She had already been walking for fifteen minutes, and the cafe still wasn't in sight. Another fifteen minutes, maybe?
Bus stop to sideways .. sideways to side street … side street to... now where?
Honestly, if Maya weren't her childhood friend, she would never think about helping her and wouldn't be here roaming around and trying to find Maya's cafe.
Bean & Bloom, it's what it's called.
She adjusted her bag strap again and checked her phone for the eleventh time, making sure she was in the right direction.
This year had been brutal for her. Assignments, viva's, finals- everything piling on until her sleeping schedule was shattered. Allll while surviving on four hours of sleep, moving like a machine
Half an hour had passed since she got off the bus, and she finally spotted the cafe.
The cafe was small, on a quiet street, and standing in front of the cafe, her suitcase-sized tote bag hanging heavily from her shoulder.
All that anyone could see was written Bean & Bloom, written in looping cursive, its warm golden lights glowing against the fading afternoon.
She pushed the door open, soft bells chiming above her head, the place buzzed with chatter, and she scanned around, completely clueless.
The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries, the kind of scent that wrapped around like a soft hug. Golden lights hung above wooden tables, their glow gentle and comforting, as if they knew how to slow down time. A few plants sat on the windowsills, their leaves catching the afternoon light, and bookshelves leaned against the walls, filled with old, mismatched novels waiting to be picked up.
What am I doing here? She thought. I've never been class representative in school, never managed a debate team, and now Maya thinks I can handle.... a cafe?
The place was busy- not overcrowded, but comfortable enough
A pair of students sitting laughing and having fun, unaware of what their lives have ahead. An old man was slowly taking a sip of the hot coffee, which had been served a minute ago. Different stages of life in one place.
Alina froze. For a moment, she felt like a soldier taking charge of an army she never enlisted in.
''Finally, you're here!'' She startled. Maya appeared from behind the counter, hair pulled up, tied in a rubber band, apron still tied around her waist, but her eyes already darting towards the door.
She rushed towards Alina like they were long-lost sisters separated by a war zone. Before Alina could blink or speak or even take off her jacket, she was pulled into a quick hug.
''Oh my god, thank you so much for coming! Maya squeezed her
You're perfectly on time '' she added
Perfectly - means? Alina asked, her voice half-whisper, half panic.
''For me to leave'' she pressed a quick kiss to Alina's cheek and released her way too fast
''Don't panic. Keep an eye on things, smile at people. Make sure he doesn't walk away. In one line, she gave her all the instructions that would be necessary for Alina.
Here! she ripped off her apron without waiting, and shoved it into Alina's arms along with two crumpled sticky notes labeled ''Milk Ratio''+''Don't Burn Scones''
''Wait, I—'' Before Alina could protest
''My worker will help you — you'll be fine - I HAVE TO GO. Just by saying these four words, she went off, darting out the door
The thing that remained was the chiming of the bells in my ears
just like that ….
I froze. Apron in a hand.
''Wait! What's exactly going on?!!!''
She looked around; the weight of responsibility pressed on her. She felt the weight of the apron was more than a 20kg dumbbell.
''She is kidding, right? How am I supposed to run this place? I can't even make a grilled toast for myself, and she wants me to manage this whole cafe??!!''
Earning a few curious glances towards the tables near the counter. Hugging the apron awkwardly against her chest, she took a hesitant step forward, her eyes darting around the cafe as though the missing girl might suddenly return and declare it was all a big prank.k
But no one came.
She quickly took a scan towards the counter. Beside it, a chalkboard listed the ''Special of the day'' in curly handwriting that was definitely written by Maya, for her handwriting is beautiful as her ''Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino – ₹199''
Who even pays that much for spiced milk?
"Excuse me? Can we get two more napkins?"
Alina blinked. A customer waved at her, expecting service. If she didn't realize that she was the manager and should give service, she should have told him to go and take it.
Luckily, she got into her senses and nodded quickly. "Uh, yes! Napkins. Right away." She ducked behind the counter, rummaging clumsily until she spotted a holder full of paper napkins. She almost tripped as she hurried back, placing them on the table with a shaky smile.
"Thank you," the customer said, smiling warmly.
Suddenly, a tall guy leaned over the counter with a doubtful expression. His black T-shirt had the cafe's logo, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Clearly, this was the worker Maya had abandoned her to.
The way he was staring at her, she quickly gulped nervously
Why the hell am I being nervous? I didn't come to give an interview, and who is he? she murmured. I should ask for help from him, since Maya said that He will help me out of this situation. Alina bit her tongue
How would she ask for help from him, like ''hey! Would you help me out of this situation? It's absolutely new for me, like handling a daam cafe alone ??'' No. That would sound insane. He would laugh at me
Alina forced herself to stare at the gleaming silver coffee machine like it was some alien spaceship. Buttons, levers, blinking lights- seriously, who designed this?
''First time seeing one ?'' A voice that came from behind, she turned back
It was him
The worker
He didn't take two seconds to figure out that she was seeing a coffee machine for the first time.
''Uh—yeah,'' Alina muttered, fumbling with the strap of her bag. ''I mean …. no ?I've seen one. In movies, maybe''
He chuckled ''Right. So, you're the Boss's friend, huh? His tone was light, but the way his eyebrows arched told her he wasn't buying it
''Boss??'' she was confused. ''You mean Maya ?''
He nodded.
