The Unexpected First Sight

The Unexpected First Sight

Alli grins and beams with excitement as she pushes open the door to the coffee shop. Today is another day of a peaceful lunch! She exclaimed in her heart (placed both hands on her chest, closed her eyes as if in prayer.)

She found this coffee shop named Deary Cafe yesterday. Just one block away from her office building.

She can't dare eat in the office canteen anymore after what Jean pulled off a week ago.

Well, finally, she found this place.

Achievement unlocked! If you can't fight it, better fly from it. This is what a nerdy, ugly duckling like me can do.

1 WEEK AGO

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Alli lined up to buy her food like everybody. When she received her order, she stood on the far side to avoid bumping with people while eyeing an empty table.

It took her a minute before finding one. She adjusted her thick glasses, then walked down to it when she tumbled on something.

It hurts.. aw.. she cried.

She minced because of the pain she felt in both her hands and jaw when she realized she tripped and fell flat-faced on the floor.

Everything on the tray is spilled everywhere. It was a mess.

She slowly got up, tried to make sense of her surroundings. She tried so hard to stop herself from sobbing when she found no one offered a helping hand. She sat up, slowly gathered the spilled food.

Just then she heard chuckles on her back.

"Good for you, girl. Ha ha ha"

A soft tap on the shoulder brought her back to reality.

"Miss, it's your turn." A hand is pointed to the counter.

"Um. Oh. Yeah. Thank you." She slightly bowed then stepped forward to order.

She's awkward, so she'd never try to look at someone eye-to-eye. Her computer is the only thing she can look straight at without even blinking.

But with people, she just can't. That may be why they find her annoying. T.T

DEARY CAFE - MATT

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"Hey Rae, what time will you be here? I'm lining up to order, what do you want to eat?" he casually asked his best friend.

"Everything that's delish, I'm starving." her vague response, as always.

"I'll be there in 10 minutes. Do you think the food will be ready by then?"

"I'll order something you can eat when you arrive, and some more for the rest of the time." "Hmm, I guess the meeting went well?" he cautiously commented.

"Nah, don't even ask. My blood is still boiling." she angrily retorted.

"Wooops! Don't anger a hungry lionness. Ha Ha! I'm not the enemy, 'kay? Let's talk about it later, take care." Btw, call Dirk for me. Bye."

He ended the call quickly. He doesn't really want to talk to Andrea when she's in the worst mood. Food first.

He noticed that the woman at the counter tried to get the attention of the person in front of him but it seemed the person didn't hear.

He gently tapped her shoulder to get her attention. She thanked him and moved on.

While waiting for his turn, he checked his mask and cap, anxious that someone might notice him.

I also want a normal day, he sighed internally.

When the girl was done, he proceeded to order. Found a good spot where it's not easily seen from the main entrance. He loves shops where there are places for him to breathe, be with his friends without fans flocking over him.

It's Dirk and Andrea's perennial complaint.

I have chosen this path. I love my craft and the fandom. But sometimes, I also just want to be the normal guy next door without overly excited fans shoving their faces at me.

Dirk, Andrea and the indifference of my family, somehow, are what's giving me that kind of normalcy.

FIRST SIGHT

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Yummmmmmmmy!!!

For almost a week now, she's been eating the same food from this cafe. It's one of her quirks, she won't stop eating, watching, doing something until she has too much of it. This food is no different.

She's watched Demon Slayer season 1 ten times. It's an excellent anime series. She wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't lost her Netflix access. She watched the whole series of Black Clover three times, twice for Naruto, 3 times for Haikyuu and twice for Koruko's Basketball. She ordered the same marshmallow pizza eight times within the month until she got sick of it.

Yes, you are right, no plans to order in the near future.

The bottom line is, she won't stop until she's ready to move on. The nerdy stuff.

That's maybe why. . . it took her ten years of intense admiration, intense i********: stalking and messaging, intense unrequited love before it made her realize that it was time to move on.

Why am I thinking about him agaaaaaaain? huhu

Eat, let's eat!!

Alli has a ten-year-long crush in the showbiz industry. He's the country's most famous heartthrob. He is loved by everybody, not just the Gen Z, but even by those in the Boomers generation. He is a very handsome, rich and kind man. He's generous, sweet and animated. He is fit and in his prime at thirty-six. And for seven years now, the CEO of his own film company while also producing and shooting films.

He is the epitome of success.

And I am the total opposite. From his life's perspective, mine is a 180-degree turn.

Ugh. Hush now. . . enough Alli, enough.

She leaned on the table, trying to force out the thoughts of Matt in her head.

Then she heard giggles, voices. A familiar voice.

She followed the voices and was led to a different path. At the end of it is a slightly open door leading to the back area of the shop.

"Hey, it's Dirk's fault. He was so drunk he groped your butt! Hahaha!!"

"No way I did that!"

"Yes you did, you did. Did you think my butt were a pair of boobs?! Dude, you were groping it like you--"

He is looking at me!! Dear Lord, what am I going to say?!

"O-oh, I...I-I'm s-sorry." "I d-didn't mean t-to listen t-to y-you." She stuttered, forcing her brain to come up with a better excuse, but nothing came out in front of him.

T-that's Matt!!!