July 3, 2070
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Café downtown— @nista Bakery.
This Victorian-style coffee shop sat along the road leading into central Phoenix. Its front lawn of artificial grass was decorated with authentic European pink roses, their fragrance giving customers a sense of warmth and comfort.
A young woman with braided hair, dressed neatly for work, wore black sunglasses, a wide-brimmed straw hat, and spotless white gloves. She sat alone, listening to the news on her futuristic wristwatch while enjoying a slice of chocolate cake. The sunlight was gentler than usual that day. Adeline ate her cake quietly, paying no attention to the traffic outside.
Then a stylish man appeared, wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans, and polished black boots. His gelled brown hair stood tall in a retro 1950s style, complemented by a light beard that gave him a charming edge. He strolled through the café garden, scanning the area until his eyes met Adeline's smile.
"Well hey there," the man greeted.
"Adeline bit her spoon, resting her chin on her hand. "Hiya, Mr.Dixon. Heard you were going to the opera today?" Brian walked over and sat across from her.
"Did you reserve this seat for someone else?" he asked.
"Mmm-mmm," she shook her head, spoon still in her mouth.
"Alright then." Brian sat down and picked up the dessert menu from the table.
"Ah." Adeline pulled the spoon from her lips and suggested, "The butter cake here is really good. Want to try it?" Her smooth British accent made Brian nod with interest.
"Hmm~ eighteen bucks, huh? I think I'll stick with black coffee."
"I get it, health first. But if it's about taste, you've gotta go with a white latte, ha-ha!" She pointed her finger at him playfully. Brian squinted back at her.
"So you're a dessert person, huh?"
"I'm an expert when it comes to sweets and light drinks."
"You mean like beer or wine?"
"Well, speaking of wine—I can brew it. My uncle used to drink wine all the time when he was out at sea. He'd take me fishing, cook fancy meals, and teach me how to make drinks for the classy folks boarding the airship. Ha, reminds me of some old pirate cartoons. As for ingredients, I can get them with just a snap of my fingers. Honestly, homemade wine tastes funny—but that's the pride of it, ha-ha!"
"Rich people really can conjure things out of thin air. Not many get that kind of moment."
"Most of the money I make from selling stock, I donate to charities. Hungry people often think the wealthy are selfish. But if you ask me, the real selfish ones are the middlemen who claim they'll donate. They collect the money…" Adeline mimed gathering things on the table, then slammed her palm down.
"…and cut 70% off, leaving only 30% for the poor. After that, I stopped trusting them. Giving money directly to beggars on the street feels more honest. From the look in your eyes, you don't think this is…" She held back the word, keeping it in her mouth.
"Come on, who goes on a date on an odd-numbered day?" Brian teased.
Adeline burst out laughing. "Ah-ha-ha! That's a good one, Bryce."
"I throw jokes around sometimes. Rarely do people laugh at them."
"Well, count me in," she grinned.
Time passed, and soon a man Brian never expected to show up revealed himself. "Cha-dum-chum, clap, chum, clap, chum, cha-dum-chum…" hummed a cheerful Latino man from behind Brian. His skin was a warm brown, his face lively, with yellow sunglasses and a perfectly curved bullhorn mustache.
"Heh-heh, hey~~~ ¿Qué pasa, Briane, mi amigo? Ho-ho!" The man walked up and slapped Brian's shoulder.
"Hey, Danny," Brian greeted his close friend.
"Hello, miss. I'm Dantonio, Brian's friend. Just call me Dan," he introduced himself.
"Adeline Callaghan. Pleasure to meet you. Estoy bien, gracias," she replied with a polite smile, lifting her teacup elegantly by hooking her finger through the handle.
While Adeline was distracted, Dan leaned toward Brian and whispered, "She speaks Spanish fluently. Looks like she's well-off. I say you've gotta make a move."
"Idiot. I didn't tell you this was a date. We're not here for that—she's my employer," Brian hissed back.
"What? You're dating your boss?" Dan teased, trying to get under his friend's skin. Their hushed argument was cut short when Adeline looked up, curious about what was going on.
"Ahem. I've got a bowling game with Matt later. See you at the theater at three, Bryce. Ah-ha! Nice meeting you, Adeline." Dan handed her a ticket, leaving her surprised.
"Is this… okay?" she asked.
"No problem. Brian told me you love ballet and opera," Dan said knowingly.
"I—I didn't…" Brian stammered, caught off guard.
"Hey, it's fine," Dan patted his shoulder, then stood with a grin. "I'll leave you two to enjoy your desserts. Mamacita, eh?" With that, he walked off.
"Wow, your friend's generous," Adeline clapped happily at the free ticket.
"Yeah, he's friendly with everyone. Talks a lot, but not in an annoying way."
"Hmm. So you think talkative people are annoying?" she asked, raising a brow.
Brian's shoulder twitched. "If you were talkative, I might reconsider."
"Hmm, forget it. Anyway, this café's nice and relaxing. I come here often for coffee and sweets. The air feels fresh, fills the lungs."
"Well, I'm a bland guy. Whatever I do feels bland. Even the air I breathe probably tastes bland."
"Exactly, Mr. Bland," she teased.
