AT THE CAFE

"Mia, it's just a blind date. Why don't you try it? We are just gonna set up the engagement if you'd both come to like each other. It's not like you're gonna get married right away,"

"No way!" She said and continued having her breakfast. "Besides, who goes on a blind date these days?"

Senior Castor sighed and clenched his hand. Her wife laid her hand on top of his and rubbed it, trying to calm him down. "I'll talk to her," said Lady Gizella in a low voice, and Senior Caster nodded his head.

"Vilian dear, are you planning to get skinny? Look at you eating so little like a baby. I bet your brother would eat more than you," said Lady Gizella, teasingly.

"Aunt Gizella, I had some snacks at home before I come here, so I don't feel like eating anymore," said Vilian, finding it as an excuse.

"Oh! Why don't have those fruits? They are very nutritious. Mia! you too...Don't just play with the food. It's not gonna jump into your tummy on its own."

"Mom, I think we had enough. We better get going to the cafe. Zen, drop us nearby the cafe," said Mia dragging Vilian along with her.

"It was nice having breakfast with you, Mr. and Mrs. Caster. Thank you for inviting me," said bowing her head, pulling her hand out from Mia's grip.

Waving her hands Lady Gizella said, "Anytime, my dear. Take care of yourself, girls!" and the two left.

Stepping out of the Casters' mansion Mia was the first to sigh out tiredly getting rid of the silly dilemma and heard Vilian giggle out. Mia frowned and asked, "What are you laughing at?" Vilian shook her head and entered the car with a goofy smile.

"Spill it out already!" said Mia not willing getting to in the car.

"Zen, can you believe it? Someone's on a blind date."

"Unbelievable, right?" said Zen hiding the blank expression and replacing it with an ear-to-ear grin.

"Zen! You too?" Fumed Mia and folded her hands under her chest gazing the other way.

"Looks like Young Miss Caster isn't gonna come along with us to the cafe. Zen let's leave," teased Vilian.

"Oh! Is it so? Zen is mine, so he's with me..." said Mia, louder enough for both of them to hear. Zen was taken aback. The word 'mine' made his heart beat so fast with excitement and shock.

"...Zen? Zen?" He came out of his little joy seeing Mia her hand in front of him. "Where did you doze off to? Start the engine. We are leaving," she said and got into the shotgun seat leaving Vilian behind.

Zen's movements turned out to be skittish with his face flushed with a slight tinge of red. Mia being the blabbermouth, kept talking while Vilian observed him with a squinting eye.

Shaking off her head Vilian borrowed Mia's phone to take a call to Daniel. He probably might be worried and angry about her not talking to him. The line got connected.

At first, Daniel refused to speak with Vilian and said to her to On the speaker saying that he wanted to speak to Mia but in actuality, Mia was an excuse for both of the siblings to speak. He boasted a lot about his visit to the opposite kingdom and met the king with lot more nonstop events.

Finally, the ride came to an end. Vilian and Mia spoke with Daniel to their heart's content. Vilian had to lie to her brother that she was at home and Mia had come to visit her when they were actually heading to the cafe and then, they end the call by giving some silly excuses.

"Zen? Aren't you gonna join us?" Questioned Vilian.

"Please have fun, Mi'lady. If there's anything that you ladies might need please do call me. I'll be waiting in the parking lot," he said bowing his head after closing the door of the passenger seat.

"Zen, we are just five years younger than you. Don't address us like that."

"But..."

"There are no buts... You need not use those formalities when we are alone, okay...?

"Yes, Mi—"

"Vilian!" Said Vilian staring at him sternly." Mia giggled looking at his expression. "Now, off we go to the cafe," said Vilian walking ahead. Mia and Zen gave a look at each other.

"After you, Mi'lady," said Zen raising his hand forward giving Mia the space to walk ahead but Mia squinted her eyes with a pout hearing him mention the word 'Mi'lady' and walking forward huffing at him.

"Hey!! Are you gonna take this car off the street or do I have to call the police?" Yelled a man honking his bike horn.

"Oh! I'm sorry, sir. I'll get it right away," said Zen and got into the car taking it to the parking slot.

Even from a distance away from the coffee shop, its air swirled with its mouthwatering aroma drawing people to the shop. The little bell hanging on the door chimed every time someone entered the cafe indicating the person's presence.

Black coffee in white cups and jugs filled with cream were placed on small tables. The shop had the ambiance of friendly chatters. The coffee shop was open air filled with morning working people, a sort of covered patio with tables that had a respectful distance apart.

Finding a vacant table a little away from the crowd, Mia and Vilian sat and started chatting while they waited for Zen to come.

We could have gone to the park. It would have been more peaceful there,"

"That doesn't matter. Now that we've come here, let us wait for Zen to come so that we could place the order all at once."

"Speaking of him, there he comes," said Mia raising her chin in Zen's direction.

"Pull up yourself, Zen. Pull up yourself," murmured Zen walking towards the ladies putting up a smile and he bowed his head as he usually did.

Mia slammed her head on the table and said, "What are you doing Zen?! Everyone's looking at us!" whispered louder.

"I'm sorry, Mi'lady but I'm used to it. I'll try not to do it in the future," he said apologetically. Mia gestured for him to sit and so did he. Mia gestured for one of the staff to come with her hand and a boy came running with menu cards in his hand. He gave it to the three of them. Zen waited for both the ladies.

"Get me an Espresso Robuster," ordered Mia and the boy nodded his head and then glanced at Vilian and Zen who were still there to place their orders.

"What's Arabica?" questioned Vilian, who was a coffee lover with keen interest.

"Arabica is a type of flowering plant in the coffee and also, madder family of Rubiaceae. It contains less caffeine, sweeter, and has the note of chocolate and sugar. It is the most special coffee in our cafe. Would you like to try it, Ma'am?" He explained and questioned finally, placing the menu card on his chest.

Vilian thought for a while and nodded her head, "Yes, I would love to have a cup of Arabica," she said with a smile. The smile brought a tinge of blush to the boy's cheeks.

"Zen? As you are a chocolate lover I assume you'd love Mocha, am I right?"

Zen was taken aback not knowing how Mia knew that he loves chocolate but he nodded his head.

"One Mocha, please," ordered Mia and the boy took confirmed the orders and left to place the orders.

Suddenly, Zen heard his phone chime and vibrate. He excused himself and walked away.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Vilian questioned back.

"I saw the boy staring at you like a fine piece of art from the beginning and now, there he is, with the counter... Wait! He's the counter boy?" questioned Mia, seeing the boy switch his places with the other guy.

"Mhmm..." hummed Vilian and Mia gave her a shocking look.

"You knew it all this time?" she asked unbelievably.

"Yep." In return got a nonchalant response from Vilian.

"And..."

"And would you care to explain to me what happened last night?" Mia waited for her to explain it more in detail but she changed the topic.

Shaking off her head she started to narrate the whole incident while Vilian listened to Mia supporting her chin on her hands.