Love Beyond Bounderies

The Accidental Encounter

It was a snowy Monday morning as Ethan walked into the coffee shop, where he had been drinking his coffee for the past year. This had always been his usual routine.

Ethan ordered his coffee before taking his seat while he was glued to his phone, waiting for his coffee to be ready.

Ava, who was preparing the coffee, had just finished. As she walked up to his table with the cup of steaming coffee, she accidentally hit the table, and the coffee spilled on Ethan's shirt.

"s**t, s**t, omg, what the f**k is your problem?” He asked angrily.

“I- I'm so sorry, sir; it was an accident.” She was stammering and shivering at the same time.

“An accident? That's what happens when you're so clumsy and careless. Ethan scowled.

“I said I was sorry; please forgive me,” she said, crying.

“You're sorry? That coffee was f*****g hot, and my shirt is stained thanks to your clumsiness.” He snapped, trying to clean the stain with his handkerchief.”

“I'm sorry, sir,” she said with her face down.

Ava removed a napkin from her apron, offering it to Ethan so he could clean the stain, but he suddenly snatched it from her. Ava started to cry again, feeling humiliated.

Ethan's expression softened when he saw her crying. “Get me another coffee, and this time, make sure you pour it right.” He said it sternly.

“Y- yes sir, of course, I'm so sorry,” she said softly with tears in her eyes.

As she prepared another coffee, Ethan couldn't help but notice how kind and apologetic she was; even when he was so harsh to her, she did not mind his rudeness. But he pushed the thought aside as she handed him a new cup of coffee.

As she turned to leave, Ethan could not help but call her back because he felt a pang of guilt.

“Hey, my name is Ethan, and I'm so sorry for being so harsh on you earlier.”

"It's ok, sir. My name is Ava,” she said, fidgeting with her fingers.

Ava was surprised that Ethan had apologized. She couldn't believe it.

“I'm so sorry; ok, I'm not a bad guy.”

Ava smiled weakly and said, "It's ok, really, I understand.”

Ethan hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can I have your number, please?? I would love to make it up to you.

Ava was reluctant and looked surprised at the same time, but she nodded her head positively, and they exchanged numbers. As Ethan left the coffee shop, he couldn't help but wonder why he was so harsh on Ava. He felt so guilty, but he still had hope that he would make things right.

Celine, one of Ava's colleagues, was watching all the drama that had happened from afar. She has always been so jealous of Ava.

"Well, well, it looks like someone got herself a new sugar daddy,” she said, her voice mean.

“What do you mean by that?” Ava asked softly.

"Oh, please stop pretending; you are fond of jumping on every rich guy you see, you gold digger,” she said, sneering at Ava.

Ava couldn't say anything, as she was dumbfounded. Soledad, who had been listening to what Celine had been saying, chipped into the conversation.

“Hey hey!! You b***h, she was just doing her job; it is not her fault that he was talking to her and not you, and it's because you're ugly,” she said, her voice mean.

“Of course, your mama came to rescue you,” Celine said angrily.

“And even if he likes Ava, which we ain't sure of, it's none of your business; you're fond of judging others, but I think you should focus on your life instead,” Soledad said rudely with her hands on her waist.

Those words hurt Celine. “You two deserve each other bitches.” She angrily said that and left their presence in the kitchen.

“Haahahahhahaha, the witch has finally left,” Soledad said, laughing with her hands up. Ava couldn't help but laugh.

“You're such a crazy girl,” Ava said, still laughing.

"Yeah, I know I'm crazy.”

Soledad was now facing Ava. “That wasn't just about the coffee, was it?” She said, raising her eyebrow.

“It's about the coffee, of course; I don't know what you're trying to insinuate,” Ava said blushing.

“I think he likes you, Ava,” Soledad said excitedly.

Ava blushed, feeling an unexplainable happiness. "Soledad, stop it,” she said, laughing.

“Ava! Did you see the way he was staring at you? He can't keep his eyes off you. I think you're already driving him crazy.”

Ava was not blushing. “Shut up, Soledad; stop imagining things; he was just being friendly.”

“Friendly? That is not how I describe it; he was devouring you with his eyes.”

“Stop it; you're making me blush.”

“Yeah, that's why I'm here to make you blush and see the truth, so you can know your worth.”

Ava was now giggling. I'm just saying, Ava, it looks like he already has feelings for you; you deserve someone better, you know.”

“I don't know Soledad, we exchanged contacts.”

"Jeez, really, I love the way this thing is going,” she said, dancing, making Ava blush.

“But I don't think I'm ready for any relationship." she said with a hint of sadness in her eyes, remembering what happened between her and her ex but immediately waving off the thought.

“When the right one comes, you will feel it,” Soledad said with a concerned expression.

Ava nodded, thanking God that she had Soledad because she could always count on Soledad any day, anytime.

As the day went by, Ava kept thinking about the way Ethan was looking at her as she blushed. She wondered if she would see him again and what might happen afterward.

A few minutes later, Ava's phone buzzed. She saw a text from Ethan: “Hi Ava, I couldn't stop thinking about the way I behaved toward you today. I want to take you out for dinner this Saturday to make up for what I did. Can I please?”

She was blushing while reading the message. She felt butterflies, and her heart was racing. Ava read the message over and over, asking herself what to do—should she go out with him or not?