*Tallon*
Via dei Fagioli, or as it would be called in Arica, Bean Street. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city where the artisans had taken over, it was the last place I expected Natalia to be.
But there she was.
She was unmistakable as I spied her through the glass windows of the storefront, the tiny coffee shop too small to actually hide in, drinking sothing out of a classic white mug, happily in her own little world like she didn’t have a care.
Like she hadn’t been driving nuts for the past week.
My heart skipped a beat just watching her through the glass, my eyes tracing over her like I couldn’t get enough, morizing every inch of her. Who knew if this would go well? Who knew if I’d ever see her again after today?
She’d ghosted long enough. It was ti to get answers.
The coffee shop was clearly local, as signified by the giant chalkboard they hung outside that labeled all of their specials and sales, and the fact that you could only get there through the winding streets of the artisan community.
The whole neighborhood looked like it had jumped out of sothing from the eighteen hundreds, down to the cast iron street lights on every corner and the unusual shops selling handmade soaps and finely-crafted cheese. There were hardly any people around, and I supposed that was why the place was as quiet as it was.
It seed like a know-about-it-before-you-co kind of place.
And the coffee shop was no different.
I opened the door, the bell jingling above as I did so, and the barista behind the counter smiled as I entered.
“Welco to Bean Street!” she said in a chipper voice. “Can I get you anything?”
I glanced at the corner table where Natalia was, only able to see her back, her long hair falling over the wooden chair she sat in. There were only two other custors–a middle-aged man typing away on his laptop and an older woman with poofy white hair and a cane leaning against the table.
Neither of them even looked up as I approached the counter. The barista just smiled at , like this was the best day of her life, and I glanced at her natag pinned to her shirt, which said, “Giorgia.”
“Could I have a–” I glanced at the chalkboard nu above her head, picking a random one, “Caral latte, please?”
“Here or to go?” she asked imdiately, inputting my order into the screen with an intense familiarity.
“Here.” I glanced over at Natalia again, checking if she was still there or if she had even noticed yet. She hadn’t, of course. Good.
The barista told the price and I fished into my back pocket for my cash, pulling out a bill and handing it to her.
“Keep the change,” I said with a nod at her.
She glanced up at , shocked, then at the money in my hand, with wide eyes. “Are... are you sure? That’s over double the price–”
“I’m sure,” I smiled at her, watching as her cheeks turned bright pink in response. She could take it as thanks for helping find Natalia.
“Thank you so much!” she bead happily, gladly taking the money and stuffing it into the cash drawer. “I’ll be right back with your drink.”
She turned away, imdiately beginning the process of making it. I waited patiently, watching Natalia from the corner of my eye. I could see her phone over her shoulder and watched as she scrolled through so random social dia platform that I wasn’t on.
“Here you go, sir!” The barista returned with a white mug, identical to the others in the shop.
I glanced at the cup, a little impressed to see a design of a rose made into the coffee and cream.
“Impressive.” I grinned and she blushed a bright red.
“Thank you!” She waved fervently at , then grabbed her own hand, blushing as she stuffed it below the counter.
I chuckled, grabbing the coffee by the handle and the tiny plate below it. I sent her a nod as I turned away, my heart racing as I caught sight of Natalia once again.
The afternoon light was pouring in from the window, illuminating the stones below like a golden path showing the way to her. I walked around the table and gently set the latte on it, calmly sitting in the chair across from her.
Despite it feeling like my heart was about to race out of my chest in anticipation, she didn’t look up at all. I felt an intense and slightly annoyed impulse to gently grab her chin and draw her eyes to mine.
It had been too long since I’d seen her.
I licked my bottom lip, rembering the taste of her lips on mine. All of the pining I’d been doing had co back in full force, and I clenched my fists under the table, barely stopping myself from calling her na, hearing its sweet tones in my ears.
But I was patient. I watched her, laying my head on my fist as I stared at her. The setting golden sun bursting from the windows cast a glow upon her, illuminating the softer tones in her hair and making her seem like she was a burning fla.
I could stare at her all day like this, I thought. She was so goddamn beautiful and I’d never t anyone like her before. Maybe that was why I was so anxious to hold onto her.
I knew how crazy I was acting, and how creepy my behavior could co off, chasing a woman who’d rejected . But there was just sothing about her that I couldn’t get out of my head.
I just had to see her this one ti and if she rejected again, I’d walk away. That was the promise I’d crossed into my heart but now, I was second-guessing myself. The whirlwind of emotions that had smacked in the face after eting her again was enough to shake my resolve.
And finally, after a few minutes, I was rewarded for my patience.
Natalia reached out for her mug, her knuckles knocking into my cup and she jumped almost a foot in the air, her eyes whirling up. I witnessed the mont her eyes connected with mine, feeling a jolt of electricity jumping between us.
I sent her a grin, watching the emotions flit across her face in a hurricane–confusion and shock, then realization and uneasiness, and just a hint of hope peeking through it all. I may have been a hopeless fool, but I latched onto the lingering hope in her eyes, ignoring everything else as my heart leaped to my throat.
