Disclaimer: No copyright
A/N: Hullo. This is my first submission ever so I'm nervous af and reviews on any improvement needed are welcome. I must warn you tho english is not my first language so grammar mistakes are bound to happen. Thank you for reading my first fanfic! Love all of you!
Chapter 1: Coffee
He was just enjoying his morning read, sitting on his favourite bench when the rain started pouring down. "What theー" He flinched at the sound of lightning. And right after that it was now raining cat and dog. He joggedー gentleman don't runー while covering his head with the book he was reading. It was useless of course as the rain was too heavy. He looked for the closest roof he could find. His corner lips twitched upward when he saw the small simple cafe at the end of the park.
The cafe stood proudly among all the tall buildings on both its side. It was a two-storey small cottage, tho it seemed as if it would break with just a punch. It looked pretty dodgy from where he stood but yet once he walked closer he found the cottage was pretty sturdy. The red door was the only thing plastered on that front wall. No windows, no welcome signs, nothing else. What gave it away was the two small round table outside the porch where he stood now. He opened the door slowly and closed it noiselessly. Whatever he expected to find inside he was sure it wasn't this.
The small cafe was filled with warmth, a homey feels; one side of the walls has transformed into a tall shelf, full with books. And it looked like it wasn't enough because there was literally mountains of books on the floor. The other wall, the opposite to the shelf, was a glass wall. He could see the park he loves to come to from here. Cactuses and succulents plants were lined up on the floor. And some green plants, he had no idea what it was, hanged effortlessly; yet it looked perfect. It was as if the glass wall framed with plants and the park was the picture. There was a bar right across of the door. He surprised he didn't notice this first as he walked in. The shelf behind the bar was full with wines, red, white, only wines. There was also a coffee machine, a toaster, and a small freezer. Overall he liked it. He liked how serene it felt. Like as if it wasn't storming outside. He sat on one of the four small round table. There were seven table in total. Four small round table for two, and two rectangular table for six. He sat facing the door and only then he realized there was another shelf beside the door. But instead of more books, it filled with vinyl records. There was a vinyl record player too. He started to like the cafe more.
"Hello, may I help you?" A small cheerful voice called out to him from his back. He turned and saw no one. Then he heard a chuckle. "Look up." He raised his head and saw a bushy haired woman. She was wearing a yellow short sleeves floral-printed sundress. She was carrying two boxes that looked comical to him because they stacked on top of each other making them taller than her. He let out a small laugh looking at the picture. "It seems like you're the one who needs help, luv." He got up from his seat and advanced to her.
"Well, unless you're a gentleman then I ー" she didn't get to finish her sentence, he already took the boxes from her. She tilted her head to peek on her helper and when their eyes finally met, brown met grey, she smiled. "Why thank you, sir. That was really kind of you."
"Anything for you, beautiful." He winked. "So where do I put these?"
She looked down and scanned the room. "Just put it on one of the table, please? Watch your step!" She walked back to where she came out from. He walked down the stairs cautiously. His shoes made a funny sloshing sound, soaked from running in the rain. Once he put the boxes on his table, he cracked his neck and muttered, "I'm too old for this."
"Old? If that's how old look like then I can't wait to get old." She passed him a fluffy white towel and a change clothes. "There's a pair boxer and socks too. You need to change, mister. You're drenched. Go change upstairs and bring your wet clothes down with you. I'll dry it for you. There's a bathroom there inside my bedroom too if you want to use it. Extra toothbrush under the sink."
"Bossy aren't we?" He gave her a loopside smile but still obeyed her instruction.
She rolled her eyes and replied, "it's called being practical."
The upstairs space is smaller than downstairs and yet it looked cozy and spacious. He walked into a small living roomー decorated with grey carpet, a comfy looking white sofa bed, a glass gold-framed coffee table, a red single armchair, two side glass gold-framed small side tableー and another red door which he assumed the bedroom. He walked in and smiled at another mountains of books on the floor. The bedroom has no shelf. Just a small cupboard beside the door to the bathroom. The king sized bed was placed right beside the big tall windows that fitted the whole wall. There was a large full body mirror beside the bedroom door, right across the bed. More cactuses and succulents plants on the floor on both side of the mirror. He heard the sound of coffee grinding from downstairs and hurriedly made his way to the bathroom. After a quick hot shower, he went down with his wet clothes. She looked up from the record player and played some jazz record when she heard the stairs creaked.
"Oh, good! It fits you perfectly! I knew you'd fit Bill's." She smiled and took the wet clothes from him. "I brewed you long black if you don't mind. I don't know how you take your coffee. If you like something else let me know. It's on the house!" She yelled from the laundry room.
"No, long black is fine! So what is this place?" He sat facing the bar and sighed contentedly drinking his coffee. "This is perfect."
"My late grandfather's old cottage. I just moved back here from France a year and a half ago and honestly? I was bored. So I told my parents I wanted to have my own place. My dad told me about this cottage. Apparently my late grandfather left it for me so I took it!" She was brewing another coffee for herself.
"And you decided to run a cafe?"
"It was for a selfish reason, really. I was walking around the park and I couldn't find a perfect cafe or a restaurant or a quiet bar to read while indulge myself some good coffee! Thus, two months after I moved in, I decided to turn this small cottage into a cafe. A simple small cafe, just how I wanted it to be. I took this nine month barista and management course, very meticulous process, mind you, but, ta-da! Here you are, in my very own cafe." She waved her hands enthusiastically. Then she leaned forward with her elbows on the bar, holding a cup of black coffee with both her hands and grinned at him. "So what do you think of it? You like it?"
He looked at her hopeful eyes and tapped his finger on his chin as if he was contemplating his answer. "Hmm. Well you gonna see me a lot often that's for sure."
She grinned wider and brilliantly at him, nodding her head vigorously. "Wonderful! Since you are my very first customer, I'll give nineteen percents off for your every visit!"
"Nineteen? And they said genorosity is dead?" He smirked from his cup.
They talked like that for a while longer than they expected. She leaned on the bar towards him, he leaned on his table towards her. They didn't even notice the rain has stopped an hour ago.
"Shit! It's four o'clock?! I'm late! I promised my godson a dinner at 8:30 p.m!" He jumped up and ran to the door and left without looking back.
She laughed at her first customer's antics when the door opened again, abruptly.
"Thank you for the best coffee I ever had in my whole life. I'll come again. Promise!" He said from the door. She grinned and nodded her head.
"The pleasure is all mine, mister!"
He left with a smile plastered on his face.