by Anna Mao

‘Mao Café’ in golden script printed across elegantly on a purple café sign cladded with garlands of curly ivy. The medium-sized brick-walled café had a large window to the outside world. A long-haired calico cat, with a furry coat as bright as autumn, perched on top of a round table as she watched Marina and Reese suspiciously approach the door. The moment Reese’s hand went to the doorknob, the feline darted off like lightning.

A cat? Marina tilted her head curiously at the disappearance of the skittish feline.

“You first, milady,” Reese began in a tacky accent as she held the door out to Marina like a gentlewoman.

Marina turned to meet Reese’s gaze. She covered her mouth with a giggle and entered the café first.

“Meow!” A loud friendly meow greeted Marina by her laced brown boots.

Teal green eyes looked down to meet a pair of golden round eyes that belonged to a plump black tuxedo cat wearing a collar with a red bowtie.

Huh? Another cat? Marina stared at the black tuxedo cat with confusion that was pleading for her attention. She scanned the wide café, noticing the calico cat from the window disappearing into a large purple tent in the corner of the room. The café had chairs and tables like any ordinary café only except they were surrounded by many cats lounging around cat towers and beds with cat toys scattered on the smooth wooden floor. Golden framed cat paintings and photos hung on nearly all the wall space.

A grin grew on Reese’s face as she watched Marina’s confused expression. “Is this your first time at a cat café?” Reese asked.

A wide smile spread across Marina’s face as realization came over her. “Wow, I never knew a cat café would look like this! I’ve always wanted to go to one, but Abbi never liked cats so…”

A lump formed in Marina’s throat.

Abbi. I shouldn’t be thinking about her right now.  Her voice trailed off as her ex-girlfriend lingered in her thoughts, finishing her sentence.

She never liked cats, so she never took me...

Reese shifted uncomfortably. Her amber eyes looked away from Marina as she felt troubled on how to respond. She usually knew the right words to say to console those during breakups. Afterall, that was what she literally did during her high school years. She was always the pillow her female friends came to as they cried about their exes.

This time Reese could not find the right words to comfort Marina.What should I say? She wondered frantically.

Hurry up and say something. Anything to make her smile again…

“Meow!”

Marina and Reese glanced down at the black tuxedo cat pawing at Marina’s shoelaces.

A smile broke Marina’s grim frown. Giggling, Marina bent down to pet the needy cat’s forehead.

Reese sighed with relief for the cat saving the day.

“Pepper!” a soft feminine voice chided. “Learn to be a gentleman! You get enough attention every day from your guests.”

A young blond woman around her early twenties appeared at the counter. Her cerulean blue eyes complimented her soft pale complexion as her curly golden locks of hair fell past her shoulders. A cat-shaped white apron tied around her green dress. She greeted Marina and Reese with a bow.

“Good morning, Reese,” the blonde began, gazing curiously at Marina. “I see you brought someone with you. Is she your girlfriend?”

Girl—girlfriend? The question both crossed the minds of Reese and Marina simultaneously as deep blushes covered their cheeks.

“N—no,” Reese sputtered, feeling her cheeks grow hotter as she heard her own voice out loud.

“She’s just a friend,” the short-haired woman continued, waving her hand off to further assure the blonde. “It’s Marina’s first time at a cat café.”

Marina wanted to disappear in a corner to hide her face. It was a commonly asked question whenever she was with an attractive woman, but it sounded more embarrassing hearing it from the blonde. Maybe it felt more awkward since she was now living with Reese.

The blue-eyed woman chuckled. “My, my, I’m sorry for the confusion. It’s just that I never see Reese bring anyone to the café. I just assumed a beautiful girl like you was with her finally.”

Beautiful? Marina flushed at her compliment.

“Hey, what do you mean by finally?” Reese retorted accusingly, jabbing a finger at the blonde’s apron.

The blonde laughed, brushing Reese’s finger aside. “You know, I was just worrying about you. I was almost proud of you for finally having a girlfr—“

Reese glowered covering Lacie’s mouth. “Marina doesn’t need to hear this,” she muttered bitterly.

Marina could not cover her laugh. "You two must be good friends."

Lacie smiled. "Reese comes here all the time. We’re very good friends."

"Unfortunately," Reese remarked, rolling her eyes.

"I’m Lacie," the blonde began, giving a light formal bow. “What’s your name?”

“My—I’m Marina. Marina Hai," Marina replied quickly, lowering her voice with embarrassment. She always had the habit of saying her full name which made her feel self-conscious about sounding stupid.

“It’s nice to meet you, Marina. I hope you’re not allergic to cats.”

“I think I’ll be fine...”

Lacie glanced at the laptop and looked up at Reese. "Half an hour like the usual?”

Reese nodded, moving her hand to her jeans pocket.

Lacie typed their reservation.

Marina’s eyes wandered to the laminated sign on the counter.

‘$5 per person for 30 minutes.’

“Reese,” Marina began, fetching her own wallet from her handbag, “I can pay for mine.”

