I hate Alex, fucking rat who can't shut his mouth up.

He went back to the counter, asking the barista to make Kal's macchiato. He would always take the order of my tea in the end. I didn't mind it, not right now. I was baffled by Kal's presence in the coffee place at this time of the day. He never comes to the shop at this time. I would have noticed, now I hope he doesn't notice me.

His face was devoid of any emotions, just like how we used to be during those quizzes. It reminded me of the eighth grade, the shy, gullible boy who quizzed for the first time and took the quizzing community by storm. He spat answers like bar and I would stare at him in awe and satisfaction that I had met my match.

I couldn't help but stare at him, he had changed a lot in the past couple of months. I had heard he wasn't talking to Leni that often, she would divert the conversation whenever Kal's name would pop out. It was a weird place, I had befriended Leni to get close to Kal but now it seems like Leni is getting close to me to stay away from Kal.

I think he hates me right now. Leilani never let anyone call her Leni except Kal. Things changed when I came into the picture. I would have paid a million bucks to change whatever happened between us, how I called Leni by her special nickname when she was breaking things with Kal. It was the salt that I rubbed in the wound I didn't know existed. I would definitely pay a million bucks for it.

Right now, I can't even pay for cat food.

Earlene has a habit of feeding random street animals. Mum would leave for work, leaving a casserole full of bread and biscuits for Earlene. She would never share her food with me, even for an 11-year-old, she was a penny pincher just like my dad. Then bring in a furry four-legged animal with attitude problems as severe as hers, voila! Brethren could drown in the River Styx and her furry gatekeeper of the hell and the demon herself would relish the sight.

She met her partner in crime near the coffee place itself. Her cat was being bullied and pelted stones by some meddlesome middle school kids. Then out wonder woman, with her makeshift speaker, she made for her science project, blasted the sounds of sirens of the police car. She made the kids flee the site of crime without shedding a drop of blood. We had our very own supergirl, Earlene Nazadze on the front page of the daily newspaper.

Founder of the Pets R Us club(such a creative name, I know) and the leader of all animal rights marches in and out of the city, we had our very own Greta Thunberg, who actually knew what she was doing.

Definitely, she brought home the little fluffball of scratching angel, with whom she shared the front page of the newspaper.

"What is she called?" Enquired one of the local journalists while she posed near the coffee place.

The charming little sister of mine caressed the lustrous mane(thanks to the expensive pet grooming shop who sponsored her for thr clout).

"Bathsheba."

Now, even if we can't afford to keep Cleo(no, I won't call her Bathsheba, I call her Cleo), Earlene would enunciate the benefits of having a cat as a pet until she'd run out of elementary school vocabulary.

"Cat owners have a higher IQ."

"It'll tarnish my public reputation."

"I love Bathsheba, Eli, please buy her food for me."

So here I am, trying to find the perfect victim to mob and buy Cleo her food. The ends justify the means, right?

The buzz of the phone in my pocket startled me. I jerked right off, then check if the weapon for my mobbing fiasco hadn't fallen down in this process.
It was safe, so I checked the message I received.

Ass-lex💀

Go talk to Kal. He is alone👀

Kai🤓

No, I won't. He clearly doesn't want anyone, especially not me.

Ass-lex💀

Bruh, this might be your last chance to talk to him. Go man up, HE NEEDS YOUR LOVE.

Kai🤓

You know what happened when he gave me his number right?

Ass-lex💀
You had sext?

Kai🤓
Haha,💀 You wish.

Ass-lex💀
Loverboy, don't deny your inner kink👀

Kai🤓
Fuck you.

Ass-lex💀
I know you want to, just not with me👀

Alex was just confirming that he indeed messed things up and said something stupid about me to Kal when he took Kal's order. He would have never coerced me to make the first move otherwise. Pain in the ass annoying piece of shit, I can't really give up on him though, he is home.

Kal had made the first move and given me his number in tenth grade. He wanted to add me to this really cool group chat where we all share various questions and try to answer them( I am grateful that he considered adding in the group chat though).

I got a panic attack and a gay attack at the same time. I had spent the entire day staring at the profile picture he had put up, Kassandra, Leni and him on their hiking trip. That was the best smile I had ever seen. He wasn't trying to bring people down or fighting to answer the quickest. He was just there, living thr moment, soaking in the sun, admiring the nature. The dimples bore deeper dent in my heart and it would stop beating. I missed his smiles. I missed the spark in his voice every time he answered. I missed the mischievous grins that sent me mixed signals every time he came to shake hands with me. I missed his confidence shining through his skin. I missed that shy, gullible boy who used to stutter when asked to introduce.

