Hey you out there. It's been a minute. This is just a little treat I was playing with in my pretty rare free time. It's different and I hope you like it. It's supposed to be light and entertaining. If it's not, I failed my goal here. Leave me a little something if you like. I'd appreciate it.
Ich trifft Du - Me meets You
"Hey!"
"Uh, h-hey?"
"My name is Bo."
"O-kay?!"
"Are you a regular here, or...?"
No responds.
"What's your name?"
"Are we really doing this?"
"Doing what?"
No responds.
"What are you reading? The… compass of pleasure?"
"Hey! Give it back! Who do you think you are?"
"What is this? Porn?"
"What the hell! Give it back."
"Okay, what does it say here: the pursuit of pleasure, in whatever form it might take... jadda, jadda, jadda..."
"Will you just give it back, please?"
"...in this fascinating book, neuroscientist David... okay and here I thought this was a fun read. Hey, I would have given it back! No need to rip it out of my hands."
"You ripped it out of mine first! What is your problem anyway?"
"Well, my problem is, that..."
"You know what? Never mind, just... I'm outta here."
"Was nice meeting you."
No responds.
"Maybe next time then?"
"Hey."
"Oh please, no."
"It's Bo. We met last week."
"I really need to find a new place to read."
"Is this a new book? Anything I'd know?"
"I'll just pack my things and go."
"How about coffee?"
No responds.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again."
No responds.
"Maybe next time then?"
"Hi."
"Oh my... read the room, Bo!"
"Hey, you remember me!"
"Well, it's hard to forget you."
"Aww, that's so sweet of you."
"I didn't mean... Argh, just forget about it."
"Wow, is that yet another book? You're a fast reader!"
"I would be faster, if I didn't get interrupted all the time."
"How about that coffee now?"
"I don't drink coffee."
"Then what is that in your cup?"
"It's called, none-of-your-business. You should try it sometimes."
"Well then. A cup of that. I'm buying."
"Argh!"
"Maybe next time then?"
"Hey."
"Oh. My. Freaking... I mean seriously. Are you stalking me?"
"Stalking? That is such a hard word to use."
"So, you are? Oh, good grief. Do I need a restriction order?"
"Hey, hey. Don't get carried away. I'm not stalking you. There's no need to stalk, when it's actually not that hard to find you on a Saturday morning."
"That is basically the definition of stalking, but for the sake of my sanity do explain why?"
"First of all, this is the only coffeeshop on campus and secondly, you are a person of habit."
"I'm a what now?"
"A. Person. Of. Habit."
"You don't have to talk to me all slow as if I'm stupid."
"Well, you asked me to repeat myself."
"I actually didn't. I questioned what you were just saying. There's a difference."
"Then maybe next time be clearer about what you want."
"What I want is for you to leave me alone."
"Yeah, sure."
"Really?!"
"Don't sound so surprised. I'm not some weirdo, that forces themselves on other people."
"Really? Could have fooled me. Also, I'm not surprised. I'm irritated. Time is precious and you have taken up a lot of it already. So, if you don't mind...?"
"You look really beautiful when you're irritated."
"Oh my... I'll go now."
"Too much too soon?"
No responds.
"Nice talking to you."
No responds.
"Maybe next time then we have one of those none-of-your-business in a cup?"
"I didn't order th-… Oh. You again."
"Hey. And I saw that eye-roll."
"I actually didn't try to hide it. And I don't drink coffee."
"I know. It's a Chai latte."
No response.
"No need to stare at me like that. Or the Chai. I won't drug you. It's safe to drink."
"How would I know? You could easily be some sort of Dorothea Puente."
"Dorothea who?"
"Puente. She was poisoning her tenants to steal their Social Security checks."
"Interesting."
"Don't get ideas. This is a public place."
"What if I knew where you lived?"
No responds.
"Don't get a panic attack. I was just kidding. Someone is watching too much True Crime."
"This is not funny."
"Then why are you smiling."
"This is me coping."
"I see. I'm Bo, by the way."
"You already told me that. I didn't forget."
"I know I did. I just wanted to give you the chance to introduce yourself."
No responds.
"So, I have to continue calling you voracious reader?"
"You never called me a voracious reader, also I'm not."
"You kinda are."
"No. I'm... avid."
"Same, same. Hey, where're you going?"
"I have places to be. Things to do."
"But you didn't even try the Chai."
"I don't drink Chai."
"I see. Well, have a good week."
No responds.
"Maybe next time then."
No responds.
"Maybe then I can sit down?"
"Hey."
"Hi... What is that?"
"It's green tea."
"For me?"
"Yes. I'm all for coffee."
"I wouldn't have thought differently."
"And how is that?"
