Coffee shop chaos

Nora Oscar had officially decided that love was a scam.

Not the cute, butterflies-and-late-night-calls kind people posted online. No. The real version the one she kept experiencing was exhausting, disappointing, and honestly a complete waste of time.

At this point, she wasn’t even asking for perfection. Just someone normal. Someone who didn’t act like a walking red flag with a nice smile.

But apparently, even that was too much to ask.

Her phone rang.

Nora groaned, reaching for it without checking the caller ID.

“Hello…”

“Where are you?” Mary’s voice snapped through the speaker.

Mary—her best friend and the only person who could talk to her like that without getting blocked.

“I’m coming, babe. Relax, I’m almost there.”

“Almost where? Don’t tell me you’re still on your bed.”

“Mary, free me please. I’m on my way.”

“You said that twenty minutes ago.”

“Okay fine, I’m actually on my way now.”

“You better be.”

Nora ended the call and sighed.

“God… even my best friend doesn’t believe in me anymore.”

25 minutes later – Nice Coffee Shop

Mary was already seated, arms folded, coffee untouched.

Nora rushed in, slightly out of breath.

“Hi baby,” she said, dropping into the seat.

Mary didn’t smile. “Don’t ‘hi baby’ me. You’re late.”

“I know, I know. Traffic.”

“You live 30 minutes away.”

“Okay, I overslept. Happy?”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Very.”

Nora grabbed her coffee and took a sip.

“I swear, my life is so stressful.”

Mary stared at her. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m serious. My love life is a mess. Like… a complete mess.”

“Here we go again.”

“No, listen. Every guy I meet is either boring, clingy, or just after my dad’s money. I’m tired.”

“Maybe because you keep picking the same type of guy.”

“What type?”

“The ‘red flag but he’s cute’ type.”

Nora frowned. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying. You see danger and you say ‘wow, potential.’”

“Wow. You’re such a hater.”

“I’m realistic.”

Nora sighed dramatically. “I just want something real. Is that too much to ask?”

“Yes. For you? Very.”

Nora was about to respond when her eyes shifted.

She froze.

A young man at the counter had just collected his coffee.

“Thank you,” he said to the barista.

Calm voice. Deep. Effortless.

He sat down, headphones on, laptop open, completely focused.

Nora leaned closer to Mary.

“Why would someone be handsome and hot at the same time?”

“Hot?” Mary frowned. “Who?”

“Him.” Nora tilted her head slightly.

Mary followed her gaze, then scoffed.

“Nora… didn’t you just say your love life is sinking?”

“And?”

“And now you’ve already found your next problem.”

“Shhh, you talk too much.”

“Me? Girl, you don’t know who you’re about to disturb.”

“I’m going to say hi.”

Mary almost choked. “What??”

“I’m going over there.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Nora stood up.

“Nora! Nora, come back here!”

Too late.

---

Nora walked straight to the counter where he sat.

She paused, adjusted her hair, then sat on the empty seat beside him.

“Hi,” she said lightly.

No response.

She waved slightly. Nothing.

She frowned, then tapped his arm gently.

He paused, slowly lifted his head, and removed his headset.

Their eyes met.

For a second, Nora forgot what she wanted to say.

“Hi… I’m Nora,” she smiled, stretching out her hand.

He looked at her hand. Then at her face.

No handshake.

Just a blank stare.

Nora awkwardly pulled her hand back.

“Um… I noticed you’ve been here alone. Are you waiting for someone?”

“No.” His voice was flat.

“Oh… okay.”

“And I’m busy.”

“Oh.”

He put his headset back on.

And continued typing.

Nora blinked.

“…Wow.”

Across the room, Mary dropped her head on the table.

“Oh my God…”

Nora forced a small smile, pretending she wasn’t dying inside.

“Okay… cool… nice meeting you,” she muttered.

No response.

She sat there. One second. Two seconds. Five.

Still typing.

She grabbed her phone quickly.

“Hel—hello… yeah… yeah I’m here… I’m… I’m good…”

Mary whispered from her table, “What are you doing??”

Nora mouthed, help me.

Mary shook her head. You’re on your own.

Nora stood up quickly.

And that’s when it happened.

Her hand hit the cup.

The latte tipped.

And spilled right across his laptop and shirt.

Everything froze.

“Oh my God!” Nora gasped. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!”

He jumped up instantly.

“What the—”

“My God, I didn’t mean to—”

“My laptop!” he snapped, grabbing it.

“I’m so sorry! I swear it was an accident!”

“What kind of accident is this?” he said, clearly irritated.

Mary rushed over.

“Please, I’m so sorry, sir. She didn’t mean it.”

Nora grabbed tissues, panicking.

“I can clean it, I can fix it—”

“Don’t touch it,” he said sharply.

She froze.

“I said don’t touch it.”

“I’m sorry…” her voice dropped.

He checked the screen, jaw tight.

“You just walked up to me, interrupted me, and now this?”

“I didn’t— I mean I did, but not like this—”

Mary stepped in.

“Please, we’ll pay for any damage.”

He looked at both of them.

Then back at Nora.

“You always approach strangers like this?”

Nora swallowed. “No.”

“Because this is… impressive.”

Mary almost laughed but held it in.

“I said I’m sorry,” Nora said quietly.

He exhaled, frustrated, running a hand through his hair.

For a moment, he didn’t speak.

Then—

“…Next time, don’t.”

Nora nodded quickly. “There won’t be a next time.”

“Good.”

He picked up his things.

Put on his headset.

Sat back down.

And completely ignored her again.

Silence.

Mary grabbed Nora’s arm.

“Let’s go. Right now.”

Nora didn’t argue.

They walked back to their table.

Mary leaned in.

“You just assaulted a man with coffee.”

Nora covered her face.

“I hate my life.”

“I told you to sit down.”

“I thought he was cute!”

“He still is. Just angry now.”

Nora peeked at him.

He didn’t look up.

“…I’m never talking to a man again.”

Mary snorted.

“You? Please. Give it two hours.”

Nora sighed.

But her eyes drifted back to him again.

Still focused. Still distant.

Still… ridiculously attractive.

“…I think I made an impression,” she muttered.

Mary choked on her coffee.

“Girl, you made a scene.”