Seat By The Window - Part 1

"... You can have the seat as you please..."

I love the cafe around the corner at the same street from my apartment. "Lupin's" is the name of the cafe, and the name of the cafe owner is Lupin. He is also one of the barista in the cafe, the Lupin's Macchiato is his signature coffee. 

Its 16oz Macchiato, with a special made sugar rock sink at the bottom of the cup. At the first sip, you will taste slightly sour from the espresso, then slowly the sugar melted into the coffee make it taste sweeter. When it reach the core of the sugar rock, it spread a coolness of pepper mint at the tip of your tongue. 

It maybe sound weird, but it taste amazingly good. That coffee wasn't for you to drink it one shot, in fact, you have to take it slow to taste all the flavors. I love spending my weekend with one Lupin's Macchiato and a book in the seat by the window.

That seat by the window, is in the deepest area of the cafe, and the sun get full access to enter the cafe from the window in the morning. Maybe those are the reasons why the seat is most likely to be empty every time I go. I picked that seat wasn't because its empty, its because the sun make that seat the brightest spot in the cafe, which is what I need for reading book. Besides that, i have one more reason to choose that seat. That's will be the seat is direct opposite to the coffee machine, where I got the full view of Lupin when he brewing my coffee.

Lupin actually is my high school senior, and i had a huge crush on him at that time. I even sent him a season greeting card with a heart shape sticker stick at the back of the envelope. The good old memories make me giggles when I first visit to the cafe and saw him. But he dint remember me as i do. And I din't tell him too.

Not that I still holding any feelings toward him, he is good looking and charming guy. As a girl, it is a guilt to refuse a charming guy as your barista.

Therefore, here I am again, at the main door of Lupin's. I usually come on weekend, but today is only Wednesday. At this hour, I should be in office, fortunately, our office closed from today until next Monday, for company trip that I do not join. In stead of a local trip for site viewing, I prefer staying at Lupin's to finish my books.

This is the first time I be here during my office hour. Now only quarter pass 12pm, the cafe seems to be crowded with people looking for lunch. I push open the door, welcome me is the same coffee aroma that I know.

As I survey the cafe, i notice the left side of the cafe was closed, and an notice board written there will workshop happening later in 2pm. The table arrangement at that area are different from before. Some tools and mugs on the tables. No wonder the cafe look full, because all customers were pushed to one side. Luckily, my favorite seat by the window is out of the closed area and its empty.

I fit myself in the seat happily and looking for Lupin. He's not in his usual place behind the coffee machine. If he is not in, that's mean i'm only drinking latte today.

A minute later, the door beside my seat, Lupin come in with another person on his right.

“Eh?” Both of them look at me with questioning eyes.

“Yes?” I return their stare and ask.

“It’s rare to see you here at this hour.” Lupin said, “I wasn’t expect you today, so, I actually reserve this seat for him.” He point the guy next to him.

“Ah?” I haven’t notice there are few bags on the chair opposite me all the time. “I’m so sorry, I get too used to this seat, that I never notice the bag over there.”

As I said, I quickly gather my bag and book into my hands. Luckily I din't order any drinks yet, or else whole situation will be even more embarrassing. I feel the blood slowly rushing up to my face, so I dip my chin into my chest wishing they din’t get the see me blushing.

"Please, have this seat.” The guy beside Lupin said, “I’m the photographer for the workshop later. So, I won’t be sitting here all the time, you can take the seat as you please.”

“But…” I’m about to refuse his offer, Lupin cut off my words.

“Yea, he’s right. He will be busy running around taking photos after he finish his meal. Plus, we closed half of the area, now other tables are taken.” Lupin hit the guy in his chest, “Don’t worry, he is a gentleman, he’ll behave.” The guy take his revenge by hitting Lupin's stomach, Lupin hissed small noise from his mouth.

