What is the world, but a mess of chaos and possibilities?

What are people, but attempts at happiness?

What is this country, but an amalgamation of the best and worst of people - and even then, that’s questionable?

I can’t help but chuckle.

These thoughts make me sound like a jerk, don’t they?

I am sitting outside outside the Omega Bakery on a summer-like day in Kuala Lumpur. The heat is unrelenting, the wind is scarce, and beads of sweat trail down my back. It is before noon, and relatively quiet for a weekday. All is the norm.

And then, these thoughts are swiftly interrupted when I spot… him.

“...H-Hello.” he smiles shyly at me; a blushing and stuttering mess. He’s standing awkwardly; like his lanky limbs would give out at any moment.

I offer a nod in response.

The boy clutches a tray to his chest, with pale and slender fingers peeking out from dark sleeves. Despite his wry expression, his eyes look straight at mine. His gaze does not waver.

And his eyes, they are red - like blood.

Through his smile, I can see his pearly white teeth - they almost seem to match his pale skin tone, that should be burning as red as his eyes in the Malaysian heat.

His hand pushes a lock of dark blue hair out of his face - with that move, I notice the beauty mark under his eye.

“Miss…” he sucks in the air through his teeth, and licks his lips.

He takes a deep breath and blinks hard, as if gathering all confidence, all composure;

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. These… T-These tables are for paying customers only, and you haven’t purchased anything…”

Huh.

Well then.

“No problem.” I start to rise to my feet, no questions asked. However,

“... wait. I-I mean, that’s what my sister… wanted me to say.”

“...pardon?”

“My sister, she’s inside...” he motions to the angry-looking cashier inside the store. “And she said you’re taking up… space.”

I look around. “I am literally your only customer.”

“... you’d have to have bought something to be, uh… a customer.”

“... Point taken.” I sigh. “Well… maybe I was waiting for someone to take my order.”

The boy points to a nearby sign,

‘SELF-SERVICE
PLEASE ORDER @ THE COUNTER’

“How long has that been there?”

And the boy chuckles, “Longer than you’d like to think, miss.”

His eyes widen and sparkle with something, but only slightly.

He slides the tray behind his back, and smiles wider. “Look, why don’t I get you something on the house? I’d love to give you a reason to stay.”

“Why do you want me to stay so badly?”

“You haven’t given me a reason to want you to leave.”

My nose wrinkles. Where did all that nervousness go?

Suspicious…

The boy’s smile continues to grow. “Just wait a moment, yeah? I’ll be right back.” And he is gone before I can say anything else.