HuoHuo - A Cat Cafe Romance!?
The calming visit to the cat cafe turns into something more?
The door to the cat café creaks open, and the gentle hum of soft music mixed with the occasional meow greets us. The air is filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the subtle hint of catnip. A flash of green breezes past you, the smell of fresh baked bread invades your sense of nose as a nervous pitch finally reaches your ears and snaps you out of your stupor. The familiar environment that brings you peace after every day, every stressful moment has brought your feet to this establishment. Not only for the felines whos fur feels like clouds but for the barista that smiles so nervously, also so alluringly. Her hands fidgets nervously behind the counter, trembling slightly, glancing up with a hesitant smile. "Can I get anything for you, sir?" There's a hint of anxiety in her eyes, but also a genuine eagerness to please. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, clearly trying to mask her nerves as she waits for your response.
“Can I get a strawberry tea with a croissant please?” A smile crosses her lips and she visibly perks up in happiness, happily swaying behind the counter while counting the countless ingredients for the drink. Looking towards the array of tables, the atmosphere is warm and inviting as the sight of cats lounging lulls you to a table. Some still lounge in there comfortable corners while others curiously wander towards you, their tails flicking with interest.
The sound of whirring machinery before the smell of the now warm croissant and your awaiting drink wafts over to where you stand, a calming presence inside the chaotic world on the outside. A comfortable silence falls between you and the cats, an agreement almost, before as the aroma of strawberry tea and a freshly baked croissant envelops your senses. The girl from behind the counter approaches with a warm smile, carefully balancing a tray with your order. She gently places the tea and croissant on your table, her eyes bright with satisfaction at a job well done. "Here you go, sir. Enjoy!" she says, her earlier nervousness now replaced with a sense of accomplishment. You take a sip of the tea, its sweet and fruity flavor mingling perfectly with the buttery croissant. The moment feels almost magical, a peaceful interlude in the midst of life's chaos.
Your eyes trail over the barista before it pauses on the new shiny decorations, you notice the new pins she had on her apron. She smiles shyly as she notices you gaze and bows her head, “Uh- well I hope you enjoyed your food and drink!” Huohuo glances at you shyly before scooting in the empty space next to you, clearing her throat to gather your attention from the delicious aroma of the meal in front of you. Her gaze for a moment trails to someone behind the counter, almost to gain some confidence before turning back to you, “So- uhm I have my break in a few minutes, would you like to take a walk with me?” She digs in her pocket for a moment before sliding a piece of paper towards you, face down, standing up from her seat and offering you another smile then heading back to the counter now with a line building up.
You flip the paper over and read over the lettering, ‘808-xxx-xxxx text me or call me please, >.<’ Perhaps this day just went from good to better…
Hearing the keys jingle as Huohuo locked up the cafe before she turned to you, “Thank you for waiting up when I was closing, that was really nice of you to do that.” Shrugging it off as you start to walk with her, “I don't mind waiting around for a few minutes, besides this is important.” Walking alongside the road, the silence enveloping the duo as they walk towards her house. Conversing with eachother felt natural like the sun to sunflowers, laughing along as slowly the imaginary distance between you two started to close in. Until your hands brushed against hers, she stiffened up out of surprise. But you soon found yourself, clasping your bigger hand over hers, before intertwining them together. The feeling of warmth spreads through your palm as she happily sways the combined hands together, you squeeze her hand, feeling the softness in her fingers and the precious moment that it holds. Your intertwined hands changes the formality of the scene as you both no longer feel like strangers but something more, the sight of her home nears just as the duo is about to voice this feeling.
HuoHuo sheepishly smiles and turns to look at you, “Ah this seems to be my stop, but- thank you really, this was fun and I’d love to spend more time with you.” She squeezes your hand in a silent message, almost willing you to say something more, to break this tension that lingers between the air. You fulfill that silent request with a squeeze back, deciding to break that formality once and for all, but you can’t find it in yourself to complain when a beautiful smile graces her lips once more. Huohuo raises her other hand to cup your cheek to tug it down gently, feeling your heart change as your face is now more level with hers than before. Now you can see her more closely, her face, each expression she makes more closely, the ways her eyebrows relax to look up at you, before her face closes in.
Her lips slot with yours perfectly and the feeling of floating takes over, the softness of her lips as she pushes against yours so eagerly. Huohuo’s hand ghosts over your cheek and you move to adjust, grasping at her hips to pull her against you more, an adorable squeak escapes her mouth at the action but it soon morphs into a pleased hum. The surroundings around you both blur into nothingness as Huohuo tugs you down for more, a hunger you share with her, before the need for oxygen takes you both and begrudgingly pull away. Panting against eachothers lips, the surroundings slowly unblurring as the moment gets whisked away, she offers a small smile. “You should go, I have work tomorrow… But I hope to see you then, please.?” Nodding more enthusiastically than you rather hope but nevertheless the promise to see her again has your heart beating faster than you’d also like to admit. Yet with the way Huohuo is smiling at you, you feel as she already knows along with the way shes pressed against you can give away your racing heartbeat.
She pulls away but not before leaving a chaste kiss on your cheek before rushing to her door, “Uh bye-! Thank you for today again.” The door slams behind her after you gathered your thoughts together. Rubbing where Huohuo kissed as you feel a smile coming on, the thoughts on what to do tomorrow already processing in your mind, you find yourself walking back to your home, each step happily skipping along.
The regular customer status upgraded!