c h a p t e r  e i g h t .

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The little bell above the door jingled when she entered the café. The young woman quickly glanced about for the person she was to meet up with but he was nowhere to be seen, so she went straight to the counter to order.

                “Ah, Wendy!” said the barista cheerfully, his face lighting up when she approached and he noticed her. “Haven’t seen you in a while, how goes it?”

                “I’m doing well.” she answered, returning the smile. “And you?”

                He leaned his elbow against the canister in front of him and put his other hand on his hip casually. “Can’t complain. I did happen to get that scholarship I was trying for.” He haughtily pretended to be interested in his fingernails.

                Wendy was astonished. “Really! Henry, really?”

                He nodded, grinning.

                “You’re really going to Italy! Wah, you are so lucky!”

                Henry laughed and did this weird little arm flail slash running in place sort of thing that he did when he was quite excited (he often had a difficult time with controlling his enthusiastic nature). “I know! I’m so damn excited. I’ll study abroad for two years, Wendy. It’s going to be fantastic.”

                The other was happy for and in awe of her coworker, but also more than a little jealous deep down. “Wow... I’m... really speechless. I’m just so happy for you.”

                “Thanks. I’ll be sure to send you letters and postcards, okay?” He winked before standing up straight again. “Anyway. What can I create for you today?”

                Still overwhelmed by Henry’s announcement, Wendy let out a breath and thought for a minute about her order. “You know what? I’m kind of feeling like having something...different.” she said, finally. “Maybe something a bit sweeter, but not with too much milk or flavorings...”

                Henry snapped. “I’ve got it. Chestnut praline latte! Oh, I mean, praline chestnut latte. Don’t wanna get in any trouble with any Starbucks, you know.” He grinned as Wendy rolled her eyes; he was such a child sometimes. “It’s one of my best.”

                “I’ll try it.”

                “Cool cool. That’ll be four forty-five--“

                Before Wendy could even reach down into her bag for her wallet, a suit jacketed arm reached around her with the payment and handed it to Henry. Wendy looked up and saw Chen, standing beside her now with a small smile on his face.

                “I’ll take an Americano, please.” he added.

                “You got it, man.” Henry said, nodding along to the ambiance music as he counted the money. He glanced up, briefly, at Wendy, then at Chen, and back at Wendy (she somehow managed to tell him to knock it off with just her eyes; luckily, Chen had been momentarily looking at something on his phone) before ringing up the order on the screen.

                “You want your latte on the sweeter side?” Henry asked Wendy, with an odd look to his face. Internally, Wendy was bothered by this new informal tone of his, but she smiled a little.

                “No.” she said plainly.

                “You sure? You look like you could use some extra sugar today.”

                The other avoided in a breath. “No.” she repeated.

                Henry raised his eyebrows idly. “Whipped cream?”

                “No thank you.” she said, with mocking charm.

                “Suit yourself.” he said, returning the sass. “...Alright, you two. Pop a squat and I’ll bring them over when they’re finished.”

                “Thank you.” said Chen, returning his phone to his pocket and taking the receipt. Wendy was going to ask Henry where Mr. Cho was, but decided that she didn’t want to talk to her coworker anymore so she followed Chen instead.

                The writer frowned when he saw that his usual table in the far left corner was taken by another couple.

                “Let’s go upstairs, hmm?” suggested Wendy, “It’s a bit crowded down here.”

                “Sure.” He followed her up the flight of stairs to the second level.

Henry watched them ascend with a smug look of approval. Just then, Mr. Cho emerged from the back room.

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