The Duel

An awkward silence swallowed the café in a blink. Even the quiet melody of the phonograph now felt painfully loud. The few customers glanced over Arnold in surprise, however, Eugene was not able to see his face, only his back with stiff shoulders. Was he frustrated? Maybe dumbfounded? - Eugene could only speculate on what kind of grimace is resting on Arnold's wrinkled face.

Then, the owner of "Monso Rooster" finally spoke, "Huh, I see, and what exactly was not suiting your taste, ma´am?"

The woman replied, "I did not observe the process, so I can not say for sure, but my guess lies on the chastity of water. Seems like it was not infused enough, and I will assume the temperature was slightly higher than necessary."

Arnold grabbed his chin and nodded lightly, as if listening to the admonitions of his mentor. After the woman was done with reviewing the negatives, she continued sipping off of the coffee as if nothing happened. Moreover, she took a bite out of the croissant and afterwards dipped it into her coffee to infuse the taste of the pastry. Eugene shivered from this sight, though no one else seemed to pay attention to this mishap. Seems like the unexpected situation was resolved by itself.

But Eugene was not happy at all with such outcome. Even though he could not consider Arnold as someone very admirable, in the end he was the best coffee artist in this town. One must be very intelligible in this niche to make unpleasant comments regarding his work. And to think that he would be criticized by someone who looks even younger than Eugene!

He walked over the table and stood alongside Arnold, who peeked at him in surprise. Eugene clenched his hand into a fist and inhaled, preparing himself for even more obnoxious talk, "What do you mean by your guess? As if you are more knowledgeable in the process than Arnold. Who do you think you are?"

"...Huh?" a prideful gaze was thrown into Eugene after his condemning words. An enormous pressure was coming out of her emerald eyes, but even against the haughty nobility, the man was standing straight and looking into her dreadful eyes. Eugene was sure in his righteousness, thus was ready to stand his ground until the end. Not even so feared Arnold, whose face took a grimace of bemusement, could calm his ferocity. Arnold quietly whispered something with his trembling lip, presumably trying to tone down the situation, but Eugene made one step further and proceeded with his rebuttal.

"So, how will you elaborate? Are you some kind of famous barista to act this cocky?"

"What if I am?" she said calmly, to which Eugene replied, "Then I will sincerely apologize for the trouble, but there is just no way some princess like you would be able to understand the art of coffee!"

Once again, all eyes were on a small table in the back of the café. The old woman was quietly oh-ing and trying to cast her gaze aside, the old man observed the scene with interest, while ash from his cigar was slowly dropping on the table, Jessie froze in place and was looking at Arnold, who, on the other hand, was glaring at Eugene with an evil intent. 

Eugene's confident smirk was shaken away by the gal's attitude. She was totally silent, not because she had nothing to say, but rather there was no need for any words from her perspective. Her eyes were averted from the man and her lips were silently slurping cooled coffee.

After a second of silence, Eugene asked, "So, you do not have anything to say?", but the woman simply smiled, "You were indeed right about my position. I am not a barista, but I am a client whose words are absolute. I am quite surprised to meet such curmudgeon amongst the employees of this café. With such an awful mannerism like yours, slums might be a better suited place for you."

The boy gasped and stepped back as if facing a wild animal. Upon having a look at his dumbfounded face, the woman giggled and turned away from him to have yet another sip of coffee. The cup was now half empty. 

Meanwhile, all of her spiteful words were processed inside Eugene's mind. He was truly bewildered by the nastiness of that persona. The man gritted his teeth but remained calm. The accumulating coolness in his eyes took this woman's attention back to him. She even narrowed her brows, feeling irritated.

But then, Arnold finally snapped, "Ok, that's enough! Eugene, go to the kitchen!"

Alas, his attempt to resolve the situation was futile. Eugene ignored his boss's request and instead said, "Slums, huh? Of course, some obnoxious porcelain doll will be spewing such nonsense! Go eat a goddamn cake in your rotten castle if you are too good for the likes of us!"

At this point, Eugene was ready to give up on this woman. Judging by her looks, he assumed her personality to this, and unfortunately he was correct. There was no point in further quarrel. A severe punishment from Arnold was already awaiting him, he could feel it with his bowels, which became heavier just upon a thought of what Arnold might think of this situation.