Reese waved off her hand, shaking her head. “No, it’s all on me. Maybe next time you can treat me.” She smirked at Marina as she handed Lacie the money.

Guilt stung Marina as she watched Lacie take Reese’s money. Reese was already giving her a job and a place to stay. Now she was paying for their reservation. Marina could not help but feel guilty for burdening the taller woman.

Lacie led them to a table for two by the window. The café was empty, and they were probably their first customers.

Marina took a seat. “Do you like cats a lot?” she asked curiously.

Reese had a cat once and her business is even inspired by cats.

“Yep, I really do,” the dark red-haired woman replied. “I fell in love with this café when it first opened six years ago. I adopted that cat here—the one who didn’t like me.”

“Oh,” Marina replied as a small frown formed on her lips. “I'm sorry.”

Reese shook her head. "Nah, it wasn't much of a deal. I was sad for a few days, but she soon found a happy home."

"More like you sobbed for a week," Lacie remarked dryly placing the menus on the table. Her cerulean blue eyes sparkled with amusement. "Marina, she was literally heartbroken."

Reese flashed Lacie a glare, her cheeks burning bright red. "Lacie! Isn’t that too much of an exaggeration?"

A sweet smile coated Lacie’s soft pink lips. "I just enjoy teasing you too much, Reese. Isn’t she cute, Marina?"

Cute? “Umm…” The words barely made it out of Marina’s lips which were now trembling with embarrassment. She did not know Reese well, but she was surprised how Lacie’s teasing could dissolve the taller woman’s calm poised nature. Witnessing a flustered Reese about to lose her nerves was something new to Marina.

The more Marina thought about it, Reese was cute. She was a handsome kind sympathetic young woman who understood her situation. Marina fidgeted more uncomfortably as if she was disrespecting her. Afterall, Reese was providing her shelter, food, and a job.

It almost felt like a heinous crime to acknowledge this new woman in her life as someone ‘cute’. Marina pushed the thoughts aside.

Lacie frowned. “Seems like I left everyone in a chaotic disposition,” she mused, glancing at Marina apologetically who was staring past her untouched menu. “I hope I didn’t making you feel uncomfortable. You’ll get used to me the more you come here.”

Marina forced herself to smile and shook her head.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Marina replied firmly to reassure the blonde. Her teal green eyes bravely glanced at Reese who was sulking angrily reading the menu.

Right when Lacie was about to poke Reese’s cheek, a strong tan hand deflected her finger.

“I’ll get the curry puffs and kitty latte, waitress,” Reese began coldly, recollecting her voice. Her cheeks were regaining back their color.

Lacie tilted her head curiously. “You’re not getting the fortune kibbles again?”

It felt like a dreadful secret was slowly being revealed the more words came out of Lacie’s mouth. “N—no,” Reese stuttered, trying to keep her nonchalant composure.

“Fortune kibbles...?” Marina asked with confusion.

The blue-eyed woman pointed her pen at an invisible object in the air. “Fortune-telling with dry cat food,” Lacie explained. “It’s basically like tea leaf reading but with cat kibbles. Your fortune will be told by our psychic cat, and I’ll interpret your results in human tongue.”

The strange divination technique could not hide the fascination in Marina’s teal green eyes.

“In other words,” Reese began, clearing her throat, “Lacie will interpret the shape of the kibbles left by the cat after she finishes eating from the bowl.”

“It’s been a long time since I got my fortune read,” Marina murmured. “I’ll try it.” It sounds like it’ll be fun.

Lacie nodded approvingly as she wrote down Marina’s order. “Would you like anything to eat or drink?”

Reese watched Marina grow perplexed as she glanced at the menu.

“Is something wrong?” Reese asked with concern.

Marina clutched the menu tightly as horror washed over her.

Oh no! There’s nothing I can eat! “Umm...” Marina placed the menu down, lowering her head apologetically in shame.

“I’m sorry, Reese!” Marina blurted loudly. “I forgot I had a milk and egg allergy! I should’ve told you, but I—“

Reese widened her eyes, startled by Marina’s panicking over the menu. A smile crept into Reese’s lips, accompanied with a laugh as she interrupted her. “It’s all right, Marina. I know just the thing to get you.”

Huh? Marina stared at Reese with confusion.

“Can we get the special donut for Marina?” Reese winked at Lacie.

“Special donut?” Marina glanced curiously at Reese and Lacie while they exchanged glances with each other like they were sharing a deep secret.

Lacie grinned as she jotted down her notepad. “What about a drink, Marina?”

“Water will be fine,” the aqua-haired woman answered automatically. Water was free after all, and it would lessen their bill. Marina always put an importance on saving money when going out to eat.

“All righty, I’ll be back in ten minutes!” Lacie exclaimed, writing down her last notes. “The psychic cat will be waiting for you after you’re done eating. Just be mindful of your thirty minutes.”

Marina nodded understandingly as Lacie departed to the kitchen.