Serendipity: Coco Coffee Shop AU
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Even though that annoying bowtie didn't want to cooperate and still needed an adjustment, he was pretty proud of how he managed to tie it himself. At least now he could rush to work. In fact, by taking a quick glance at the clock he realized how terribly late he was that morning... as if he ever managed to get there on time. El Chicharrón, the grouchy owner of "El Puente", the coffee shop at which he worked, would kill him if he knew he was running late... again.
He didn't even have time for a proper breakfast, so he jugged some leftover energy drink and his lips twisted in disgust before leaving his house and dashed down the street.
When he crashed through the door, he was greeted by lots of not-so-surprised looks both from the usual customers and his coworker, who was disappointingly shaking her head.
"Héctor!" she shouted, "you're so lucky that I'm here to cover your a—"
"Tía Chelo!" he interrupted, cracking an embarassed smile while scratching his goatee. "The customers are still here."
His desperate attempt to make the situation lighter didn't seem to work: instead, the gray-haired lady crossed her arms and her gaze got more severe.
"Come on, Tía Chelo, you know I'm trying to stop being late but this morning... it wasn't... my fault?" He muttered, holding his right arm as he would do when he got scolded as a kid. A twenty six year old kid, almost still unable to take proper care of himself.
"Stop it. I'm tired of hearing your stupid excuses. And you'd be tired too, if you'd just finished your nightshift." She took off her black apron and handed it to Héctor. "Don't give me that look!" All at once her whole body softened as her lips cracked into a smile, then she said, "There, there, eat this."
Héctor's eyes widened in amazement as his coworker handed him small plate with a blueberry muffin on it. Some good food, finally. "I just... had a rough night, I guess? I couldn't sleep." He explained, his voice became muffled as he munched on his breakfast.
Tía Chelo proceeded to adjust Héctor's bowtie, while saying, "You know I care, Héctor, otherwise I–"
"I know, I know" Héctor said, cutting her off as he proceeded to wear his apron over his white shirt, resigned to live another day in that boring coffee shop.
Every time he had to put on a smiley face, everytime he had to do the most unpleasant chores he tried to remind himself that soon, very soon all of that would be over. Once he'd found another job that could help him paying his rent on time... one a bit more stable than his initial option.
When he moved to Puebla from Santa Cecilia with his childhood bestfriend, he was still full of hopes and dreams. They both looked for an apartment to share and wandered around at night in search for some pubs to play in but soon realized that the music career alone wasn't enough to live by... at least, Héctor was the one who actually opened his eyes. He rolled up his sleeves and began to work at El Puente by day and to play by night. Tía Chelo's help had always been precious, and he was aware of it.
This had been his life since then. But he wanted something more. Something... different.
Héctor winced and immediately let go of the small cup he was washing, resulting in it splashing back into the sink and he getting water all over his face, before turning around on his heels, ready to deal with that angry voice.
"May... may I help you... señorita?" He was so stunned by finding out that the furious customer he had to serve was indeed a beautiful woman, that he quickly rubbed his arm on his forehead to dry those annoying drops of sink water.
Her wavy dark hair was braided with a purple ribbon into a soft low bun and her formal dress made Héctor think that she could have been some kind of manager or a businesswoman.
"Finally! I've been trying to order a Long Black for ages" she complained.
"Long Black on its way!" He repeated, trying to pull out his most charming grin. "Go on, take a seat, señorita...?"
"That's none of your business." The lady said firmly, trying to avoid that annoying bartender as much as possible.
Héctor had never finished to prepare an order so quickly. Despite he had been working there for least five years, he always took his time to get things done, but that morning he was far more concerned on how to win that mysterious lady's name that he just couldn't wait. He felt just like the very first time he performend and the audience bursted into applause. All the tiredness from his previous sleepless night seemed to fade away the very moment he adjusted the cup onto the tray, ready to approach her.
"Here you go, señorita, a Long Black just for you!" He said, bowing as he grinned from ear to ear.
As a response the woman rolled her eyes, reaching for her cup while trying so hard to hold herself back from losing it. The coffee aroma under her nostrils was the only thing that was apparently succeeding at calming her down.
"Now, I hope you don't mind if I sit here and entertain you for a bit?" Héctor proposed, already moving the chair on which he was ready to sit.
"Don't. You. Dare." She said firmly and frowned, making the bartender lose all the little confidence he had gained. "Listen. I have tons of work to do...unlike you! So, if you don't mind, leave me—"
"Got it. I'm... I'm sorry." He sighed and slowly made his way back to the counter as his smile faded.
Everything she did appeared gracious in Héctors mind: from pulling out her laptop and continuously huffing as her fingers danced on its keyboard, to the growls she let out before hitting that "devilbox" —as she called it— whenever it lagged.
Even though it didn't go as well as he hoped it would, nothing could stop him from trying to guess what was the name of that diosa — because she certainly had to be some sort of divine creature given her fierce and her harmonic features.
It was only when she went out, making the small bell hung over the door ring, that the greatest idea of all time popped up in Héctor's mind.
I hope you enjoyed reading this!
You can find Chapter 2 here.
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