Coffee Shop
"Garry. . . . " A ten year old Ib tugged at Garry's green shirt while they were walking.
"Yes, Ib?" He stared down at her and met her red questioning eyes.
"Can I drink coffee once we get there?" She asked, tilting her head on the side which made her so much cuter.
He was quite surprised when he learned that she wanted to try coffee for once. That was a first. But wasn't caffeine bad for kids or something?
"No, you can't. You're not supposed to drink coffee yet," He mildly chided her.
"But why? It's a coffee shop," She pouted and narrowed her eyes a bit at him. Her voice was colored by stubbornness.
Well, this was really strange. Ib usually enjoyed being with him anywhere that she didn't mind the places. It was also one of the rare times where she would demand something from him.
"Because you're still young, and you won't like the taste," He laughingly replied as he ruffled Ib's short brown hair. She could only huff and pout in reaction.
They reached the coffee shop and the tinkling sound of the bell was heard when they opened the door. The coffee shop was quite small but it was cozy and there were only a few people aside from them.
"So what do you want today Ib? Hot chocolate or vanilla?" Garry asked while he waited for her to sit down on a chair. Ib only stared (glared) at him stubbornly.
He could only sigh when he walked towards the cashier to order and Ib was still staring (glaring) at him from her seat.
"I'd like to have a cappuccino and strawberry shortcake and blueberry cheesecake," He ordered and paid the cashier. The young girl in front of her smirked and winked at him but he cou
When he arrived at their table with the cakes and the coffee, Ib complained to him.
"You could've at least gotten me a hot chocolate," she said, she was still feeling grumpy for not being able to drink coffee.
"I thought you wanted coffee?" He teased her while placing one of the cakes in front of her.
". . . . . . ." She looked at him and wondered if he was being serious.
"Here, but be careful with it. It's still hot," Garry pushed the cup towards her.
Ib just stared at cup of the steaming coffee before looking back at Garry. He tilted his head, wondering at Ib's strange behavior that day.
". . . But. . what about you?" Her ruby red eyes were wide with contemplation.
"We'll share," He was secretly enjoying Ib's childishness at that moment, she was just so cute.
"Oh," Ib suddenly blushed and looked at the cup of coffee in front of her.
"Why do you want to know what coffee tastes like anyway?" He wondered as he took a bite from his blueberry cheesecake.
"Because they told me it's bitter," she replied simply, she was still not looking at him.
"And so?" He looked at her, waiting for her to meet his eyes.
"And the cake is sweet," She was still playing the staring game with the white cup.
". . . . " Garry couldn't see the connection between the cake being sweet and why she wanted to drink coffee.
She blew on the coffee before putting it her lips. She took a small sip and her childish face scrunched up a bit from the taste.
He couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh. "I told you, you wouldn't like the taste,"
She finally looked at him and when she did, a slight blush colored her face.
"I read somewhere that love is bittersweet," she shyly answered his earlier question.
He almost choked on his cheesecake.
"Really?"
"And I wanted to see if it was true," she avoided his eyes once again.
". . . . . ." He sometimes couldn't believe that Ib was a child when she thinks like that.
"And I don't think it's true," her young voice started to get softer.
"Why do you think so?" He was anticipating her answer, and yet he knew it was somehow wrong. But he tried to ignore the voice telling him so.
"Because, love is sweet," She finally answered. "Just sweet, like this cake,"
She stared at him and he stared right back. She blushed and Garry felt his face heat up too. He took another piece from his cake and ate.
"Yeah, it's sweet."
