She is already been walking for fifteen minutes, and the cafe still wasn't in sight . another fifteen minutes may be ?
bus stop to sideways .. sideways to side street … side street to... now where?
Honestly, if Maya wasn't her childhood friend, she would never think about helping her and wouldn't be here roaming around and trying to find Maya's cafe
Bean & Bloom its what it called.
she adjusted her bag strap again and checked her phone for eleventh time making sure she is on the right direction
This years had been brutal for her . Assignments, viva's, finals- everything piling on until her sleeping schedule shattered. all while surviving on four hours of sleep , moving like a machine
Half an hour had passed since she got off from the bus, she finally spotted the cafe.
The cafe was small, on a quite street standing in front of the cafe, her suitcase - sized tote bag hanging heavily from her shoulder.
All see could see was written Bean & Bloom written in looping cursive, its warm golden lights glowing against the fading afternoon
she pushed the door open soft bells chiming above her head, the place buzzed with chatter , she scanned around completely clueless
The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries, the kind of scent that wrapped around like a soft hug golden lights hung above wooden tables, their glow gentle and comforting, as if they knew how to slow down time. A few plants sat on the windowsills, their leaves catching the afternoon light, and bookshelves leaned against the walls, filled with old, mismatched novels waiting to be picked up
What am i doing here ? she thought . I've never been class representative in school, never managed a debate team, and now Maya think I can handle.... a cafe?
The place was busy- not overcrowded, but comfortable enough
A pair of students sitting laughing and having fun unaware of what their life is ahead . An old man slowly taking sip of the hot coffee which was served an minute ago . Different stages of life in one place.
Alina froze. for a moment, she felt herself like a soldier taking charge of an army she never enlisted in.
''Finally you're here!'' She startled . Maya appeared from behind the counter, hair pulled up tied in a rubber band, apron still tied around her waist but her eyes already darting towards the door
She rushed towards Alina like they were long lost sister separated by war zones Before Alina could blink or speak or even take off her jacket, just to be pulled into a quick hug.
''Oh my god thankyou so much for coming ! Maya squeezed her
You're perfectly on time '' she added
Perfectly - means? Alina asked, her voice half- whisper, half panic.
''For me to leave'' she pressed a quick kiss to Alina's cheek and released her way too fast
''Don't panic. keep eye on the things, smile at people. make sure he cash doesn't walk away'' in one line she gave her all instructions that would be necessary for Alina
Here! she ripped off her apron without waiting, and shoved it into Alina's arms along with two crumpled sticky notes labeled ''Milk Ratio''+''Don't Burn Scones''
''Wait, I—'' Before Alina could protest
''My worker will help you — you'll be fine - I HAVE TO GO'' just by saying these four words she went off darting out the door
The thing that remain was the chiming of the bells in my ears
just like that ….
I froze . Apron in a hand .
''Wait! what's exactly going in ?!!!''
She looked around, the weight of responsibility pressed on her . she felt the weight of apron is more compare to a 20kg dumbbells
''She is kidding right? '' ''How i am supposed to run this place ? I can't even make a grill toast for me and she wants me to manage this whole cafe??!!''
Earning a few curious glances towards the tables near the counter . Hugging the apron awkwardly against her chest , she took a hesitant step forward her eyes darting around the cafe as through the missing girl might suddenly return and declare it was all a big prank
But no one came.
she quickly took a scan towards the counter, Beside it, a chalkboard listed the ''Special of the day'' in curly handwriting that definitely written by Maya for sure her hand writing is beautiful as her ''Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino – ₹199''
Who even pays that much for spiced milk?
"Excuse me? Can we get two more napkins?"
Alina blinked. A customer waved at her, expecting service. If she didn't realize that she is the manager and should give service , she should said him to Go and take it.
Luckily she got into her senses and nodded quickly. "Uh, yes! Napkins. Right away." She ducked behind the counter, rummaging clumsily until she spotted a holder full of paper napkins. She almost tripped as she hurried back, placing them on the table with a shaky smile.
"Thank you," the customer said, smiling warmly.
Suddenly a tall guy leaned over the counter with a doubtful expression . His black T-shirt had the cafe's logo, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. clearly , this was the worker Maya had abandoned her to .
The way he was staring at her she quickly gulped nervously
why the hell I'm being nervous ? i didn't came to give an interview and who is he? she murmured I should ask help from him, since Maya said that He will help me out from this situation . Alina bit her tongue
How would she ask help from him like ''hey! would you help me out from this situation, its absolutely new for me like handling a daam cafe alone ??'' No. That would sound insane . He would laugh at me
Alina force herself to stare at the gleaning silver coffee machine like it was some alien spaceship . Buttons, levers, blinking lights- seriously who designed this ?
''First time seeing one ?'' A voice that came from behind she turned back
It was him
The worker
He didn't took two seconds to figured out that she is seeing an coffee machine for the first time
''Uh—yeah,'' Alina muttered , fumbling with the strap of her bag . ''I mean …. no ?I've seen one . In movies Maybe''
He chuckled ''Right. So, you're Boss's friend, huh? His tone was light, but the way his eyebrows arched told her he wasn't buying it
''Boss??''she was confused . ''You mean Maya ?''
he noded .
''yes'', she said quickly .actually too quickly.
