Coffee
Fallen leaves were swaying in autumn wind. The clouds were piling one after another, blocking ray of the sun. The grey sky marked it a gloomy day. She looked outside the shop, watching the carpet of copper leaves on the ground emitting a haze of gold under the meek sunlight.
"This is a nice seat," Tomoyo said in the softest of her voice. She reached and took the cup of cappuccino in her hand.
He was going to say something important. To him. And to her.
Intuition.
"Kaho and I are getting married," Eriol cut the silence between them that had stayed for some time since they entered the coffee shop. His smile still wore that charming grace since he had ever had back in primary school when they first met. "We'd love to have you in our wedding, Daidouji-san."
There was a pause before she could return from her many thoughts. Cloudy and confusing.
"Is that so?" Tomoyo held a rigid smile on her face. She would not falter. He might have played with her feelings, but she would not let herself tumble. "Well, congratulations, Hiiragizawa-kun," she gave her regards politely.
Afraid that he would see the sadness in her gaze, she lowered her head. Perhaps, this cup of coffee was the only thing saw through her unshed tears. As she sipped in much unspoken frustration, the foam that took a heart shape was distorting, leaving a distress mess of brown and white. The milk did not make balance the bitterness of the coffee, but only enhanced the disappointment that was stabbing her heart. It was no longer a whole. Like her cup of coffee, a hole was marked in her heart.
His words left her empty. Each was a drill that could pierce down to the deepest of her being.
The honorifics they used to address each other, the upfront formality in the conversation and the thing that was left between them.
They went to school together.
There was never a beginning. It was only natural that they would this ending.
A piece of unrequited love, a cup of bitter coffee, and two school friends.