The re-tellling

The house was quiet when Nora walked in.

Too quiet.

She dropped her bag on the couch and kicked off her heels.

“Mum?” she called.

“In the kitchen,” Mrs. Vera Oscar replied.

Nora dragged herself in, still looking defeated. Her mother stood by the counter, stirring something in a pot. Elegant as always.

“You look like someone embarrassed you publicly,” Mrs. Oscar said without turning.

Nora paused. “…It was that obvious?”

Mrs. Oscar raised a brow. “Sit.”

Nora pulled out a chair and slumped into it.

“Mum, I messed up.”

“How bad?”

“Very bad.”

“Academic bad or romantic bad?”

“…Romantic.”

Mrs. Oscar sighed softly. “Of course.”

Nora groaned. “I met this guy today.”

“Hmm.”

“At the coffee shop.”

“And?”

“He was… fine, Mum. Like—very fine.”

Mrs. Oscar smirked slightly. “And you embarrassed yourself.”

“I didn’t plan to!”

“Tell me what happened.”

Nora sat up, already frustrated just remembering it. “Okay, so I was with Mary, complaining about my love life—”

“As usual.”

“Mum!”

“Continue.”

“And then I saw him. Sitting alone. Laptop. Headphones. Very serious.”

“So naturally, you went to disturb him.”

“…Yes.”

Mrs. Oscar nodded like she expected nothing less.

“I said hi. He ignored me.”

“Oh?”

“I tapped him. He removed his headphones. I introduced myself.”

“And?”

“He stared at me like I personally offended his ancestors.”

Mrs. Oscar pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

“And then he said he was busy and ignored me again!”

“Good for him.”

“Mum!”

“What? At least he’s focused.”

Nora dropped her head on the table. “I should have left. I should have left.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I pretended I got a call so I could escape with dignity—”

Mrs. Oscar raised a brow. “Pretended?”

“Yes!”

“And?”

“…I spilled his coffee.”

Silence.

Mrs. Oscar blinked. “You did what?”

“I spilled it. On him. And his laptop.”

Mrs. Oscar slowly put down the spoon. “On his… laptop?”

“Yes.”

“And he didn’t shout?”

“He didn’t shout, but the disappointment in his voice?” Nora clutched her chest. “It hurt more.”

Mrs. Oscar let out a soft laugh. “Nora…”

“It’s not funny!”

“It’s a little funny.”

“Mum!”

“You walked up to a stranger, interrupted his work, and then baptized his laptop with coffee.”

Nora stared at her. “You’re not taking me seriously.”

“I am. I’m just… impressed.”

Nora groaned again. “I said sorry like ten times. Mary even apologized on my behalf.”

“And what did he say?”

“He just looked at me like… like I was a problem.”

“Were you?”

“…Yes.”

Mrs. Oscar smiled knowingly. “And yet you’re still thinking about him.”

Nora froze. “…No, I’m not.”

“Liar.”

Nora sat up. “I’m not thinking about him. I’m thinking about how I embarrassed myself.”

“Same thing.”

“It’s not!”

Mrs. Oscar leaned on the counter. “So describe him again.”

Nora hesitated, then sighed. “Tall… calm… serious. Like he doesn’t talk too much.”

“Hmm.”

“And his voice…” she paused. “It was… steady.”

Mrs. Oscar smiled. “Ah.”

“What?”

“You like him.”

“I don’t! I just met him!”

“And already caused chaos.”

Nora buried her face in her hands. “I’m never going back to that coffee shop.”

“You will.”

“No, I won’t.”

“You will. And you’ll look for him.”

Nora looked up quickly. “I will not!”

Mrs. Oscar chuckled. “You always do this.”

“Do what?”

“Act like you’re done, then go back twice as interested.”

Nora rolled her eyes. “This one? Different. He doesn’t care.”

Mrs. Oscar paused. “…And that bothers you.”

Nora looked away. “…Maybe.”

Mrs. Oscar walked over and sat opposite her. “Nora. Not every man will fall at your feet.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?”

Nora didn’t respond.

“You’re used to attention. But the right person won’t be impressed by your confidence alone.”

Nora frowned slightly. “Then what will impress him?”

“Your sincerity.”

Nora leaned back, thinking. “…Too late for that.”

“Not necessarily.”

“No, Mum. That one? Finished. Gone. Over.”

“We’ll see,” Mrs. Oscar said, picking up her spoon again.

Nora stood slowly. “I’m going to my room.”

“To cry?”

“To forget.”

Mrs. Oscar laughed softly. “You won’t.”

Nora paused at the doorway, glancing back. “…Do you think I’ll see him again?”

Mrs. Oscar didn’t even look up. “If it’s meant to happen, you will.”

Nora sighed. “…God, please don’t let him be someone important.”

Nora collapsed onto her bed, dramatic as ever. Her mind replayed the coffee shop disaster on loop. Why did I even touch him? Why did I spill the coffee? And why was he so… hot while being absolutely terrifying?

Her phone buzzed. Max.

She groaned. “Of course.”

“Hello?” she said, trying to sound casual.

“Hey, Nora,” Max’s voice came through, soft and hesitant. “You free to talk?”

Nora rolled onto her side. “Uh… yeah. What’s up?”

“You sounded kind of… stressed earlier. How’s your day?”

“Max… it was a total disaster. Coffee. Laptop. Hands. Spilled coffee. Dead eyes. Absolute humiliation!”

“Whoa, slow down. Take a breath. Start from the beginning.”

Nora groaned. “Do I have to?”

“Yes. I want the full story.”

“Okay… so I was with Mary, complaining about my love life—”

“As usual.”

“Max!”

“Continue.”

“Then… I see this guy. Tall. Calm. Serious. Laptop. Headphones. Hot.”

Max chuckled. “Sounds like trouble already.”

“I swear! I just… looked. Then Mary starts saying I’m distracted. Next thing I know, I’m walking to him!”

“Walking to him?”

“Yes! I said hi. He ignored me. I tapped him. He removed his headphones. I introduced myself. And then…”

Max waited. “…And then?”

“…I spilled his coffee!”

Silence. Then Max laughed. “Nora! You’re a walking disaster sometimes.”

“I know! And he… he was so angry. Mary tried to save me… but I’m pretty sure he hates me now.”

“Maybe… or maybe he’s intrigued,” Max teased.

“Ugh. Why does he have to be so frustrating?”

“You’ll figure it out,” Max said, voice gentle. “Or make another scene, I’ll be here to hear it.”

Nora groaned, tossing the blanket over her head. “God, I hope I don’t see him again.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that,” Max’s voice teased warmly.