Suddenly, though, someone grabbed his palm. Eugene shivered in thought of it being Arnold, but then he felt the softness and slenderness of this hand. He turned his head and the sight of this woman holding him whilst her face was red made him freeze.

"Who did you call a porcelain doll?! Take it back!"

A series of dazed blinks were made by everyone present, while the woman was staring at Eugene, angrily narrowing her brows. At once, he laughed, but after his manager giggled himself, Eugene fell into a hysteria like a mad man. He could have expected anything, but surely not such a pitiful phrase, coming from this arrogant gal.

"Well, look at that, everyone!" happily exclaimed Eugene and cast his gaze to the left and right, "Could it be that the doll in front of me is speaking!? Nonsense! And it's face, it's so red! Like a tomato!"

"You… You!..."

The woman bit her lower lip in frustration, plenty of nasty words were visibly accumulating on her tongue. Then, at once, the woman hid her red cheeks under palms and remained silent, furiously gazing at Eugene's neck. But the man did not feel intimidated at all, even Jessie, whose astonishment knew no boundaries, was now giving a pitiful look at the noblewoman. 

But then, she shook her head impatiently and said with feigned calmness, "Arguing with the likes of you is truly pointless. How about I demonstrate you my supremacy with actions?"

"...Huh?" Eugene's laughter was slowly fading away, thus he clearly heard her words, but their essence made him question it, "What do you mean?"

As the man was silently wiping tears from his eyes, she removed the hands from her cheeks, and pointed at the man with a grimace of annoyance.

"Such ignorance is unforgivable, but what can I do?... I will make this statement more clear. I will prepare a cup of coffee, which will make you kneel!"

Her declaration shut Eugene completely. Right now, this vainglorious gal challenged him on his own field! The man was about to laugh yet again, but her emerald eyes were sparking with determination to crush him. So, Eugene clicked his tongue instead and opposed her.

"Do not be stupid, as if we will let you into our kitchen! What are you even talking about?"

"I will allow it." out of the blue, said a certain gentleman in a cheering, but deep voice. The one who was in favour of this unexpected duel was the café owner himself, Arnold. 

Twirling the tip of his thick moustache, he came closer to Eugene and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. He silently examined the café, while tapping the Eugene's shoulder again and again. The old man and woman did not say a word to them, they did not lose the interest about the situation, but were perfectly able to watch the development at a distance. Then, Arnold finally spoke.

"Yeah, I guess, we can do it."

"Do what?" asked Eugene in confusion, to which Arnold said, "A competition! Luckily, these are not busy hours, and we have plenty of space in the kitchen for both of you. Jessie and I will be your judges. Is it fine by you, madame?"

The woman slowly nodded, still keeping Eugene in her sight, however, Jessie was wondering, "Why am I dragged into this?" but everyone ignored her resentment, due to Eugene saying his complaints out more energetically.

"Not our busy hours! But what if anyone will wonder here anyway? You will simply lose money"

"If someone would come in, Jessie will serve them, of course."

"Guess I do not have a say in this, oh well, hopefully this competition will be fun…" indifferently mumbled Jessie and marched towards the kitchen. 

The woman followed her in total hush, only a pesky smile directed at no other than her rival was visible on her face. This further irritated Eugene, and he turned to Arnold yet again. Arnold's sudden metamorphosis in the presence of this woman was quite an unexpected sight for him. How could possibly this strict, serious and greedy old man become so carefree in an instant? But before he could ask any question, Arnold already followed the girls. But upon feeling Eugene's burning glare, he spoke without facing the man.

"Besides, I actually saw you slacking off and just staring at the window in the opening hours. You decide which is more troublesome, facing off an amateur at your "niche" or facing off me."

"Ugh…"

This statement was a direct hit into Eugene's unspoken protest. This further increased his suspicions, but Arnold's words made him way too intimidated to escalate the situation. To follow the flow was the safest option, so Eugene raised his hands in defeat and said in embarrassment, "Fair point, then a duel it is!" 

With his departure, the café was left in the disposition of its clients, who were peeking at the group and eagerly awaiting the results of this peculiar competition.