Novel & Cerita It's Just An Empty Cup

Something that lived deeper. “Sit down,” he said. I sat on the couch. Not the far end. The middle. Close enough that the lamp held us both. He reached forward. Two cups on the table. Already there. Already the right temperature. He had known. He handed me mine. I looked at it. White. Very plain. I looked at him. “She said a plain cup did not distract from the thinking,” he said quietly. “You have finished the hardest thinking. You should have the right cup.”

The coffee was too quiet. The clean cups gleamed on the shelves, the smell of fresh coffee still hovering in the air, but no one came to pick them up. The empty tables stared at me, and the chairs, too aligned, seemed to mock my attempt at normality. I already knew that the story had done damage, but I did not imagine that it would be like this.

“I’m sorry.” The man put the teacup down elegantly. That was it? The woman looked at him in bewilderment. That was her cup. She had never met anyone like that. Cups were personal items. Could such a highly personal item be used back and forth between strangers?

I picked up my empty teacup again, just for something to hold, tracing the cool, smooth rim with my fingertip. Then I opened my mouth to tell her about my full plan...

A strange unease settles in his chest. He opens the door. The room is empty. His eyes immediately scan everything. The bed is untouched. The window is closed. Her belongings are still where she left them. She hadn't packed. She hadn't left willingly. Damien steps farther into the room. Then he sees it. The cup. Still sitting on the table. His expression changes. He walks toward it. He lifts it carefully. One breath. His face hardens. There is something in it. Something he recognizes.

I can do this. Pressing the start on my already loaded machine, I drummed my fingernails on the counter, trying to figure out why he'd even bother. "Need help?" he called out from the other room, making me jump. "Got it. I'm good." The cup I used for him made me laugh. Was a gag gift from Ruby when we were friends, but today, it'd serve its purpose. A giant donkey sat in the middle of the mug with the words kiss my right over it.

It started with a coffee. Not hers. Not the half-sweet, double-shot, almond-milk monstrosity Katherine usually ordered from the chaotic café downstairs that spelled her name as “Cateran” at least once a week. No. This was different. This one… appeared. Right on her desk. In a clean white cup. Lid sealed. No note. She stared at it suspiciously. “Did this… appear out of thin air?” she muttered. Cara looked up from her computer. “What?”

Walking through I look around, expecting to see something fallen over, but there is nothing. I continue to look around me, but I can't see anything. I stop noticing the cups, my mind thinking back, I am sure they were upside down. I walk over and retrace my steps; I definitely turned my cup. These are all the right way up? Maybe it was just the cup I got that was upside down? I hear a creek, walking into the living room I look around, and see the cupboard door open, my mind trying to remember if it was open or not. I can't remember it being open. I walk out, maybe it is just my mind because of Analise?

I continued eating, well there's no way going to let this go to waste. Sadly enough, the food ended and that meant I had to leave. But I didn't want to get out just yet. So I waved my cup– what the hell is an empty cup doing on a table– to signify the workers. Vera was the only free one so she had to come over. She rolled her eyes and I almost laughed. I later found out that it was actually a tea cup and she was refilling it. I nodded thanks and took a sip. " Want some?" I offered.

Carlos POV I expected to see her at the counter once I stepped into the cafe but she was nowhere to be seen. I only noticed there was one guy busy entertained the customer at the counter. I let my eyes wandered around the café, tried to search for her but ended with disappointment. "Hello, good morning. What can I get for you?" The young boy at the counter asked. "Good morning. May I know where my Cup- I mean Cassandra is?" I corrected myself before he noticed it.