I take a quick look at the guy, about 180cm tall, about my age, with black border glasses, neat hair, Polo T and trousers. He do looks like a gentleman, not to mention a quite good looking gentleman, and they insist to let me take the seat, it will be rude to reject their offer.

“If you don’t mind sharing table with me, I’m fine with that.”

Lupin smiled, “Good then, you two get seated, I’ll serve you with your spaghetti,” he turning to the guy, then turn to me, “and your coffee, shortly.”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks.” I said.

“Hi, I’m Jun. Please to meet you.” Before he sit down, he reach out a hand to me and introduce himself.

“Hello, I’m Fong Ling.” I stand up and shake his hand.

“Fong Ling? As if that bells ring with the winds thingy?” Jun said. He gesture me to sit down, and he pull the chair for himself too.

“The wind chimes,” I reply “Yes, my parents name me after the wind chimes in Chinese.”

“No wonder you like this seat so much.” 

“My name have anything to do with this seat?”

“Well, the wind chimes are meant to hang by the window,” Jun said, “and you like this seat because it’s by the window, don’t you?”

“I do… I choose this place because the sun shine coming in from the window,” but I never think of my name have something to do with this.

“In Japan, the wind chimes is sort of a symbol of summer. They hang the wind chimes when summer came, where the sun shine the brightest in whole year.” Jun continue, “maybe that’s why Lupin been saving this seat for you.”

“Wait… what?” What did you just said?

Before I can ask my question, Lupin return with my coffee, “what you guy talking about?”

“Nothing, just getting know each other.” Jun reply.

“I see,” Lupin put my coffee in front of me, “Oh, why you’re here today? How about your job?” Lupin asked me.

“I get days off for the rest of the week.” I reply, “I got nothing better to do, so I come for some coffee therapy.”

“With new book?” Lupin puts one hand on the back of the chair Jun sit in.

“Yup,” I show the book in my hand, “just receive the package yesterday.”

“The Lady Midnight.” Jun read out the book title.

“You sure that’s not a dictionary?” Lupin tie his eye browns a little bit tighter to the middle.

“It looks more like dumbbell to me.” Jun said with giggles.

“You guys are sarcastic.” I roll my eyes.

Both of them laughed. I joined in.

“Mr Lupin!” Someone shouting from the main door.

We all turn to the direction of the door, there are a group of people, some holding big carton box, some holding big plastic bags. Must the person for the workshop.

“Coming!” Lupin yelled back. “Jun,” Lupin tap Jun’s shoulder as he call out Jun’s name, “your spaghetti will be serve later, as soon as you finish, come help me with the set up.”

"It doesn't sound like a request." Jun said.

"Because it is not a request." Lupin said as he walk away, "How much do you think that spaghetti cost?"

"It's not your treat?!" Jun eyes wide open, turn his head to the direction of Lupin heading.

"Not even in your dream!" Lupin said over his shoulder.

After Lupin is leave the table, I wanna ask Jun about what he said just now. About Lupin saving this seat for me. 

When I struggling how should I start the topic, Jun speak. "Please don't mind me, you can go ahead and read your book."

"Oh, OK." I smiled and nodded at him, and he smile back at me.

Man, he really had the sweetest smile I ever seen. 

Although his smile were like flashes in my eyes, I still cant stop thinking whether to ask him about Lupin.

A few minutes later, before I get any decision from my struggling, Jun's spaghetti is served. He thanks the waitress and start dig in. Without looking back at me one more time, so I gave up disturbing him from his meal.

I take a sip from my coffee, then I turn my attention to my new book.

We din't talk much after that.

- - - - - TO BE CONTINUE - - - - -

About this story:

The sketching is from one of the photo I take in may trip to Bangkok, where I visited a cafe over there. I really love that seat very much, enough to make a story for it. Besides, I always wonder, what will my cafe love-on-one-sight story begin. If I get the chance to choose the beginning, I choose it begin like this...

Candee Tang
30/04/17