I swallowed, feeling just as nervous as she looked, and we stared at each other in silence, neither one of us speaking as we stared endlessly into each other’s eyes.
And god, her eyes were brighter than the late sumr sky, bluer than the clearest waves in the sea.
And though I’d enjoy just sitting here and staring at her, basking in her presence and the triumph that ca with finding her after being ignored for so long, I had a job to do.
“Hey.” I broke the silence in a low tone, watching her wavering eyes.
She glanced around at us nervously, but nobody else was paying attention. Both the patrons and the barista were off in their own little worlds. She glanced at her coffee and then mine, a look of sothing I couldn’t recognize shimring in her eyes before she glanced at the barista behind the counter.
Said barista glanced up at us with a knowing grin, giving Natalia a thumbs up. Natalia blushed a deep shade of red, sighing as she grabbed her temple with her thin fingers, exasperated for so reason.
I didn’t realize why until I glanced at her own latte, the remnants of a heart still showing on top... a rose and a heart.
How fitting, I thought with a twinge to my upper lip. There was no way that was a coincidence.
“So,” I started with a pointed look at her. “You ghosted .”
She swallowed uncomfortably, then looked straight in the eyes with a steely determination. “You should have gotten the hint.”
Damn. That was cold.
“You could’ve at least had the decency to tell what I did wrong,” I shot back, dropping the humor from my voice. I was a bit ashad as I heard the hurt that slipped in, the note of accusation.
This wasn’t how I wanted this to go. I was supposed to charm her, to make her rethink cutting out of her life, to convince her to give a chance.
But things were just going horribly wrong right out of the gate.
“Look, I’m sorry about ghosting you.” Natalia sighed, looking a bit repentant. “But I ant what I said. I really can’t do this anymore.”
I stared at her for a few minutes, surveying every inch of her blankly and she shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable.
Finally, I grinned and said, “Nope.”
“What?” She burst out, giving an incredulous look. “What do you an, nope?”
“I an,” I said casually, “that I can tell you’re not telling the truth and just making excuses. So, until you tell a good reason for not giving a chance, then I will sit here and drink my expertly prepared latte.”
To prove my point, I leaned back in my chair, placing the latte to my lips and taking a sip. Just as I’d thought, the latte was pretty good. Natalia just stared at open-mouthed, looking like I was crazy.
She was probably right about that.
But I had a feeling she was a little crazy too.
“Fine. You want a good reason?” she huffed, crossing her arms. “Then I’m just not that into you.”
“Try again,” I countered easily. “We both know you are.”
She gaped at my shalessness, her cheeks burning red, and I knew I had caught her red-handed. I smirked at her, tilting my head and waiting for whatever she would co up with next.
“I’m an exchange student. I won’t be here forever. I don’t want to start a relationship just for it to end when I go back ho.”
“Then it won’t. I’ll co to visit you and pay for your plane tickets to visit . Plus, there’s the internet.” I shrugged. “There are a million ways to stay connected when you leave. Besides, who knows when that will be?”
“You’re too old for .”
“Please, you’re what, twenty-three? Ten years isn’t that big of a difference,” I quirked an eyebrow at her. “We’re both adults.”
“I don’t have to take this! I said no, so leave alone!” She slamd her palms on the table, avoiding my eyes as she got to her feet, and for a mont, I panicked.
I was going to lose her again.
Before she could lose her shoe and run away from the ball, I reached out to gently place my hand over hers.
“Natalia.” I called her na softly and she flinched, finally looking in the eyes. I could see the fear, the sha in her eyes, and though I didn’t know what she was so afraid of, I knew that she was terrified.
“I like you,” I told her bluntly, smiling softly as she blushed, her lips twitching into a smile before she tried to forcefully pull them down.
She looked away, completely unsure and anxious, but I got to my feet, circling the table and gently placing my palm on her cheek, guiding her gaze to my eyes.
“I like you, so I spend days thinking about nothing but you. You’ve driven absolutely nuts, and I tracked you down just to beg you to give a chance. So please, Natalia, don’t run away again.” I searched her eyes, finding that little hint of hope in them and praying she didn’t push away.
I leaned forward, keeping an eye on her reaction as I got closer and closer until our lips were just milliters from brushing. I could feel the heat of her breath, and I waited there for her permission, letting her make the next move.
Her bottom lip wobbled, her blue eyes swimming with anxiety before finally, she shut her eyes, sighing.
“Okay,” she murmured but then, just when she leaned forward, her lips brushing against mine just the tiniest bit, she was gone again.
Not even realizing I’d closed my eyes, I opened them, shocked to find there was no one in front of .
Panicked, I turned around, intending to chase after her, but I spotted her standing there with her back to the windows, the sunlight pouring in and illuminating her like an angel’s halo.
She gave a mischievous smile, hands tucked behind her back, looking more like a temptress than an angel as she stole my breath from my lungs once more.
“Convince then.”
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