The next morning, I woke up early, maybe around 8:30, feeling unusually awake for that time of day. I showered, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and did my makeup with care, taking longer than usual to make sure I looked presentable. Once I was happy with how I looked, I made myself a quick breakfast. It was just a cup of tea and toast, but it was comforting in its simplicity. For some reason, I felt like today was going to be different, like something exciting was going to happen. Maybe it was the good mood I woke up in, or maybe I was just being overly optimistic. After breakfast, I grabbed my jacket and walked to work. The café wasn't far, but it wasn't particularly close either—just about a 20 minute walk, which I didn't mind at all. I liked the fresh air and the opportunity to clear my mind.

I arrived at the café just before 10:00 and decided to enter through the back door, as I usually did. The staff entrance was quieter, and it gave me a moment to breathe before facing the day. I took off my jacket, hung it up, and then put on my uniform. The café was still quiet at that hour, so I had some time to organise things behind the counter and get prepared for the first wave of customers.

As I arranged some napkins and checked the pastries, I kept glancing at the clock. Mei would be here soon, and I always looked forward to seeing them. After about six minutes, the bell above the door jingled, and I looked up to see Mei entering the café. Their eyes were wide, but they were also smiling. I waved at them as they came closer.

"You're early!" they said, looking genuinely surprised. I'd never been early before, and I could tell they didn't expect it.

"Well, what can I say? I woke up in a good mood today," I replied, grinning, my smile growing wider as I spoke. Mei chuckled softly.

It was Friday, so we didn't have many customers. The café was usually quiet during the mornings, with only a handful of regulars coming in for their coffee and pastries. Every time the doorbell rang, I looked up, hoping it would be Gabriela, but it never was. I was looking down at the till, putting some change away, when I heard her voice.

"Hey." Her voice was deep, and her breath smelled like mint, like she had just had a fresh minty gum or a peppermint tea. I looked up at her, and she was smiling down at me. My heart skipped a beat, and my face immediately felt hot. I struggled to catch my breath.

"Mia?" she asked, her tone full of confusion, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.

AAAA!, hearing her say my name is so hot. I think I'm going mad! I couldn't help but think to myself, my mind racing with thoughts that made no sense. I was doing my best not to act weird or say something strange, so I just replied with,
"Hi!" My voice betrayed my excitement, clearly showing how happy I was to see her.

"Hi! I'd like to order exactly what I had yesterday," she said, still smiling. I remembered exactly what she'd ordered, but I didn't want to make it too obvious that I'd been paying attention.

"And what exactly did you order?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Her confused expression was amusing, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

"Oh! Um... just black coffee and a croissant, please!" she said, though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. Without me even mentioning the price, she handed me the money and then went to sit in the seating area.

I felt bad. I thought she might take it as a joke, but it seemed like she didn't. It was 11:45 now, and she was still sitting at the same table, looking down at her coffee with a contemplative expression. I caught her glancing at me several times, but every time I met her gaze, she quickly turned away, almost shyly. Mei also seemed to notice her glances, but they didn't say anything. It felt like the air was thick with unspoken words, and I wasn't sure how to handle it.

When it was finally my lunch break, I decided to go sit next to her. She looked at me, surprised, and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. It was clear she didn't know what to say, and the silence between us was a bit awkward. So, I decided to speak first.

"Look, I don't know what I did wrong," I started, trying to sound casual, "but if it's about me forgetting your order, I was just joking around. I actually did remember it, I just didn't want to seem like I've got some obsession with you or something." I accidentally blurted out the last part without thinking, and immediately regretted it.

She looked shocked, still not sure what to say, but after a moment of awkward silence, she managed to stutter, "A-a..." Her hesitation made me even more embarrassed, and I could feel my face turning bright red. I quickly covered my face with my hands, hoping to hide the growing heat in my cheeks. But then I heard her laugh softly.

When I opened my eyes, she was looking at me, and it felt like time slowed down. She looked so majestic, like she had just stepped out of a dream, and I could barely believe she was sitting right in front of me. The back of her hand was covering her mouth as she tried to stifle her laughter.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she stopped laughing, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Ahh, you're cute," she said, her voice light and teasing, as she took a sip of her coffee. My mouth was slightly open; I wasn't expecting her to say that at all. I quickly closed it, but I couldn't help feeling a rush of excitement.

She placed her mug back on the table and looked at me with a serious expression.

"Honestly, I was kind of disappointed, not gonna lie," she said, her tone surprisingly direct, "but you're so cute, I can't get mad at you." She held my gaze, and I felt my heart race. It was as if the world around us faded away, and all that mattered was the intensity in her eyes.

My mind was spinning. I still didn't quite understand what was happening, and I was still processing everything. But then she asked me a question that made my heart skip a beat.

"Wanna go to the movies tomorrow?" she asked, sounding casual, as if she had just suggested going for a walk in the park. The café would be closed tomorrow, so I had the whole day free.

"Y-yeah," I finally managed to speak, my voice barely above a whisper. She smiled brightly at me and stood up, taking her last sip of coffee.

"It's a date then!" she said, grinning, before walking out of the café. My mouth was wide open at this point, and I could barely process what had just happened. I looked at Mei, who was already looking at me with the same stunned expression I had on my face. They smiled knowingly and muttered, "YES!" under their breath.

I sat there for a while, trying to make sense of it all. My mind was full of thoughts, each one tumbling over the other, none of them making sense. I could barely contain my excitement. My thoughts were interrupted when the manager suddenly yelled my name, calling me back to the counter.

I can't believe this is happening... I can't wait for this date.

*****

END OF CHAPTER 3!

Q: favorite fruit?

A: apples - Mangoes - strawberry's