The Coffee Shop
[As requested by shingekinovida. Written by marceitor, translated and somewhat adapted by khandoppel]
We walked together through the metal door coated in glass, hearing the tiny bell ringing in our backs announcing its customers. The smell of coffee was intense but not sickening, and we were received by the blessing of the kind hostess. The round wooden tables were as pleasant as the white walls and the green one behind the counter. Coffee beans made curious designs on the walls, wavy like the smoke coming out of a just-filled cup. I knew that environment well. It was one of the most natural places for me, but not for him: Heitor got closer to the walls watching the designs closely and when he realized that it were beans that gave form to those curves, his surprised expression was almost unnoticeable. - Ready to sit? - I asked after a few seconds of allowing him to appreciate the art. He did not turn around, looking without a blink at the format of the seeds glued to the structure. - Yes. - he finally said, his focus of attention gracefully turning to me. He looked me in the eyes, holding the backpack’s strap around his shoulder, his sunglasses weighing down while hanged on his v-neck shirt. We sat at a little table near the glass window, closed and with green carvings. When he took the backpack off his shoulders he closed his eyes for a brief moment when he fumbled and almost dropped his glasses. I laughed, of course, and he giggled too, so I was forgiven. - What do you usually order around here? - he asked after stabilizing his breath. - You know, this is a coffee shop. - I said, smiling, and he frowned. - Ah, come on, you said you would try it. - I don't like coffee that much. - he looked with censure to the window outside. Suddenly the smell wasn't pleasant for him anymore. - You promised me you would try it. This is one of my favorite places in town, I won't let you leave like this… With nothing on your stomach. He stared me in the eyes and the greenish-brown storm swallowed me. I didn't know what he would want in his stomach, but I knew what was inside mine. Is there a non-toxic butterfly repellant I can swallow in order to kill them without any trouble? - Have you picked your order? - asked a quite young waitress getting closer to us. - I… - he tried, but nothing came out his lips, so he bit them. - We'll have two cappuccinos with lots of whipped cream. - I raised my tone. - Anything else? - she didn't take any notes. I always ordered the same thing. Heitor hadn't noticed. I waved my head negatively and let that movement lead to another one, took my bangs out of my eyes' way and looked at him seriously, but he stared me back, annoyed, sickened, disapprovingly, but he suddenly disguised it. - What!? - I laughed a little louder than I wanted to. - You don't know what a cappuccino is? He went back on looking at the not so crowded street outside. A blank expression, like a vampire's. - …No. - he answered, and I laughed again, but he didn't join me. Shit. - Hey… - I put my hand over his on the table. - Cappuccino is a kind of coffee with chocolate. - That's an offense! A scandal. - he joked and pretended he was more shocked than what he really were. Actually, I didn't even know if he was shocked at all, I doubted it a little. It was kind of ridiculous. Obviously, I laughed. - No, it's not. I've always ordered that and I always come here by myself, it's the first time I bring someone with me. - after I said that he seemed a bit more curious. The waitress came back with the cups covered in whipped cream, and he stared at the white topping. - Do you know what whipped cream is? - I smiled at him. Heitor stared at me, ate the cream separately (Ah, these newbies) and when he was about to sip the drink, I said: - Wait! He pulled the cup away from his face. - A toast. - I suggested. - Do people toast with coffee? - he asked. - It doesn't matter, we do. He smiled, raised his cup and took a sip. Frowned and then announced: - I hate coffee.
