Compositions of Us

08 · The Tears of the Nurse

"Yeah, so far so good." 

"Glad to hear," Kenneth contently replied. "Let me guess? You look like you're in the mood for a green tea latte!" 

Releasing a bashful laugh, I nodded at his expanded knowledge. Kenneth quickly rang me up and handed me the change and receipt. Thanking him, I gave Kenneth another smile until he stopped me. 

There was a cryptic expression on Kenneth's face. "Got your eyes on the new guy, huh?" 

In disbelief with what I heard, my lips only parted. Not daring to ask again, I shook my head as an immediate answer.  

Kenneth chuckled before he nodded, letting the topic drop. A little flustered being put on the spot like that, I didn't hesitate to head back to my spot. 

While I waited for my order, I promptly pulled my textbook out of my backpack to start my dreaded physics homework. Because I forgot to do my homework last time, Mr. Brenner allowed students to make up three late assignments. Looking over the chapter and then the problems, I already knew this was going to be a long night for me.  

Grabbing my pencil from the pouch of my bag, I nearly jolted from surprise when I heard someone say from behind. 

"Nurse Sandpaper, here's your green tea latte." 

Looking over my shoulder, Joshua was standing before me with my order in his hand. A mischievous grin occupied his face because of my reaction.  

Fully shifting to face him, my eyes dropped into thin slits. "Nurse Sandpaper?" 

"You like it?" Joshua placed the mug down a fair distance from my school work and claimed proudly, "I came up with the name while I was making your order." 

Feeling the flush of red on my cheeks, I huffed, "No, it's horrible!" 

"No, it's because your hands were as rough as sandpaper that one time. I hope you started using something called lotion." 

"Go eat shit," I hissed. 

Hearing Joshua's laugh in reply made me snap a glare at him.  

However, my expression softened when I noticed how the edges of Joshua's eyes crinkled a bit as he covered his laughter. Joshua looked adorable that it sickened me for having those thoughts. Ignoring him, I pulled the mug closer to me and looked at the latte art.  

I arched an eyebrow. "What... is that?" 

"It's a cat." 

Taking a closer look, the white foam shaping of the cat was actually well done. The cheeks of the cat was blushing red, and the cat even wore a bow on the top center of its head. Everything about the cartoon cat seemed right except the identical, oversized brown circles that I assumed were the eyes.  

"Why does this cat have such huge eyes?" I asked. 

Joshua expressed nonchalantly, "Even though it's not hazel, it matches how big your eyes are." 

I retaliated, "My eyes aren't that big!" 

"Okay, I might have over-exaggerated," Joshua noted, "your eyes are nice to look at though, Nurse Sandpaper." 

Although that nickname Joshua gave me was nothing but distasteful, my heart skipped when I heard Joshua comment about my eyes. That caused me to shut up. Glancing back at him, I noticed pass his shoulder that people were still coming in and out for drinks and desserts. 

"Thanks," I returned back to hide my embarrassment, "but, I'm going to come up with a better name for you." 

"Good luck with that. Enjoy," Joshua commented with a faint smile before he walked back to the front.