Signature Hot Chocolate.

Signature Hot Chocolate.

As far as her eye could see only three shops were open. It was a Sunday morning and she reluctantly agreed to stay and wait till he finishes his project. She consoled herself that two hour is nothing as she has done four hours in Starbuck’s when her flight was delayed.

Balancing her things in her hands she orders “Signature hot-chocolate please, grandé.”

She walked with the hot chocolate and her bags in her hands looking for a place to get cozy. A corner table with two brown arm chairs was perfect. As she walked towards the chosen table, she glanced and did a swift count of the customers in the café. There was a couple, a mother and daughter. Far to the right an old man buried in his book.

Exactly what she would be doing, if she did not need to complete her assignments. She settled down and started reading her assignment; she scribbled marginal notes on the question paper. Every now and then she looked up, what was she looking for? She herself didn’t know? It is safe to say she was an observer. It’s not like she enjoyed what she was reading.

“Excuse me, May I?” a voice caught her attention. A tall guy stood before her asking permission to sit at the empty chair. She stretched her neck and did another quick headcount. It was crowded.

“Sure” she quickly moved the unwanted papers to the bag.

He slowly placed the tray on his side of the table and beamed a perfect smile with his perfect set of pearls. He was a Caucasian, green eyed and lightly tanned. She nodded and returned a tight lipped smile. Then she buried herself back in to her book. Not sure why she actually did such an unwelcoming gesture. Arguing within herself should she make it up by trying to have small talks? The book was heavy her wrist ached; she lowered the book to her lap. She could feel his stare on her. She gathered her guts and look back at him but he looked down at his hot chocolate. “ah- so much for being bold and daring,” She mumbled softly. She picked up her mug of cold chocolate now, took a few sips and placed it back on the table and so did he. When the mugs clanged she looked at his big hand with long fingers, there was a ring on ‘that finger’ she was convinced he was married. She took a closer look at the ring, was it a wedding band. He caught her staring at his hands and he pulled it away from the table. She pretended to pick up a paper on the table and read.

“Management Communication, nice” “Let me guess you must be a student or a lecturer?” he caught her of guard.

“Student.” She burped.

“Interesting?” he added.

“I will survive,” she smiled.

He chuckled and turned away to pick up his ringing phone. She picked up her mug while looking at him and took a sip of warm chocolate.

She instantly realized it was not hers. He did not notice. Should she tell him? He hung up and turned back to the table.

“Sorry about that,” he said and he picked up his mug. Her red lipstick stain screamed out at her, tell him!!!

“Never mind,” she crocked.

He brought the mug closer to his lip and she kept staring. “Sunday and assignment do not get along well right?” he asked.

“Ah- yes no assignment but mug” she blurted.

“Pardon,” he lowered his mug and leaned forward a little.

“I meant, I do not have a choice” rectifying her hogwash.

“Dateline?” he questioned.

She just nodded. His phone rang again; he excused himself to answer it. She pulled out her Kleenex and wiped away the lipstick stain. She felt horrible but safe. He came back. She did not want to look at him or what was going to happen next. She picked up the paper and hid behind it. She heard the sound of the fork on the saucer. She knew he was finishing his muffin. She peeked and he caught her eyes.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, do you know where the nearest ATM machine is?” he inquired.

“There is one on this floor near the washrooms,” she placed the paper on the table gestured and answered.

“Thank you, so aren’t you going to tell me?” he added.

“huh!- what?” she gasped. He knew what happened all along.

“The dateline of the assignment, when is it due?”

“Dateline is coming Tuesday,” she replied with a huge sigh.

“Wow! That was a huge sigh,”

“Oh I just realized I only have 60 hrs to finish,” she replied wittily.

“I think that’s only 24 hrs, if you minus the sleep hours,” he added with a twisted smile.

“Thanks for rubbing it in,” she returned the twisted smile.

“Sorry.” He said as he moved closer to pick up the mug.

“Where you from?” she shot a question at him.

“I am from L.A and you?” he picked up the mug.

“I am a Malaysian born and breed here,” she replied.

“How long have you been here? Do you like it here? What brought you here?” she blasted a few more question trying to prevent him from drinking.

“That is a lot of questions,” he placed the mug on the table again.

“Alright, I have been here for 2 years now. I came here to handle a project at Freescale formerly known as Motorola and I love it here.” He answered and beamed at her.

“Glad to know you love it here” she said and smiled and returned behind the paper.

He picked up the mug and drank it. He actually drank it.

“Oh Damn it!” he cursed.

She lowered her paper and saw him with a lipstick stained mug in his hand.

“I’m so sorry; I did not realize it was your mug until I took a sip. Sorry” he apologized repeatedly.

“Do not worry about it, it is fine,” she replied while giggling in her head.

“I should get you a fresh one” he offered.

“No, no I would not be able to finish it, it is ok I was done with the drink anyways,” she refused the offer instantaneously.

She felt leveled with him until he mentioned “I feel really bad for what happened.”

The guilt crept back in to her head. Should she confess now? How will it help?

“I hope you will help me clear my guilt, will you?”

“Yes, I guess. But how?” she replied.

“Let me buy you a drink another time, you pick the time and date?” he completed his sentences and she was taken aback by it. Her heart was beating fast, her blood rushing through her veins. She could hear her own heart beat. She looked down at his wedding band. How could she say-yes? He is married. Moreover, she knew she was equally guilty. He caught her look and quickly removed the ring and hand it to her on his palm.

“This is not what you think it is, take and look closer”

She took it to look closer. § KAPPA SIGMA – 2005 §, a university brotherhood band; she grinned back at him.

“I take it that is a yes, when and where?” he slides his ring back on.

“Is tomorrow morning, here alright with you?”

“Great, I am here every morning actually. At least now I have a date.” He said.

Only then she realized it was a date. Her cheeks turned rosy red. He trusts his hand out and said “I think we should know each other’s name at least, I am Richard, please call me Richie”

“Yes of course. I am Deepa, just Deepa.” It was so close; she nearly went out with a nameless man. Well at least she knew where he was from, what he does and that he is a graduate. While doing a reality check her phone rang. She excused herself and walked away to answer the phone. When she came back to the table she noticed his mug was empty. She sank in to her seat. She looked pale.

“Is everything alright, you look like you have seen a ghost?” he asked. She shook her head and told him her brother is outside and she was waiting for him all this while. She never told him, why would she.

“That is fine I need to leave too” he said.

They shook hands as they stood up to leave “May we exchange numbers, just in case?” he asked. They exchanged numbers and walked out together. Her brother dashed and stood next to her. She introduced him to Richard.

“Where did you guys meet?” They both giggled at the clueless brother.

Θ Who knew a mug of hot chocolate could turn a boring day over and start something new. Θ