He was standing in the kitchen, the steam rising from the freshly brewed cup, and staring at it as though it held the answers to the universe. She, on the other hand, was perched on the counter, arms crossed, watching him with an expression that could only be described as a mix of mild annoyance and amusement.
"Is it really that complicated?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He glanced at her over the rim of his mug, taking an exaggerated sip. "It's about the experience, not just the taste." He paused, staring at the dark liquid with intense concentration. "Coffee should be enjoyed, savored. Not rushed. If you're just drinking it for the caffeine, you're doing it wrong."
She snorted. "I'm pretty sure most people drink it for the caffeine. That's kind of the point."
He smirked, leaning against the counter. "Maybe. But if you only care about the caffeine, you might as well be drinking energy drinks or, heaven forbid, instant
She rolled her eyes. "I don't know about you, but I'm not some coffee snob who spends twenty minutes brewing a cup just to feel fancy."
He set the mug down, turning to face her with a dramatic sigh. "It's not about feeling fancy. It's about appreciating the craft. The skill behind the grind. The grind, you know, like how you go on about your day with that unbothered attitude?"
Her lips twitched, but she crossed her arms tighter. "Yeah, well, you don't see me pouring over beans for an hour before I drink my coffee."
He raised an eyebrow. "You should. It might make you a little less… grumpy."
"Excuse me?" she shot him a pointed look.
He leaned in just a bit closer, clearly enjoying the playful banter. "I mean, I'm just saying. A little coffee appreciation might soften that 'I'm-too-cool-for-this' exterior."
She narrowed her eyes, trying not to smile. "Are you implying I'm grumpy because of the coffee I drink?"
"No, no," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm implying you're grumpy because you're not drinking coffee the right way."
She rolled her eyes again, but there was a hint of warmth creeping into her voice. "Right. Like I need to be enlightened by you, the coffee guru."
He leaned back against the counter with a confident grin. "If you're going to call me that, you better take notes."
She snorted again, but this time, she couldn't stop herself from smiling. "Alright, enlighten me. How does one drink coffee like a connoisseur?"
"First," he said, holding up his finger like he was about to reveal a life-changing secret, "you don't just gulp it down. You need to appreciate the aroma. Close your eyes, inhale deeply."
She raised an eyebrow but did as he said, taking a deep breath of the rich scent. "Okay, I admit it smells nice."
"See? Now you're getting it," he said with a grin that was a little too pleased with himself.
She scoffed. "I can appreciate a good smell. Doesn't mean I want to spend my entire morning inhaling coffee like some kind of ritual."
He ignored the jab, undeterred. "Step two—taste. But not like a savage. You need to sip, slowly, and let the flavor linger. You should be able to identify notes. It's like wine, but better."
She hesitated, then took a slow sip, savoring the taste more than she expected. "Alright, alright. It's good. But still not worth turning into a coffee monk over."
He watched her carefully, a glimmer of something playful in his eyes. "You're just mad because you're secretly enjoying this."
She shifted, not quite meeting his gaze, as if the idea of enjoying coffee—and his company—was too much to admit. "I'm not mad. Just… wondering how long you're going to drag this out."
"Oh, we're not done yet," he said, tapping his mug knowingly. "The best part is the aftertaste. You let it linger. Just like a good conversation. You know, something you don't rush."
She laughed. "A good conversation? You mean like this one? Because I'm not sure I'm buying it."
He smirked. "You'll get there. Just let it settle. Let it happen."
She shook her head, but there was a softness in her eyes. "I'm not falling for your coffee charm."
"Who said anything about charm?" He raised his hands, pretending to be innocent. "I'm just trying to help you elevate your morning routine. The rest is up to you."
"Uh-huh." She took another sip, watching him over the rim of her cup. "So, what's next in this elevated coffee journey? Do I have to start a coffee journal?"
He chuckled, clearly enjoying how this was all playing out. "No journal. Just… appreciation. Maybe a little less sarcasm and a little more mindfulness."
She raised an eyebrow, her voice lowering slightly. "You really think you can teach me to be mindful? You're awfully confident."
"Well," he said, leaning in a bit closer, "I'm pretty sure you'll find that coffee, like everything else in life, tastes better when you don't rush it."
She looked at him, her heart betraying her, but her words stayed guarded. "I don't need a life lesson, thank you very much."
He took one last sip from his cup, setting it down with a satisfied sigh. "You know, one day you'll admit I was right."
She raised her mug to her lips again, hiding the faintest of smiles behind it. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean I'll ever say it aloud."
"Of course not." He grinned, knowing exactly how this was going to play out. "Just like you'll never admit that you secretly think this coffee ritual is kind of… cute."
She paused. "I'm not admitting anything."
"Sure," he said, winking as he pushed himself off the counter. "I'll let you keep pretending."
And as she watched him leave, coffee in hand, she realized that, maybe, just maybe, this whole "ritual" wasn't so bad after all.