❛selene❜

Truth to be said, she only accepted the job because of Remus.

Being a barista wasn't by any means her dream job— far from it, actually. She only needed a job while getting a PhD in Math to cover rent and groceries costs, but Remus had managed to catch her attention.

From the very moment she stepped in a café for a simple cappuccino and saw him behind the counter doing god–knows–what with the coffee machine, she was left stunned. Mesmerised, even.

His tall frame, kinda lanky but somehow managed to have such broad shoulders had her in a chokehold. And those hair— God, she could tell it was so soft even from outside the bar and through the glass. How desperately she wanted to be able to run her hand through his fluffy–looking chocolate hair.

Not to mention the scars that adorned his peaceful face. Behind each scar was a story, a memory, and she was so terribly and deeply enamored with him, that she wished to hear every single one.

Hence, when she learnt that they were hiring, she unhesitatingly jumped in the opportunity. Getting a job where her newest crush also worked at? Killing two birds with one stone.

The prospect of having him so close to her, talking to her, teaching her how to be a perfect barista with that scar–covered face and those chocolate eyes made her weak in the knees.

God forbid a girl dreams over a boy.

That cute barista still hadn't left her mind. He was like printed permanently. Glued. He showed no intention of leaving her alone for a long time. She couldn't shake him out of her thoughts even if she wanted to. He had complete control of her mind, had her wrapped his finger, even though they hadn't properly met yet.

Perhaps love at first sight existed in real life too.

Working with Remus was just as dreamy as she had initially thought.

He was an angel with her. Always so patient and kind. Didn't mind showing her multiple times a day how to make a macchiato or reminding her what flavours of croissant they sold.

He knew it was a lost cause to try to get her to understand everything.

They became fast friends, spending their breaks together, spilling tea and having light–hearted charts over stolen goods from the pastry showcase and the espressos and lattes he had made.

From time to time, she attempted to flirt with him. She laughed at his jokes, brushed her hand against his at every given chance, complimented his looks like there was no tomorrow.

Either way, it all was of no use. He was a lost cause. He was too oblivious for his own good. There was no possible way to confess her love to him, he would certainly have turned it into some friendly comment, brushing it off without a second thought.

However, she was headstrong about confessing.

If the traditional methods didn't work with him, she would find a creative and unique way of doing it.

For that, she decided to arrive at work a bit earlier than usual— perhaps too early, but she was a girl in love and on a mission.

As she stepped in, the smell of coffee and freshly baked croissants and cakes met her, and she instantly smelt Remus. He had this smell of chocolate and coffee around him, that she had learnt to love and cherish over the time working together.

She took a breath and took confident steps towards the staff room, leaving her coat and scarf on the little hanger by the door and retrieving her beige apron, decorated with various pins— something she had deliberately and shamelessly copied off him— and tied it on, already in the mindset of a perfect charismatic barista.

In order to complete her love confession gift, she had begged, and paid, the cashier boy— her sweet, nerdy Noah— to cover for her while she was working on the surprise.

He was such a cutie and honestly her unofficial son. An eighteen year old trying to balance his last year of highschool and his job at the café. Apparently, he was saving for college, Caltech or Yale. He acted like a total sweetheart and such an innocent boy, and he sure looked the part, too.

She had taken an instant liking to him, took him under her wing and looked out to him.

With her spot covered, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She wasn't an efficient coffee art maker by any means. Far from it. Although, for Remus she was willing to give it a try, even if it meant making a mess all over the counter.

She gathered his favourite cup he drank from during their break–chats, a bottle of milk and a jug to pour the white liquid into the latte cup filled with his go–to order; a Chocolate Cold Brew.

She knew that was not how lattes worked. That much she knew.

But she wanted to make his favourite drink and simultaneously make it pretty, so why not doing latte art on a Chocolate Cold Brew? It's not like law enforcement agents would come knocking on her door if she did. Kinda like poetic licenses. No poet was ever arrested because they didn't respect grammar and syntax rules.

So while his drink was in the process of making in the coffee machine, she took a piece of parchment from her apron’s pocket and wrote a little ‘poem’, in hopes that he wouldn't interpret it as some request to upgrade their friendship from ‘good friends’ to ‘super duper best mates’.

He was well capable of it.

About twenty minutes later, Remus' shift started, and after half an hour, it was time for their break.

Remus was already reaching to make their gossip drinks, however, she stopped him in time, placing a hand on his arm.

“I've already got it covered for us. My treat today!”, she winked at him, eyes sparkling mischievously.

Remus looks at her, half amused and half scared for his life. “Oh… You sure? You want me to check them?”, he asks softly, subtly trying to prevent some kind of poison or expired milk to be inside their cups, not sure if he was willing to trust her coffee–making skills.

“I'm sure! Cmon, don't be a kid and get your pretty ass to our spot”, she insisted, grin widening and eyes shining brighter.

She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the staff room, her heart beating loudly in her chest at the prospect of finally confessing her love for her coworker.

She took him to their gossip–spot. A circular wooden table with two cushioned stools in the corner, by the window. Placed on top of it, there was the tray she had prepared in advance with their coffees and two slices of freshly baked lemon drizzle cake.

She took her seat on her usual stool, watching him doing the same while eyeing curiously the little folded note by his cup. He threw her a confused glance, silently asking for an explanation. But when he got none, he went to grab the note, unfolding it with care, eyes scanning the words written in black ink.

“Could this be love at first sight? Or should I walk by again for you to notice?”, he read out loud the words carefully written in a pretty handwriting.

He moved his utterly confused gaze to her nervous one, furrowing his eyebrows when he didn't find a sense to the sentences on the note. “What's this supposed to mean?”

At his question, she let out an incredulous scoff and leaned over. “Remus”, she said incredulously. He couldn't be that daft, could he?

“What?”, he retorted oblivious.

“It's a love note”, she explained gesturing to it. But he was supposed to already know that. It was rather obvious, wasn't it?

“Oh”, he blinked. “From who?”

She widened her eyes, now feeling more amused than anything else. “Me, dummy!”

“You?”

“Uh huh!”, she leaned back, and crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him with the exact same amused expression painted on her face.

Remus' ears flushed softly, a bashful expression overtaking his features. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before muttering under his breath, words barely audible for her to grasp clearly, gaze promptly avoiding hers.

“Come again?”

“You don't have to…”, he murmured slightly louder, heart skipping a few beats.

“To what?”, she urged him on.

“Walk by again…”, he waited for a heartbeat before speaking up again. “... I already like you”

It was time for her heart to skip several beats, voice abandoning her and all other words fleeing her mind.

Only after a few seconds of silence she was capable of getting a few words out of her lips, a hint of a playful smile making its way on her face.

“That being the case…”, she started, her mind still trying to process the situation. “… Go out with me?”, she finally asked, eyes glittering with hope.

His whole face turned beet red and nodded quietly, the gesture partly hidden by his cup of Chocolate Cold Brew he was using to hide the obvious blush painting his cheeks. He took a small sip, feeling shy about the whole ordeal, but he was immediately taken aback from the taste of his coffee.

“It's actually good”, he stated, surprise evident in his voice.

“And you even doubted it?”, she exclaimed, pretending to be offended, before exploding in a fit of giggles.

He soon joined her, the sound of her laugh contagious, bringing a smile on his face.

Perhaps she had just found the perfect candidate to share rent and grocery costs with.