NEED FOR COFFEE

< Athaire Starlight Hotel

UTC+2 0830 AM

Lobby Floor, Coffee Shop >

It was bustling in the buffet area, but the coffee shop was separated with a glass wall, allowing for some privacy for those taking in just a coffee, guests or outside visitors. Soft piano music was playing in the background, complementing the high-class décor. Angel and One Shot had taken opposite seats at the window facing the outside streets on wide and comfortable chairs. A wooden round desk between them. Angel lowered her cup of black coffee as she raised an eyebrow.

"A green smoothie?"

"Gives me more lasting energy than a shot of what you're having," One Shot replied, sucking at the straw provided while leaning back in his chair. "I thought there was something else you wanted to discuss though?"

"You're right," Angel conceded, and after taking a sip from her cup, she put it down and corrected her posture before continuing, "So, you're…Jenny's brother?"

"Yes. How do you know her?"

"I'm acquainted with her since college days." She paused, stirred the contents in her cup, and resumed. "She mentioned you could never be reached."

"Ah, yes. I'm usually quite busy with work. She leaves me almost daily voice messages though."

"You listen to all of them?"

"Sometimes."

"Hm." She took another sip.

"Isn't there something else we should be discussing?"

"You're correct." Angel put down her cup, sat up straight, and fixed her glasses. "Again, I seem to become indebted to you. I apologize for my actions earlier. The motives were personal, but I can understand that you might be wanting to hear an explanation."

One Shot was silent as he took her in. She was quietly staring at him with the same unnervingly straight face and open eyes. Serious. But her body language - crossed legs, interlinked hands on her lap - built up a wall around her. Invisible but steadfast walls that did not allow anyone to get closer to her. Was she protecting herself from something or someone?

"It's fine." He muttered, averting his eyes down to his smoothie. It somehow annoyed him seeing her that way. "You don't need to explain." It wasn't like he could demand an explanation when he himself had hardly leeway to let on any details about his own life without diving mountain deep into stories built out of nothing but lies. He had been telling them all along. It was standard. But now she knew his real name and things could easily get tricky. It would be best to break things off as soon as possible. But the current situation was more complicated. She was connected to his sister. This situation required a careful approach. Depending on her intention, this could go over quickly or become a mess is just the same amount of time. "Maybe you could let me in on your plan on how you want to handle this situation?"

"Since I am indebted to you, I will follow along with your wishes," she stated and took another long sip from her coffee.

"My wish…," One Shot trailed off, "is to hear what you'd like to do." He glanced up at her – just in time to see her eyebrows twitch and her fingers tap on her cup of coffee.

She gulped down the rest of her drink in one go before answering. "Since we are both not interested in an actual relationship with each other and explaining the situation would bring up more hassles, I would go with the flow. That is to say," she continued explaining and One Shot smiled. A planner, as expected from a serious personality. How was she able to keep it all in? "I would suggest we keep up the pretense for today, afterwards we go our separate paths and agree on a designated day on which we inform our acquaintances of our break-up due to personality differences. I'd suggest a month from now. For today, I'd like to improvise if we are asked about our relationship since I still have work to attend to before the wedding. Would it be alright if we both prepare ourselves separately and meet up in the lobby at five PM again?"

One Shot leaned back and nodded, "As you wish."

"Thank you for your understanding." She stood up and gestured for a waiter to come over. "I know it won't make up for what has happened so far, but at least let me cover our drinks." The waiter offered her a small machine and she placed her index finger on the sensor. A short tune signaled the successful processing.

"Then I will see you later," Angel mentioned as she picked up her purse. One Shot rose to say goodbye to her for the second time today.

"Can't wait," he said as he shook her hand. Then she turned on her heels and walked out towards the lobby.

One Shot sank back down in his seat, pondering. Angel…he still didn't know her whole name. But she now knew about him. Even worse, she had a connection to Jenny from college days. It didn't seem like they were close, judging by how quickly she evaded the topic. His phone buzzed and he took it out to see a message from Jenny, this time a text message.

It read:

'Why didn't you tell me you were dating Angy?? When did you meet her? How?? I told you all about her…no, more importantly, how did you convince her to come? I thought she would never talk to me again after what happened, so thank you. I'm so happy that the two most important people in the world came today for my wedding! CU both later! Todeloo!'

One Shot stared blankly at the message until the dots in his head started to connect with lightning speed. Angy was Angel's nickname. She was not just an acquaintance of Jenny – she was her best friend. That meant Jenny and Joff were the two people Angel had talked about, her best friend and boyfriend who had cheated on her with each other. That would explain why she wouldn't be interested to even consider a relationship with the brother of someone who had betrayed her and why she put up the play earlier. But above all, one thought emerged clear as daylight. Angel…it was her! She was the one he had been looking forward to meeting all this time.

He could feel his ears start to heat up and quickly raised a hand to cover his blushing face. His mind was a mess, but his heart was beating as if he was still running.

Ba-dump.

Stop it. But he couldn't control his own heartbeat.

Tak.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over the table in front of him and he looked up to see the source: outside the window, Angel was passing by. Gracefully and determined, she looked straight ahead while talking to someone over her earbuds. But for a brief moment, her gaze flicked to him and their eyes met.

He didn't know what to do. He couldn't look away from her ocean blue eyes. The hint of a smile lifted a corner of her mouth and reached her eyes. He froze. Ever so slightly, a nod and then the moment was gone.

Tak.

She was gone from his sight, had moved on outside the window down the street. He remained right where he was.

Don't do it.

But he couldn't help it. Against his will and better judgment, his whole body turned around in his seat, just to catch one more glimpse of her. Why didn't he talk with her more? He wanted to go after her, but he couldn't do that.

There she was, leaving down the street, each and every step taking her father away from him.

His eyebrows flowed up helplessly as a sigh escaped his lips and he put down his head to rest on his arm, draped over the chair, watching her leave, incapable of doing anything to stop her.

It doesn't matter, he thought, and a smile snuck back on his expression. Just a few more hours, and I'll see her again. I can't wait. This time, he meant it.

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