Meet Me In Autumn

4: "This Is Where We Met, As Simple As That"

“Oii, Katarina Shin! Katarina Shin! Katarina Shin!” a familiar figure broke into the café. The chimes rung, and the sliding door slid carelessly, a small frame stepping in with a deadly glare subjected to the girl who is still on her shift, currently in front of a table and taking a customer's order with a corporate expression, “Katarina Shin! What is this?”

“You're too loud, Yuna, stop bringing any inconvenience. If anyone should know what to not do, it should be an employee like you,” Katarina sounded displeased. She closed the small notepad in her hand, putting her pen inside the pocket of her jeans with a timid frown. Yuna grabbed her on the wrist, then pulled her towards the back of the counter.

“Why are you here an hour before your shift?” she asked again, wondering because for the very first time, Yuna appeared in the café not because of the job but some random stuffs she hasn't learned yet. The latter girl looks deranged, though, both her eyes are off like she was high in caffeine and couldn't calm down. “Hey, will you settle, please? I can't still my gaze, you're so hyper.”

“Wait up, Yuna–” she pushed Yuna's hand away, then shouted, “JEAN, CAN YOU DO THIS ORDER FOR ME, PLEASE?” calling for the attention of her co-worker on the same shift, so he would take care of the order while Yuna keeps on shaking her arms. Luckily, the café doesn't hold too many customers during this time, and they mostly appear during lunch when Katarina starts her shift, and before dinner when her shift ends.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry, I've been curious about this since last night,” Yuna pursed her lips, inhaling deeply then blew her breath out, slowly. “Just… oh my god. I'm so sorry, but what is this? WHAT IS THIS?” her panicking state came crashing back instantly, and Katarina could only massage her temples to ease the stress that is slowly rushing up her head.

“And, yeah, what the hell was that?”

Yuna looked at Katarina, confused at how the latter didn't recognize herself, then looked back to her phone in front of the girl's face only to realize that it was locked, showing a dark screen and Katarina wouldn't see what she was talking about. “Oh, sorry, hehe…” she smiled apologetically, clicking on her phone, swiping until her destination before bring it back to face Kat, “just you and your obvious back view, wearing your famous sweater, and walking with a random girl while you hold hands.”

Katarina lowered down her gaze at Yuna's phone to get a better view through the phone currently on its minimum brightness like Yuna never want any other person to peek while she uses it. It didn't take her too long to realize that the woman in the picture is indeed her, and with a girl — Sharon. It was taken just yesterday while she wears a black sweater top right after her shift, and she wonders how Yuna was able to take that photo, or where did she get it even.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“Are you jealous?” Katarina backfired.

“Yeah, kind of? So, who's that?”

Katarina scratched her head, hesitating if she would tell Yuna about the girl again and receive a yell for the nth time because she hasn't introduced her to Sharon yet despite repeatedly saying she will, or not. She still did anyway, “Yuna, that's Sharon, the one I've been telling you about.”

“She's much taller than you.”

“You've been aware,” Katarina rolled her eyes, sensing the teasing tone from Yuna's sentence. She's been known that she wasn't blessed when it comes to height, and Yuna has always used that to piss her. A sigh of defeat. She shifted their topic as soon as she thought of her stolen shot once more, “What a shame the one who took that wasn't able to capture her face. Her back alone is already pretty, but she's the prettiest if you see what's in front.” she spoke, eyes mesmerized and twinkling, and when she looked down once more, her surrounding sparkled with floating flowers and curving rainbows. “Where… did you get this picture?”

She looked like an i***t, and Yuna didn't try to hide her bitterness in the sight of her bestfriend almost drooling for a girl, Sharon specifically, who is the absolute prettiest among all the other individuals she has ever seen — according to Katarina. “You've been bragging about that girl Sharon for years now, yet, you never let me meet her. Am I really your friend?” and there! It went from teasing Kat to noticing how she hasn't brought Sharon to the café, so they would meet and share a small talk to get to know the basics of each other. Katarina at least expected that reaction, and she's glad that she wasn't wrong at predicting how Yuna would always respond.

“I haven't mentioned it to her, yet, and maybe I'll tell her later if it crosses my mind?” she replied, orbs still darted upon Yuna's phone, and if only she can consume the solid object through staring too hard, the gadget must already be being digested. Yuna stomped her feet on the ground, her face looking nothing but scrunched and not pleased. “Yuna, stop sulking, you look ugly.”

“You must be so focused to her and only her when you are together that you never thought of telling her about your bestfriend.”