"By the way, when did you get your American citizenship card?"
"Twenty-one. Two years before my uncle passed away. Oh! Look, yours is here." Adeline pointed behind Brian. A waiter arrived with a tray holding a clear glass of coffee and a square sandwich that looked simple but appetizing.
"Black coffee and sandwich, sir. You can check in at the café for a discount next week."
"Oh, sure. Thanks." Brian snapped a photo with his phone for the discount, then picked up the sandwich to eat alongside Adeline's elegant cake. "Sandwich—very good," he said with a satisfied grin.
"Hmm. Why black coffee and a sandwich? Doesn't seem like a match," Adeline remarked.
"My ex used to brew coffee for me back in college. And sandwiches—my dad loved'em. Guess I take after him. Ugh—almost choked."
"Slow down. Just chew. Don't be such a glutton," she scolded lightly, eating her last bite of cake.
Adeline glanced at his coffee, then at her empty cup. "Would you mind if I…"
"Go ahead," Brian nodded, letting her pour a little into her cup.
"Tastes plain, bland, a little bitter. Oh! I get it—it's you, ha-ha!" she laughed. Brian smiled mid-bite, crumbs falling from his mouth. He quickly wiped his lips, relieved she hadn't noticed—her eyes were fixed on the news headlines.
Brian sighed, running out of things to say. "Ahem… what are you reading?"
"That's a bit of an offbeat question, but I'll answer anyway—celebrities," Adeline widened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Just regular gossip, huh? The new woman with Mr. Forté?"
"How did you know I was reading that?" she tilted her head, mouth open in surprise at Brian's guess.
Brian sat upright, sipping his coffee. "Just a hunch. That French man's famous as hell."
"Did you know Forté once knew my sister? But I'll save that story—it's a long one."
Brian flicked his wrist forward. "Suit yourself." Then something caught his eye in the café's mirror. He saw another version of himself reflected back, laughing and chatting with Adeline. Yet in reality, he sat silent, his face blank. His ears heard nothing but a piercing ringing, like the aftermath of an explosion.
"Seeing déjà vu again today?" whispered the voice of his ex, echoing in his mind like a spell.
Suddenly, a clean white hand appeared in his vision. Snap! Fingers clicked. "Hello, Bryce?"
He jerked his head back toward her. "Yes!?"
"Would you mind taking me shopping? I need to buy something for Aunt Silesia. Besides, you're free today anyway."
"Oh, sure," Brian replied, waiting as she picked up her leather shoulder bag and parasol.
"This is why I like you—you're always available," she teased.
"…Because I'm always free, huh?" he muttered.
"No, no!" she shook her head quickly. "Not like that. I mean I can rely on you. Now let's go." Adeline walked out, and Brian followed—until he realized he'd forgotten something. He rushed back to pay the bill, leaving her waiting outside with her parasol. Finally, he returned, smiling sheepishly.
"Took you long enough," she frowned impatiently.
"Forgot to pay, ha-ha." They stepped onto the busy street, weaving through the crowd.
Adeline and Brian entered a convenience store. Though old, its sliding doors were modern. An elderly man sat at the counter, reading a decades-old newspaper he'd kept.
"Hello, Mr.Schmidt. Do you have olive oil?" Adeline asked.
"Oh, Ms. Cill sent you, eh? It's on shelf B2, dear. Go grab it."
"Many thanks," she smiled, heading to the shelf.
She picked up the olive oil, then paused. "Hmm, almost forgot the salted beef. One sec, Bri." He nodded as she walked to the fridge.
"Strong arms you've got there, son," Schmidt remarked.
"Thanks. I used to be in the military. Got any gum?"
The old man ducked under the counter, then popped back up with colorful packs. Brian picked through them, glancing at Adeline browsing. Killing time, he scratched his head. Schmidt leaned closer.
"You know Miss Callaghan's never had a partner, not since she was young."
"Really? Strange. She seems like the kind of woman men dream of—and easy to get along with."
"Oh, she's not like other women. She's kind to everyone, but she rarely gives her heart. You've got potential, son, to win a businesswoman's heart, ha-ha."
"I doubt it. She's my employer."
"Don't overthink it. Status doesn't matter—hearts are made of flesh. Women like warmth. My wife thought I was funny-looking, but she never let go of me. Make her feel safe, and she'll open her heart. Ho-ho-ho!" Schmidt laughed loudly.
"Ahem!" Brian coughed, hoping he'd quiet down.
"Oh, maybe gum's not your thing. Here, try this." Schmidt ducked again, then reemerged with a strange square pack. "Gum Flavor Condom Pack."
"Whoa! Not that gum!" Brian yelped, shoving it back down, rattling the counter. Adeline turned, suspicious.
"Is there a cockroach over there?" she asked, sliding her sunglasses down.
Brian rubbed his head, turning away. "Y-yeah. We're trying to kill it."
"Big one, ha-ha! We squashed it," Schmidt chuckled, hiding the pack again.
Adeline giggled softly, shaking her head. She returned with her basket and scanned her wristwatch to pay. "Keep the change."
"See ya, dear," Schmidt laughed, leaving Brian embarrassed by the whole ordeal.