Drabble - Aiba
Her café’s opening hours depended on the weather.
If it rained, she would open earlier.
If it shined, she would open only in the evening.
Call it weird but that’s the way Nana’s café worked.
“Ohayo~~~~~”
The wind chimes attached to the doorknob rang and when Nana looked up to see her first customer for the day, she smiled. Her regular customer was busy wiping off beads of rain from his checkered coat before he walked in and sat at his usual spot at the corner of her café.
“Seeking refuge from the rain again Aiba-kun?” She asked as she took his coat and helped to hang it at the bronze stand that had a tinge of Victorian feel to it.
“Not really. Sudden craving for a nice cup of latte…” Aiba smiled as he removed his beanie and placed it on his lap.
“Ryokai.”
As Nana returned to her counter and started brewing, Aiba placed his hand on the table and looked at her.
He looked at her agile hands mingling with the coffee machine.
From the steaming of milk to the brewing of espresso and finally, the finale part where she combined both milk and espresso into a porcelain mug before she topped it up with a light dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Aiba liked to see her at work and though it was repetitive, he liked it all the same.
“Here you go.”
Nana placed the freshly brewed mug of latte on the table and passed the morning papers to Aiba who took it with gratitude.
“If only all cafes have a touch of personalization in them.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been wanting to ask you something for the longest of time…”
Nana’s face perked up at once as her curiosity was aroused.
“Have you been spying on me whenever I come?”
She laughed.
“Why the sudden question?”
“Well…. You seem to remember that I prefer more milk in my latte and the fact that I like to read the morning papers while drinking…” Aiba replied.
“To me, that’s the way a café owner should be; Making her customers feel at home…”
Nana tucked her hair behind her ear as she turned back and headed back for the counter.
She lied.
She had already noticed him ever since the first day he entered her café with tears in his eyes on a rainy day. As he made his way to the corner of the café, he sat down and took a few deep breaths as he struggled to fight back his tears.
Minutes later she walked up to him with a mug of latte on hand.
“This will make you feel better.” She smiled as she placed it in front of him.
He nodded once and took a sip from the mug.
Seconds later, he smiled.
And that smile of his made her fall in love with him on first sight…
“Nana-chan?”
Aiba called and Nana was snapped back to reality.
“Hai?” She asked as she turned back…
… and realised that her face was inches away from him.
“chi-chikai yo…” She mumbled as she looked away and walked off but Aiba grabbed her right hand and pulled her back towards him.
“Ne…”
“Hmm?” She asked.
“You know how much I love drinking your latte?”
“Well, now I know…”
“But do you know I love it so much till I would want to drink it every day?”
Nana’s heart started beating faster than usual as Aiba continued to talk.
“Nana, as much as I love drinking your latte, I would love to have you by my side everyday too…”
“chotto… is that considered a co-“
Before Nana could finish her words, Aiba cupped her face with both hands and delivered a soft kiss on her lips.
As their lips parted, Nana’s lips formed a smile and looked straight into Aiba’s eyes.
“Ok, there’s something I have to say.”
Now it was Aiba’s turn to get nervous…
“You remember the first time you came into my café?”
“Yes… Up till now I still can’t believe I cried so much just because I had a huge argument with my roommate Ohno-kun and stomped out of the house after that…” He scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.
“Well... I actually fell in love with you the moment you smiled after you drank my latte…”
Aiba widened his eyes in surprise as she pulled his cardigan and returned the kiss.
“USO!!!” He exclaimed.
Nana smiled once more and showed a ‘peace’ sign.
Then, rays from the shine shone into the café and Nana was surprised at what she saw…
Aiba smiled and it looked exactly the same as what she saw during her first meeting with him.
The smile that caught her heart and refused to let go…
AN: That picture of Aiba is my favourite. =)