffee is she would buy another coffee, Café Mocha.

Whenever she enters the shop, she usually places her things at the table to save her favorite spot – a spot perfect for students like her. Electrical plug, better WiFi connection, less people, and good lighting made it perfect for her. But for me, the sight of her made it more perfect.

What a big stalker I am! 

It all started when I was in cue to the counter when a girl in a rucksack came in to the coffee shop. She was looking for the perfect space but was disappointed when it was already occupied. Instead, she placed her bag to another table. She got her wallet and left her bag. She ordered a cafe Americano.

Soojin

This coffee shop is like my second home, aside from the university which loaded us - students - with so much activities to do, and lessons to study.

"Cafe Americano for Ms. Soojin!" 

I quickly got my coffee as soon as I heard my name which was spelled wrong... again. 

I've been drinking coffee here every Sundays for almost 10 months but they still don’t know me. 

However, I felt something strange from the past Sundays. It felt like someone's watching me. It's not creepy though. Instead, the gaze that kept following me was somehow comforting and warm just like a coffee. 

It was one of the reasons why visiting this coffee shop became a habit. It was like an escape from reality - a tiring reality. I do have friends and family that could comfort me but something was missing, and that gaze somehow filled it.

I know it is weird. Or maybe because I was stressing out from all this schoolwork. 

Ahh this is so good. I sipped from the cup of coffee. Cafe Americano, a perfect coffee to relieve this stress and to keep me going with life. Another favorite is Café Mocha.  

I opened the pdf file that my professor sent us. 106 pages. Great. A great way to kill me.

Hoseok

2:28 PM. 3 hours, and yet she was still reading the pdf file which I assume was about late adulthood development based from my view.

She's finally done - I assumed. She put down the screen of her laptop as she sighed heavily. She drank from the cup of coffee but was disappointed when nothing came out. It has been 3 hours, Soojin-ah. You have obviously consumed everything. Take some rest first, Soojin.

Soojin

I had been resting since the first page of this file. It seemed that I was reading thoroughly, but not. I was just staring at the pdf file and contemplating about life. 

I was internally sobbing as this reading is too long for me to read. Aside from this, I also needed to make at least 30 pages report of a child development.  

Ugh! Too many schoolworks. Too many problems. Too much stress. How I wish I could be a coffee so I can be as relaxed as it is.

I took a sip from the supposedly warm coffee turned cold as time passed by. But I got disappointed as I only got one drop from the cup. I was unaware that I'd already consumed everything. Well, it was time for me to get my other fave coffee which is mocha.

"Miss Soojin, one cafe mocha for you," the waiter gave a coffee to me.

"I think it's not mine. I haven’t ordered another yet," I said, waving my hands in disapproval. The waiter must have delivered it wrong.

"No, miss. It is really for you. Someone bought it for you. Take a look at the note. Thank you and have a good day!" The waiter left the tray on my table. The tray has cafe mocha.

The note was posted on the side of the cup.

I didn’t notice that I was already smiling as I read the note – simple yet contagious message. 

I looked around the coffee shop to check who was this generous, nice, lovely and every good description for the giver. 

One table got my attention. I saw a familiar notepad. 

I packed away my stuff and left my table with the coffee in my hand.

Hoseok 

She was smiling. Glad to know that I made her smile.  

Is she going to leave? Oh wait. Why is she coming near? What should I do??

She went to my table with a smile on her face. But then she left. She left me a note.