Katarina frowned, unable to ask her to stop, and she knows that Yuna wouldn't stop anytime soon as long as she doesn't hear a promise that next time, Katarina would make sure to bring Sharon with her. It goes like that every time, Yuna would sulk, she would make a promise she will never remember again, then back to Yuna sulking over the same thing and her promising once more, it was a never-ending cycle.

“I'm sorry, okay? Now, where did you get that photo?” she let go of Yuna's phone and handed it to its owner against her own will, absolutely wanting to stare at it for a longer time if only her time and Yuna's patience wouldn't forbid. She briefly took a mental note to ask the latter to send the picture to her email later on, so she could print a copy and maybe have it beside her bed for good luck when she sleeps, so she would have nice slumbers and great dreams, she supposes.

“Got that from manager Sally yesterday. Said she took it on her way here after curiosity struck when she saw you with someone.”

“That's an invasion of privacy, where is she?”

“Still nowhere to be found, as usual,” they shared a giggle at Yuna's statement. That branch manager, being someone closely related to the café's owner, developed a hobby of only attending her work whenever she wants to. They couldn't touch her, though, because she got connections, and she also became a good friend throughout all these years that they are working under her supervision.

It didn't take Katarina more minutes before shooing Yuna away and pushing her into an empty table when a customer chimed in, calling for attention, so her order would be made. “Do what you will in the left hour, just don't be too much of a bother and stop yelling,” she whispered before leaving Yuna alone and attending to the new customer.

The time escalated too quickly, and before Katarina realized it, Yuna — already dressed in her complete uniform and ready to take over, — was already pushing her off the counter.

“You always shoo me away when I can literally stay with you for a while. Want to keep your employee of the month position so bad?”

“Yes, exactly. Now, go and meet your girl. This time, don't you dare forget to tell her about me.”

“Shut up, she ain't my girl. We're… friends.”

“Sure, friends. Whatever you say, Katarina Shin,” Yuna rolled her eyes, although she was certain that Katarina wouldn't see it, “but… is she really cute?”

“She's gorgeous. Wait till I introduce her to you someday.”

“Why not now?”

“You have to work, and I have to go,” she stuck her tongue out and proceeded to pack her things, taking off her apron and grabbing the sweater hanging inside her locker to change clothes before leaving. “Bye, Yuna.”

“Bye– ah, her again.”

“Who?”

“That stubborn customer,” Katarina wasn't so sure, but she thinks she saw a glint of excitement in Yuna's eyes, though she looked more displeased to see the girl who made a huge commotion days ago when her order hasn't been attended instantly. Yuna clicked her tongue and grabbed a notepad from under the counter, and without looking back at Katarina, she waved her goodbye and said, “take care, Kat!”

Katarina just gave the girl a nod. She put her small backpack on, then proceeded to walk away from the café. Thereafter, she beamed a smile upon seeing a sight of a familiar figure, back facing her and impatiently tapping a foot on the ground. Katarina was quick to run towards the girl with excitement scrapped on her face, she shouted, “Hey, Sha!”

“Hello!” her previously bored expression turned bright, and she intertwined their arms almost immediately when she got to hold on to Katarina. The latter didn't protest, though, she is used to it, used to the girl being so clingy and close.

“Sorry, I came out sort of late. Yuna kept on asking me to introduce you to her.”

“Nah, it's fine, I just got here, too. No biggie,” Sharon assured the girl with a light slap on the shoulder, so she would stop apologizing, “Yuna, I've seen her a few times when I visited the café during her shift last winter, although she wasn't aware that I am Sharon. She seems nice, though. You've got good friends.”

“Yes, she really is great. She's just… odd some other times,” Katarina giggled, remembering some moments where Yuna would randomly make a face, or pose weirdly in front of many customers, or those times she would dance with unstable steps and would sing like tomorrow doesn't exist. It always drives Katarina purple and almost losing her breath, but she never complained. Yuna is very fun to be with, and it'll break no arguments. Whoever says otherwise would receive a sentence, and Katarina would make sure they would suffer.

“Uh… how's your day?”

“Fine, just… somehow drained,” Sharon sighed deeply then buried her face on Katarina's shoulder. She sniffed at the latter's perfume, strawberry, it was unexplainable enough to her contentment. Katarina's scent… it never changed.

“You have to rest every so often. It's not wrong to have idle times, Sha, stop draining all your energy in one go.”

“Yeah, I guess I need some eventual refreshments…” her response made Katarina smile. She hates seeing Sharon looking lifeless, and she knew it will become worse if she doesn't take rests in between times that becomes more draining in a day-to-day basis.