Yes, she said quickly, actually too quickly.
''Funny, you don't look like Boss's friend''
Alina blinked. ''What? Of course, I am, she forced a smile that didn't even convince him. rself
He learned on the counter, folding his arms, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. ''What kind of friend leaves her entire cafe in the hands of another friend who's seeing a coffee machine for the very first time?''
She got caught, she got caught !!!
Alina fiddled with her bracelet nervously. ''Well, I know how to use a coffee machine''
''H,mm'' he murmured, pulling out a tiny pocket diary and clicking his pen. To Alina's horror, he scribbled something in it with exaggerated seriousness.
NOTE 1: She wears a bracelet on her right hand.
Suspicious choice. Whleavet left? Hiding
something?
Alina gawked. ''Excuse me''?! What are you writing?
''Evidence'' he replied, snapping the diary shut. ''Boss didn't say anything about you. And yet- here you are, clueless about the machine, clueless about something fishy. very fishy''
The way her eyes looked away when he tried to maintain eye contact clearly looked like she was hiding something.
''Okay, fine! Just tell me what button to press''
He leaned in, not helping at all, just observing her like she was a part of an experiment. When she accidentally pressed the wrong knob, hot steam hissed out, making her jump back. He quickly flipped open his diary.y
NOTE: 2 She jumps at the steam. likely never worked
in the cafe before.
Alina groaned, covering her face. "What are you writing?" ''writing about me?''
He tapped his pen against his chin dramatically. "Because people don't just walk into cafés pretending to be staff unless they have something to hide. And ….you'' his eyes sparkled with a knowing grin ''you're hiding a lot."
Alina stiffened, guilt washing over her though she had nothing to be guilty about. She forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "You watch too many detective dramas."
"Or," he shot back, smirking, "I just know how to spot people in love, people lying, and people who don't belong. And you, Miss Mystery," he pointed the pen at her like a mic, "don't belong."
Alina turned away, muttering under her breath, "I definitely don't belong here…"
Meanwhile, he jotted another line in his diary.
Note 3: Avoids eye contact. Hides something big.
Must investigate further.
And just like that, her training turned into an interrogation.
She turned towards the coffee machine, pretending to be interested in the silver coffee machine. The thing looked like it had been designed for scientists, not baristas. A million buttons, one shiny lever, and a nozzle that hissed steam every few seconds like it was mocking her.
''Alright'' she whispered to herself, ''just press something and hope it doesn't explode''
Before she could, a loud voice came from behind.
''Stop. Right. There''
She turned slowly. It was him again—the worker. Lean, sharp-eyed, and already holding that tiny pocket diary like he was born with it. His grin widened. "You don't look like you belong here."
Alina blinked. "Excuse me?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter, eyes scanning her like a detective with a magnifying glass. "You say you're Maya's friend. But do friends walk in looking like they're on a secret mission? Do friends accept jobs without knowing where the napkins are kept? ''
She opened her mouth to protest, but he whipped out his pen and began writing furiously in his diary.
Note 4: Subject avoids direct response.
Suspicious. Could be an undercover agent?
Alina gawked at him. "What is wrong with you?! I'm not an agent, I'm just—" she bit her tongue. No way she was about to spill that she didn't know anything, and Maya dragged her here.
The worker snapped the diary shut with a flourish. "That's exactly what an undercover agent would say."
She groaned and turned back to the machine. "Can you just… make things easy for me?"
He raised a brow. "Oh, so now you want me to make things easy for you? She left the whole cafe to you- because obviously, you're an expert at running cafes and handling everything right?
Alina's heart skipped. He caught that…
Quickly, she faked a cough. ''I'm''
''You are? ''
'' yeah!''
The worker's eyes narrowed, and the pen was back in action.
Note 5: Big fancy talks,
Possible lie. Must verify.
Alina felt heat rush to her face. This man wasn't just annoying; he was dangerous to her peace of mind. "Are you seriously taking notes on me?!"
"Of course," he said proudly. "This is an official investigation. I always know when someone's lying. Always. And you—" he pointed the pen at her "—are lying."
Before she could defend herself, a customer walked in, ordering a cappuccino. Alina panicked. Her coworker smirked, stepping aside. "Go on then, friend. Show me how well you've been trained."
Her hands shook as she pressed a random button. The machine sputtered, coughed, and released a loud hiss of steam that nearly made her jump out of her skin. The customer looked unimpressed.
The worker, however, scribbled another note with dramatic flair.
Note 6: Terrified of the coffee machine. Has never done
this before. Confirmed rookie.
Alina glared at him. "You could at least help!"
"I am helping," he replied cheerfully. "Helping Maya by uncovering the truth about you."
She muttered under her breath, "Truth about me? I don't even know the truth about me right now…"
But he heard it. His eyes gleamed as he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Exactly. That's the problem. You don't know what you're doing here… and neither do I. But I'll find out."
He tapped his diary twice for emphasis, then tucked it into his apron like it was a weapon.
Alina froze. A strange chill crawled down her spine. His words weren't just a joke anymore; he meant it.
And for the first time since stepping into this café, she wondered if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
The worker scribbles one last line before the chapter closes.
Note 7: The Subject does not even know the basic things.
Walking around like she's the boss. Must investigate immediately.
He snapped his diary shut with a sly smile while Alina, completely unaware, dropped the coffee mug and gasped as the hot liquid spread across the counter.