"Coffee is the second most widely consumed drink after water in the world. It was a calculated guess. Also, you smell like freshly grained beans."
"Did you just call me smelly?"
"No! No, no. You smell amaz-… I mean clean."
"Oh, really?"
"I mean… you smell better than most people around here at that time on a Saturday."
"I take that as a compliment."
"I wasn't- never mind."
"Anyway you don't drink coffee. So, why do you think I do?"
"Well, I'm not wrong, am I."
"You're some kind of clever clogs, aren't you?"
"I know stuff."
"That you certainly do."
"Why do you keep doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"It's what now? The fourth time you try to talk to me?"
"Well, I'd call what we're doing now, talking."
"You know what I mean."
"I'm just curious."
"About what?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"I'm not that interesting."
"How about you let me decide that."
"Peppermint."
"Excuse me?"
"In my cup. Peppermint tea. I can see you're trying to figure it out. No need to break that neck of yours."
"I wasn't breaking my neck. I was just- are you already leaving again?"
"Time flies, Bo."
"You're really beautiful when you smile."
"Oh boy."
"See you next week?"
"I'm a person of habit like you said."
"Is that a yes?"
No responds.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Hey, avid reader."
"Hi, Bo."
"Can I buy you a peppermint tea?"
"I'm already having one."
"Oh. Well, maybe later then?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"How many girls fell for your charm like this?"
"So you think I'm charming?"
"Just wondering if this ever worked out before."
"I'll let you know, when I find out."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, did you fall for my charm?"
"No."
"Then I guess the answer is zero so far."
"And I should believe that?"
"Why not?"
No responds.
"May I sit down?"
"This is a free country."
"But is this also a free chair?"
"Not for much longer I guess."
"Thanks."
"Why are you trying so hard? It's been weeks and I wasn't really… well, inviting."
"I believe that some things in life are worth waiting for."
"Wow."
"What? W-why are you leaving? What'd I say?"
"Listen Bo. It's really… flattering or whatever, that you chose me to be your next experiment, but…"
"Experiment?"
"Some thing's are worth waiting for? Really? Did that line ever help you score?"
"Maybe. Hey, okay, wait. Please?"
"What do you want, Bo?"
"One cup of tea."
"What?"
"Have one cup of tea with me and after that I'll leave you alone, if you still want me to."
"One cup?"
"One cup."
No responds.
"Is that a yes?"
No responds.
"I'll take that little smile you're trying to hide as a yes."
"Shut up."
"See you next week, Peppermint."
"Hi, Peppermint."
"Funny."
"What? I have to call you something."
"Mhm."
"I don't see a cup in front of you. Am I right to believe, that I get to buy you one today then?"
"One cup you said."
"Awesome! Coming right up."
(a bit later)
"So, you're saying, you don't know how to cook?"
"No, I'm saying, I don't get why someone would invest so much time of their day in making food."
"Well, a girl needs to eat. Even those with a peppermint addiction."
"I mean. Yes. It's a necessity. Nutrition. But the hours I'd spend shopping, slicing, chopping, heating everything up, I'd rather put into education. Reading. Learning all the little secrets this world hides. Why are you looking at me like that, Bo? Is there something on my face?"
"Huh? No. No! I was just… listening. You have this sparkle in your eyes, when you get all serious and passionate. It's… intoxicating."
"Shut up."
"No really! You must be aware of your very one magic."
"You're cheesy."
"No, just pointing out the obvious."
"Which still is cheesy."
"Does it bother you?"
"No."
"Well then. Did anyone ever tell you, that you have really long fingers."
"I beg you pardon?"
"No, sorry. I didn't mean it in a bad way. It's just an observation."
"Okay?! Well, it's good to have long fingers when playing the piano."
"Oh wow. You know how to play?"
"No. I'm just saying. It's good to have. In case I ever wanted to."
"Shut up!"
"That's my line."
"And now it's mine."
"I wouldn't have thought, that you're into peppermint tea by the way. I thought you're all for coffee."
"No need to put it into quotation marks. I do like coffee. Love it actually, but I wanted to know what all the fuss is about."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Do you like it?"
"Not much, no."
"Oh. You could just go an get yourself something else."
"Thanks, but… you're almost done with your tea, and I don't want to waste time standing in line. I only have this one cup."
"You're something else."
"I hope that's meant in a good way?"
"That I've yet to find out."
"I see. You know, your phone is basically blinking like a Christmas tree? Don't you wanna check who's so persistent?"
"No. Yeah. I really should. I just didn't want to be disrespectful. Looking at my phone, while we have a… cup of tea together."
"It's really fine. I won't hold it against you."
"Okay."
"Is everything okay? You look worried."
"Yeah. No. I mean. I'm sorry, but I have to go."