I missed not admiring him like I used to, because he wasn't what he used to be.

He is a mess right now, right in front of my eyes. I know he wore that same shott for days now, it wasn't his lucky shirt that he wore to every competition. He hadn't bathed for days and his hair had grown longer than the old Kal who loved sophistication would have kept. The bags under his eyes that he thought no one would be able to see and the chubby cheeks that had sunken in. He wasn't the Kal I knew. It wasn't because of Leni, or school or college admissions, I don't know why he looks miserable.

I hate to admit but he looks dead.

It pained me just to look at him, so I searched for his number and clicked on his nee profile picture. He had changed it from his own to a Tumblr post.

I am not okay, I am just good at pretending that I am.

Oh boy, you did a terrible job at pretending as well. I wanted to ask him what's wrong or maybe offer a cup of coffee. I wanted to catch and I wanted to tell him that he was okay. My legs had been glued to the wooden table and it seemed impossible to push myself up and make small talk. Plus, he didn't even talk to his friends, he might need some space.

I was mulling over texting him when Alex came up with his brilliant ideas.

Ass-lex💀

Okay, maybe text him instead to see whether he smiles at your name or rolls his eyes. Both of them can mean he is into you tho👀

Kai🤓
Shut up, what shall I write? Hi?

Ass-lex💀
Thats so boomer. Go with this:
I'm making thr first move at texting so I am expecting you to make the first move at kissing.

Kai🤓
Do you want to die?

Ass-lex💀
Not before I make my best man speech at your wedding.

Kai🤓

I don't even know if he's into me or not. Wait, who's allowing you to text at work?

My eyes shot up to find Alex multitasking orders and texting. He knew all the customers and their regular orders, so it wasn't hard for him to keep up. He has an incredible typing speed, considering the fact that he's not abbreviating words. He knows how WhatsApp language to me is talking to a wall.

The notification ring drew me back to the chat again.

Ass-lex💀
Don't worry about it, fam. I've got my ass covered.
Anyway, type this:
Stop sending mixed signals and start sending memes.

Kai🤓
The admin has removed you from the chat.

Ass-lex💀
Or maybe: If you have time to "like" each other's Instagram pics, we have time to text.

Kai🤓
Let me check his ig.

It came to my mind that he had deleted all his pictures from his account a long time ago before he disappeared from the public eye. It was like a model wearing the most dazzling sequins dress turning off the spotlight.

They were an array of his prized moments, the trophies and triumphs, the smiles and satisfaction. He hadn't even participated in a single regional competition last year, let alone win them. Rumour had it that he was gearing up for the nationals, but little did they see him underneath the charm and charisma. He needed to talk, only if I could muster the courage to do so.

Another ring of my phone made me ignore Alex. I read in the notification bar what he wrote and to be honest, I doubt how he gets along with the girls.

Ass-lex💀

Just go with the classic: hey sexy👀

I had focussed on what I had come for– to mob. I had to find some money to get through Cleo's food and my second-hand reference books.

I had kept my camouflage outfit and weapon ready. I just had to find the bait and then we'll be good to go. I checked the coupon number for my order- #143. I don't know how long it takes for a coffee place to make a nice cup of tea.

Juniors had a birdhouse hanging just outside the balcony of their store. The chirping birds on one of those rare perfect days made it a bad day for something bad to happen.

I greeted Richard who came to clean my table. He used to work as Earlene's caretaker before mum and dad didn't have enough money to even pay for my school fees. We moved various localities and schools, finally settling to the private school Earlene and I are studying in. Most people assume my family is rich based on my education, but it's just their priority. They prefer to each a meal less but ensure my sister and I would never have to face financial problems like them. I am grateful.

Now that my sister has stopped earning the little but she did by being a mini animal rights celebrity, I had no choice but to take up mobbing. It's fast, easy and doesn't hinder my superficial pride by working as a waiter like Alex.

Sometimes I admire his indifference about other's opinion and doing as he pleases but my parents have always taught me to have a standard for myself. Once you start falling down the ladder of status, you'll stop falling only when you hit the rock bottom. I swear by it.

That's why I am concerned by what margin Kal's going to beat me this time.

One of the announcers called my order's name and the LED screen in the corner flashed the number #143. I rose to grab my beloved cup of tea.

The subsequent events left me confused and swept the floor of my feet.

Kal Callahan rose from his table and shouted, "I volunteer!"

Kal Callahan walked out of the coffee place with my cup of tea.

~~~
Word Count: 2036

A/N
I am neither a cat person nor a dog person because I am allergic to fur. Hehe.

Hope you enjoyed it!