“I'm hungry,” Sharon pouted, looking around to see a nearby stall.

“Let's eat!”

“Ramen?”

“Ramen, it is,” Katarina agreed enthusiastically.

When they finally spotted the nearby ramen stall with only a few customers currently, they jogged their way like excited kids craving for treats. Katarina guided Sharon into a table, then shouted, so someone would attend to their table to get their orders.

A girl about their age walked through, smiling softly and still holding a tray after her business with the table just beside Katarina and Sharon's.

“Two bowls of regular ramen, please?”

“Coming!”

“Aren't you getting bored with this street? I mean–” Sharon asked out of the blue.

Katarina then blinks a lot of times, and she recalls one of their conversations days ago...

••••••••••••••••••••••

“Aren't you getting bored with this street? I mean… we can go to some new places, I'll provide the fare.”

“No,” Sharon answered swiftly, while she wraps her arm around Katarina's waist, pulling the girl close.

The motion alone was enough to send chills all over Katarina's body from the spot Sharon has touched her, and it has sent butterflies inside her stomach, no, it has sent a whole massive zoo.

“Why, though?” Kat asked again, despite feeling an unfamiliar confusion lingering inside her system.

“Because this is where we met, as simple as that.”

“Does that even matter?”

“That matters the most. Look, if I didn't meet you two years ago when I was on my worst, what do you think am I doing every autumn of the past two years?”

“Probably playing online games? In front of your computer? Or perhaps building Legos? Dancing ballet?”

“Yeah…” Sharon answered and smiled at the thought that Katarina can recollect some of the things she likes, and some facts she shared to her one year ago. And that simple thing made Sharon flustered.

“And so what? Last year, you told me you loved doing such? Correct me if I'm wrong–”

“Yeah, but I happened to like being with you more than I love doing those.” Sharon meddled the former's sentence. Stating in a matter of fact tone that Kat couldn't even object,”If I didn't meet you, maybe until now I'm still at my worst, trying to find someone who'll make me feel like you do. But if that someone would not be you, I don't know anymore.”

“Crazy,” Katarina shook her head. “What have I done, though? How did I make you feel? Can't you feel those with any other person?”

They both met at their worst. They became each other's helping hand and lending shoulders through one of their greatest downfall. They became each other's healing temple where underlying thoughts vanish, maybe not in an instance but slowly and surely. Their presence alone makes each other feel secured and safe. Being together, they feel stronger and braver.

Even if they only meet in autumn, that became more than enough to feel alive for the rest of the year when they barely meet. They feel like they still see and have each other even without meeting. Their trust for each other is much and enough so even if they don't text nor talk during summer, winter and spring, or barely does, they trust each other to meet in autumn without hesitation and without getting anxious that one of them might not show up.

They were mere strangers, yet with a strong connection. They were mere strangers, yet they only have each other for the mean time.

“You make me feel all sorts of emotions for only God know's how, Kat, mostly positive emotions. We are strangers, yes… but with a link. I only know your name, you have a part-time job that ends at four, and you like doodling and drawing,” Sharon replied, smiling, “You only know my name, some things I like, my hobbies, and what happened that one night in autumn when we first met.”

She then looked at Katarina's wondering eyes, her eyes that behold a tiny galaxy from within, with glimmering stars twinkling nonchalantly to light up Sharon's dark world, “That is all, yet you seem so close… close enough to make me feel weirded and creeped out.”

“Wow… that was the longest speech you've spitted since two years ago. God knows you're a woman of few words, Sha.”

“Damn you, I'm being serious here.” Sharon frowned and crossed her arms, pretending to be mad, only to look madly gorgeous as she always does.

“But what the hell? Seriously? Creeped out? Weirded?”

“Yeah. But not in the way you might interpret it. It just feels weird to have a person understand me in the way I wanted to be understood as if she knew me completely, as if she already knew my weird fetishes, things that make me happy, words that comfort me, as well as my personality and my whole being… I mean, I'm new to it. Our sudden connection… is also scaring the hell out of me.”

“We're getting too attached to the point that I'm being that person?”

“No, you're not being that person. You are already that person.”

I want to make every moment memorable before the leaves that had turned red disappear… I want to know you more, as much as I want you to know me more…

••••••••••••••••••••••

“Reckoning my question days ago, don't you?”

“Gah, yeah…” Sharon giggled, “so… aren't you getting bored?”

“Why would I?”

“No, why wouldn't you?”

“I will never get bored with this, of you… because this is where we met,” Katarina smiled and gave Sharon's hand a light squeeze, “as simple as that.”