"Oh. I understand."
"I'm really sorry."
"Yes, you said that."
"Funnily enough I had a really good time."
"Oh why thanks for sounding so surprised."
"Well, can you blame me?"
"I guess not."
"Thank you, Bo."
"You're welcome, Pepp..."
"It's Lauren."
"You're welcome, Lauren."
"Hey there. And here I already thought you were avoiding me and found a different place to drink your tea and read your books on a Saturday morning."
"Hey. Yeah, it was a busy time. Sorry, no. I wasn't avoiding you."
"Well, I'm glad to hear, that I didn't scare you away."
"You didn't."
"Is everything alright?"
"Now it is."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Okay."
"It's just my girlfriend... well, ex-girlfriend now, I guess."
"You guess? So, you're not sure, whether or not you have a girlfriend?"
"No, I'm pretty sure I don't. She just got the last box out of my room last night."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"No need to be. It was a long time coming."
"Well, if it helps, I really think she just made a very big mistake."
"And I think you should stop watching romantic movies, or at least stop using their cheesy lines."
"Wow, that hurt."
"Well, it's true. How can you say something like that, when you don't even know me? Or the circumstances?"
"Just a feeling."
"Can I buy you coffee?"
"Huh?"
"Coffee. You know? This black, hot liquid made out of beans."
"Yeah, no, I was just not expecting... I mean, yes, I'd like that."
"Great. How do you like it?"
"Oh well, that depends on, what we're talking about now."
"Your coffee, Bo."
"I know. I just think you're beautiful, when you roll your eyes like that."
"I don't roll my eyes like that."
"Black. I like my coffee black, thanks."
(a little later)
"So, what are you studying?"
"Medicine. What about you?"
"The secrets of life?"
"Ha, ha."
"I'm not a student."
"Oh. I just thought since you're here and stuff. Never mind. What are you doing?"
"I'm a barista."
"Of course, you are."
"What? Why not?"
"A barista? And now you're gonna tell me, that this is your shop?"
"Okay, fine. You got me. I'm a PI."
"A PI? Like in private investigator?"
"No like in politically incorrect… Yes like in private investigator."
"Who are you investigating?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
"Ha-ha."
"No really, I can't tell."
"Oh I see, sure… You're not really a PI, are you?"
"No. But wouldn't that be cool?"
"I'm not sure. Sounds dangerous."
"Well, life's short. May as well live a little, right?"
"I'm more the safety kind of person."
"I see."
"So?"
"So what?"
"Is it a secret?"
"What is?"
"What it is you're doing?"
"Well, I told you, but you don't believe me."
"So you are a barista after all?"
"Yes. I have a small shop in the city."
"Wow. Okay. But then, why are you here?"
"I deliver beans. I have my own brand."
"That sounds exciting."
"It really is. But since you don't like coffee, I can't really score with my homemade goods."
"Well, I like the smell of it."
"Well, lucky me, since it's basically my perfume. Maybe you just didn't taste good coffee yet."
"Maybe not."
"Maybe you should try mine some day."
"Maybe I should."
"How about next week? I'll ask Kenzi if she lets me behind the register. Then I'll do my magic."
"Who's Kenzi?"
Someone yelling in Russian in the distance.
"Well, that is Kenzi."
"She's the owner?"
"Yes."
"She swears a lot."
"Ha, yes she does. But she's a good soul and my best friend."
"Oh."
"What?"
"I just think, she doesn't like me much."
"She just needs time to figure people out first."
"She always rolls her eyes at me and calls me blondie, when I can pick up my cup."
"She called me various names, when we first met. It's her way of communicating."
"Wait. If she's your best friend, then why did you not ask her what it is I'm drinking? Or my name?"
"Oh believe me. I did. She just wouldn't tell me. Said something about breaking the code between customer and business."
"I don't think, that's a thing."
"I told her that as well. She's enjoying my struggle. Although she calls it journey."
"How karate-kid of her."
"Yes, right? Anyway. So?"
"So what?"
"Do we have a… coffee-time next week?"
"Okay."
"Okay? Great!"
"But I can't promise you, that I'm going to like it."
"The coffee or spending time with me?"
No responds.
"Don't think I didn't see that smile."
"See you next week, Bo."
"Oh, I'll be looking forward to seeing you again, Lauren."
"And? What do you think?"
No responds.
"Really? Nothing?"
"I'm sorry. I don't taste caramel nor hazelnut. All I taste is this bitterness that lies on my tongue like a fur."
"Maybe your tongue is just not as trained. Or it's just used to bad things."
"Excuse me? My tongue experienced all kinds of tastes. It's a connoisseur."
"Is that so?"
"Stop wiggling your eyebrows, Bo. I didn't mean it like that."