''Funny, You don't look like Boss's friend''
Alina blinked . ''What ? Of course I am'' She forced a smile that didn't even convince herself
He learned on the counter, folding his arm , eyes narrowing in mock suspicious . ''What kind of friend leaves her entire cafe in the hands of another friend who's seeing a coffee machine for the very first time?''
she got caught she got caught !!!
Alina fiddled with her bracelet nervously. ''Well, I know how to use a coffee machine''
''Hmm'' he murmured, pulling out a tiny pocket diary and clicking his pen. To Alina's horror, he scribbled something in it with exaggerated seriousness.
NOTE 1: She wear bracelet on the right hand .
Suspicious choice. Why not left? Hiding
something?
Alina gawked. ''Excuse me''?! What are you writing?
''Evidence'' he replied , snapping the diary shut. ''Boss didn't say anything about you. And yet- here you are , clueless about the machine, clueless about orders . something's fishy. very fishy''
The way her eyes looked away when he tried to maintain eye contact clearly looking like she is hiding something
''Okay, fine! just tell me what button to press''
He leaned in , not helping at all , just observing her like she was a part of an experiment. When she accidentally pressed the wrong knob, hot steam hissed out, making her jump back . he quickly flipped open his diary
NOTE : 2 She jumps at steam . likely never worked
in the cafe before. Fake friend alert.
Alina groaned, covering her face. "What are you writing?" ''writing about me?''
He tapped his pen against his chin dramatically. "Because people don't just walk into cafés pretending to be staff unless they have something to hide. And ….you'' his eyes sparkled with a knowing grin ''you're hiding a lot."
Alina stiffened, guilt washing over her though she had nothing to be guilty about. She forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "You watch too many detective dramas."
"Or," he shot back, smirking, "I just know how to spot people in love, people lying, and people who don't belong. And you, Miss Mystery" he pointed the pen at her like a mic "don't belong."
Alina turned away, muttering under her breath, "I definitely don't belong here…"
Meanwhile, he jotted another line in his diary.
Note 3: Avoids eye contact. Hides something big. Must investigate further.
And just like that, her training turned into an interrogation.
She turned towards the coffee machine, pretending to be intrested in the silver coffee machine. The thing looked like it has been designed for scientists, not baristas. A million buttons, one shinny lever, and a nozzle that hissed steam every few seconds like it was mocking her.
''Alright'' she whispered to herself, ''just press something and hope it doesn't explode''
Before she could, a loud voice came from behind.
''Stop. Right. There''
She turned slowly. It was him again—the worker. Lean, sharp-eyed, and already holding that tiny pocket diary like he was born with it. His grin widened. "You don't look like you belong here."
Alina blinked. "Excuse me?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter, eyes scanning her like a detective with a magnifying glass. "You say you're Maya's friend. But do friends walk in looking like they're on a secret mission? Do friends accept jobs without knowing where the napkins are kept? ''
She opened her mouth to protest but he whipped out his pen and began writing furiously in his diary.
Note 4: Subject avoids direct response. Suspicious. Could be undercover agent?
Alina gawked at him. "What is wrong with you?! I'm not an agent, I'm just—" she bit her tongue. No way she was about to spill that she doesn't know anything and Maya dragged her here.
The worker snapped the diary shut with a flourish. "That's exactly what an undercover agent would say."
She groaned and turned back to the machine. "Can you just… make things easy for me?"
He raised a brow. "Oh, so now you want me to make things easy for you? she left the whole cafe to you- because obviously, you're an expert at running cafes and handling everything right?
Alina's heart skipped. He caught that…
Quickly, she faked a cough. ''I'm''
you are ?
yeah!
The worker's eyes narrowed, and the pen was back in action.
Note 5: Big fancy talks, Possible lie. Must verify.
Alina felt heat rush to her face. This man wasn't just annoying he was dangerous to her peace of mind. "Are you seriously taking notes on me?!"
"Of course," he said proudly. "This is an official investigation. I always know when someone's lying. Always. And you—" he pointed the pen at her "—are lying."
Before she could defend herself, a customer walked in, ordering a cappuccino. Alina panicked. Her coworker smirked, stepping aside. "Go on then, friend. Show me how well you've been trained."
Her hands shook as she pressed a random button. The machine sputtered, coughed, and released a loud hiss of steam that nearly made her jump out of her skin. The customer looked unimpressed.
The worker, however, scribbled another note with dramatic flair.
Note 6: Terrified of coffee machine. Has never done this before. Confirmed rookie.
Alina glared at him. "You could at least help!"
"I am helping," he replied cheerfully. "Helping Maya by uncovering the truth about you."
She muttered under her breath, "Truth about me? I don't even know the truth about me right now…"
But he heard it. His eyes gleamed as he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Exactly. That's the problem. You don't know what you're doing here… and neither do I. But I'll find out."
He tapped his diary twice for emphasis, then tucked it into his apron like it was a weapon.
Alina froze. A strange chill crawled down her spine. His words weren't just a joke anymore he meant it.
And for the first time since stepping into this café, she wondered if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
The worker scribbles one last line before the chapter closes.
Note 7: Subject not even know the basic things. Walking around like she's the boss. Must investigate immediately.
He snapped his diary shut with a sly smile while Alina, completely unaware, dropped the coffee mug and gasped as the hot liquid spread across the counter.