it all started with a cappuccino

JENNIE

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
1:20 PM

"do we meet people out of coincidence?
or do we meet them for a reason?"

—————

Usually, the café was deserted after lunch. It was a time for us staff to get some rest.

So usually I would sit back on one of the chairs and read a book, or scroll the media, and mostly just stare at nothing.

If Ryujin was here, she would play a game of chess with me on the recreation area. Where she losses every single time. But she had classes, so I was left with Hyunjin on the counter, Mina and I on the preparation, and Somi for backup if customers gets many.

All of them are the closest friends I had. The café was such a special place where I met all of them, and I was so glad we all bonded and they were my family.

The bell chime brought me out of the book I was reading and I saw a customer sit on one of the tables on the right of the café. It didn't look like she was ordering so I waited for a few minutes before walking up to her,

"Good day, Ma'am. If you would like to order we advise you to go on the cashier for a better view of the coffee menu,"

"Oh well actually, I'm waiting for someone. Can I just have water for now, please?"

"Sure," I said and went back to the kitchen then went out again for her water. She gave me a smile and thanked me as I went back to the booth.

Hyunjin sat beside me and gave me some of the cookies he was eating, "Isn't she ordering?"

"Waiting for someone," I said as I picked one cookie,

"Bet you a hundred won she's waiting for a date," Hyunjin challenged.

"Hyunjin, you and Ryujin are like twins. Betting on everything the customers are doing," I rolled my eyes.

He laughed, "Loosen up, Kim. Two hundred won, her date is a she."

"It's a he," I challenged.

"Deal," he shook my hand before he went to the cashier as a customer walked in.

Eventually I had to stand up as a pile of coffee orders occured and Somi helped me up as Mina went around to clean the tables for the newcomers.

It has been like two hours of nonstop coffee brewing when finally there were no new orders as the afternoon coffee time ended nearly four. Somi excused herself for a break and I went out in front to see how my deal with Hyunjin was going.

"No winner, I guess." he said as we saw the lady still on her chair while furrowing her brows on her phone and her water was empty for hours now,

"We don't even know if she's waiting for a date,"

Just then the bell chimed and in went a boy who looked at the lady right away as he went to sit in front of him. The lady looked like she was pissed off but was trying not to storm off the boy, while the boy just stood up and went to the counter to order. And it felt like I was wanting to take the order for him,

"Two cappuccinos, please." the man said.

"Two cappuccinos for the lady who waited almost three hours for a boy who would only order a cheap small sized coffee for her, coming right up." I said, and I felt Hyunjin giggle beside me.

"Excuse me?" he said, "What the hell are you trying to say?"

I looked over him, "Sorry? Was I wrong?"

"Women and their nosy asses," he commented.

"Dude, chill. No need to talk shit in front of a lady. Be a man," Hyunjin interrupted on my defense.

The man scoffed, "Bunch of weirdos," he muttered before turning around and walking to the lady, "Let's go, Lisa. Let's go somewhere else."

But Lisa just sat there.

"The hell are you waiting for?"

"You made me wait for almost three hours. What kind of boyfriend are you?" she said.

"You know what? I'm leaving. Bunch of clowns!" he shouted and went out.

Everyone on the café was looking at the direction of the man. The lady named Lisa was just looking down and trying her best not to cry. 

"I won. Add a hundred because her date was a douche man," I said before disappearing into the back and prepared a cup of cappuccino. I heard Hyunjin mumble something -- not entirely accepting his defeat before he followed me at the back.

"Put it in the cashier for the price of this cappuccino," I said gesturing to the winning money as I brought a newly made cappuccino out and walked to the lady. I placed the cup in front of her and she looked at it weirdly before staring at me.

"What's this for?"

I looked at her curiously, "Are you blind? That's a cappuccino,"

"I know, why would you give me one? I didn't order." she said.

"Someone tries to be a decent human being and buy you a coffee after your douche of a boyfriend shouted at you, and you really question her?" I said before turning around with the cappuccino.

"No, wait." she said, "Sorry, I was just feeling shitty."

I turned around and placed the cappuccino on her table, "I hope the cappuccino helps you feel less shitty. On the house." I said and winked at her before walking back to the booth.

It was bad enough that Hyunjin and I made a silly bet out of her struggle -- the cappuccino should do her good.