"And what would that be."
"You have a dirty mind, is all I'm saying."
"You just make it so easy."
"Shut up."
"Can I ask you out for dinner some time?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes. Like a good homemade dinner. To give your tastebuds some adventure here and there."
"Homemade? You mean…"
"I'd like to cook for you."
"In your home?"
"Well, homemade basically just means, that I made it myself, but…"
"Oh no, no. I wasn't inviting myself over to your place… I was just, I mean…"
"Lauren, it's fine. I'd love to cook dinner for you at my place. If you're up for that? Here, hand me your phone."
"Huh?"
"Your mobile phone please."
"Here, but…"
"Fingerprint please."
"Sorry."
"This is my number and…. Now, I got yours."
"Did you just call yourself from my phone?"
"I'll text you my address. How about Saturday night?"
"Like in next week?"
"Well it'd be a bit of a short notice, if it was tonight, right?"
"Uh, right."
"Also, it kind of became our thing. Meeting up on Saturdays."
"I guess it kind of is."
"Okay. I'm looking forward to introduce your tongue to my aromas."
"You're so…"
"Good with words?"
"See you on Saturday, Bo."
"For heathens sake! I'm about to die!"
"Kenzi!"
"What? Watching you two is sooo laaame! It's been weeeeks, Bo."
"See you then, Lauren. Ignore this impatient Russian lady over here. Kenz, I really think you should go and search for your manners. Maybe they're in the kitchen in the back?"
"But I don`t have a kitchen in the..."
"Just go, Kenz!"
"Uhm, bye Bo."
"See you soon, Lauren."
"You really know how to cook. This dinner was amazing."
"I'm glad you liked it."
"I took two refills. I'd say that proofs my point."
"Yeah. I'm really happy you could make it tonight."
"Well, we had a date."
"Oh, is this a date now."
"Uhm, well, I mean… we had set a date. Like… an appointment. Of sorts."
"Lauren."
"Yes?"
"I like this to be a date."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Me too."
(a bit later)
"So, you wanna become a doctor?"
"Yeah, no. I want to do research."
"Oh, I see. What field?"
"I'm not so sure, yet. I still have some semesters to go before I can even start thinking about that."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It is."
"So why would you sit in a coffeeshop at 9 in the morning on a Saturday then? Why don't you relax?"
"I usually wake up early. My ex-girlfriend, well, she didn't. So, we had a deal. I let her have her peace and go to another place to do my morning routine."
"Oh, I see."
"How did you know, that I'm a person of habit, as you pointed it out?"
"Don't think I'm crazy or something."
"I'll … try?"
"Shut up."
"Sorry, but that's not the best way of starting an explanation."
"Maybe not. Anyway. As I said, I deliver beans. To Kenzi. On Saturdays around 9:30. And I just saw you there. At this table one morning. And the week after. And after that. And I just got so… curious. Kenzi wouldn't tell me anything about you and with ever Saturday that passed, I just wanted to get to know you more and more."
"And now that you met me, you still want to know more?"
"I think, you are a very interesting person."
"Interesting is kind of the little brother of boring, when you say it like that."
"No! No! Oh gosh. Let me try again. Although it's not easy without using those cheesy lines you told me not to say anymore."
"Try me."
"Oh, believe me I'd really love to."
"You are-"
"Hard to resist?"
"Beyond reclaim."
"And you are irresistible. I just can't stop thinking about you."
No respond.
"I-I'm sorry. Was-was that too much?"
"I've been thinking about you, too."
"You were?"
"Yes. More than I should."
"Is there a scale of how much one may think about something?"
"Ha, ha. No. Of course not."
"Well, you're the scientists. I wouldn't know."
"I'm still a student. And that is the point. My thoughts are running wild and circling around you, when they should focus on… well my studies. That… that never happened before."
"What? That you thought about something else than your work?"
"No. That I think about someone else than my work. All. The. Time."
"I see. What is it you think about?"
"Huh?"
"When you think of me. What are you thinking about?"
"I-uh… Think about your voice."
"My voice?"
"Yes. It is… soothing and… quite arousing. I know that doesn't make any sense."
"No one ever found my voice arousing before."
"Well, then I guess they didn't really listen."
"So, my voice keeps you from studying?"
"Yes and no."
"Yes and no?"
"It's not just your voice."
"It's not?"
"No."
"Lauren, I want to be honest with you. I can't stop wondering, if your lips feel as soft as they look."
"Oh."
"And all I want right now is, lay my hand on the side of your head, pull you close and kiss you."
"Oh?"
"I'm gonna step closer now. If you don't want this, then you should tell me and we stop this right here and now."
"No, Bo. I want this. I really want to feel your skin on mine."
END