Craig's cafe bustled with life as morning sunlight filtered through the large, arched windows.
Craig's cafe used to not be as popular then as it is now.
I remember sitting in my favorite seat,
a seat placed by the window allowing me to be isolated as well as observe the happenings of the cafe- if I choose to do so.
I used to come to this establishment early in the morning for just one reason- to have my daily dose of caffeine.
As I cradled my paper cup I noticed you walk in and I could not help but notice you, but not for the reason you might think.
You stood out like a beacon amidst the sea of muted colors that filled the café.
With your impeccable white shirt and tie, you seem to have appeared to be on her way to an office meeting, which I later found out was you heading to an interview, which you never ended up going to.
But something was clearly wrong.
A bright, almost fluorescent, orange stain adorned the crisp, white fabric of your shirt, splattered in a most haphazard manner.
The combination of such a well-put-together outfit along with such a bizarre stain felt like it was a puzzle that begged to be solved.
I just watched as you approached the counter, exchanging pleasantries with the barista.
Your smile was charming, your manner friendly, and yet, I couldn't tear my gaze away from that orange stain on your shirt rather than focus on your looks unlike what those stereotypical romance books and movies show.
I noticed you pull out a small, folded napkin from your pocket. You scrubbed at the stain with intensity.
But the stain remained, a permanent reminder of a mishap.
Soon you sat near me,
No one usually sat near me, no matter how crowded the cafe was.
Yet in this empty cafe, you chose to sit near me.
I wonder why you chose to do that
You seemed to have noticed me staring at your stain and then said to me
"I did it on purpose,
Everything I do is intentional"
That caused me to chuckle and in a matter of time, I do not know how but we went from complete strangers to talking like we have known each other for ages.
After our chat, you ended up leaving but not before leaving two things behind-
one, your empty coffee cup, and two, your number scribbled on a napkin
I fed your number on my phone as "friendly stranger" as I paid my bill and left the cafe with a smile.
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