Caffeine and Alcohol

5 - Riley

Riley

As usual, dinner didn't go so well. I mean, what do you expect from her? Nothing that's what.

Let's just hope this returning stranger won't further ruin my night. The moment I saw him sitting in the booth near the window, I know that he's come to talk. I mean, he did look for me earlier, right?

I walked towards Kelly at the counter and smiled at her. Yes, she works here as well, don't ask me if I'm fed up with her face because the answer is yes. Since it's summer vacation, she decided to apply for work at Café Louvre. And since we're friends, she easily got accepted by my brother.

"Why are you looking at the cute boy like that?" she asked the moment I walked towards her.

"He's the guy I met last night, the one I've been telling you about," I said, and she squealed at what I said. She grabbed my arm and basically jumped excitedly.

"Then go to him!" she exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at her excitement. I mean I get why, probably because I never had any experience romantically, and she thinks he may be my source in getting it. The experience.

"Wait, get my bag," I said, handing her my bag. I looked at my face in the front camera of my phone then placed it back in my pocket.

"Gosh, just go already, he's just been there and there's no customer other than him, so go," she said, getting my bag and shooing me towards Dexter.

I walked towards him and gave him a small smile.

"Hi," he greeted. I looked at his eyes and it's been clear that he cried earlier.

"Hi, you're here, again," I said, sitting down at the chair across him.

"Cake?" he offered in which I turned down.

"So, I'm guessing you need someone to talk to again?" I asked, getting straight to the point. He looked at me and smiled at me. It's no wonder, the guy in front of me is more beautiful when he's not drunk.

"I just found myself walking towards here, and decided to why not try the food and drinks when fully sober," he said. I nodded at what he said and decided to let it pass.

"My brother told me you came looking for me earlier," I said, and I saw him blush. Cute.

"Oh about that, my friend wanted to see you earlier, she wants to see the stranger that I talked to last night," he answered to which I nodded. I guess that's a valid point.

"But you're alone."

"Yeah, didn't invite her anymore," he said, smiling at me. Why is he smiling? I decided not to ask.

"So now that you're here, want to talk about something, probably something that's bothering you?" I asked, trying to get through him rather than asking him why he seemed like he cried.

"Nothing much, really just wanted to have my decaf coffee," he said, and I smiled at him preparing to leave him alone.

"Guess you don't need me to keep you company, then," I said, but he held my arm and gave me a small smile.

"No, please stay," he said, and so I obliged. Got nothing better to do anyway.

"So got any story for me?" I asked, looking at him with interest.

"Sadly, I have none, but you, tell me about your day."

"I don't think you'll be interested in my story," I said, remembering what happened today.

"Try me," he said, I sighed and gave up, preparing to tell the story of tonight.

"So a little background, I'm gay," I said, and he doesn't have any reaction.

"Same, so it's cool," he answered, and I smiled at him for that.

"And it's not actually all peaceful being out, especially when you have a mother who doesn't fully accept you," I started, and recalled what happened tonight. "So we had a family dinner earlier, even if I don't want to go, I had to go. And so, nothing good happened, she still thinks it's a phase that I'll wake up from one day."

"Have you told her that it's not a phase but it's who you are?" he asked, taking a total interest in my story.

"I have, the moment she asked if I have a girlfriend, I told her that I'm not interested in girls. She apologized, but still, a part of me thinks she hasn't fully accepted me yet."

"Then you have to wait, some people, especially older ones, have a hard time adjusting to what we are, the prejudice that they have grown up to," he said, I smiled at what he said because it's true.

"I know, that's why we're still trying even if it's been so long already," I said, looking at the window and sighed.

"She's your mother, she'll try hard to understand you, I know that," he assured me. I nodded at his sentiment and smiled at him.

"Thanks for listening, told you it's boring."

"No, it's not, the story is more of a struggle actually, the one you told me," he said, looking straight at my eyes.

"Yes, the struggle is real," I joked around and laughed with him. The moment he stopped laughing, he got this serious façade for a second then it disappeared.

"So uhm, can I have your socials, by the way?" he asked.

"About time," I said, as he handed his phone. I grabbed it and typed my name on f*******:. Riley Fernandez. I added myself and accepted it on my phone

"Thanks, and what do you mean it's about time?" he asked, he took his phone back and placed it on the table.

"You should've asked for my socials the first night," I said, getting straight to the point in which he blushed at.

"Oh," he simply said, nothing else.

"Don't oh me, you really should've done that, so we could've hung out earlier than have you ask my brother about me," I complained, trying to make fun of him as he gets redder.

"So, the guy earlier really was your brother, you both look so alike," he commented, in which I laughed.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," I commented, and he nodded at that.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and saw Kelly behind me.

"Can I have him for a minute? It'll be quick," she said, not at me, but at Dexter. Dexter smiled and nodded. "Thank you!"

Kelly grabbed me and led me towards the counter.

"We're closing the café tonight," she said, and I laughed at her. My brother never closed the café because he wants to welcome lonely souls at midnight even. I stopped laughing and looked at her, she's serious.

"Wait, why?" I asked her, and she smiled at me.

"I texted your brother, told her you need to spend the night with lover boy," she simply said. I rolled my eyes at her but smiled anyway.

"Thanks, I guess?"

"Now, go back to him and go out, the night is still young," she said, shooing me, once again. I left her as she cleans up the counter.

I went towards Dexter with a smile plastered on my face. I saw him finishing his drink and I sat across him again.

"Finish your food and drink."

"Why?"

"Let's go out?" I asked him, hoping he'll accept the invitation. He looked at me, surprised, but nodded anyway. I can feel myself smiling even bigger than before. This is going to be a long night.