On the edge of downtown, surrounded by a number of other cafes nearby, this shop, in particular, was your favourite. It was separated into four distinct parts, the front of the shop that held a display of fancy sweets, an upstairs that held couches and glass tables scattered about, a semi-outdoor area that was covered with a ceiling but opened up to outdoor seating area. You enjoyed the area with the couches the most because the seating arrangement encouraged the people who had work to do to occupy the tables, which makes for a much more intimate atmosphere since everyone is usually quite immersed in their own little worlds.
It stunned you that this place never hosted as many people as there were seats, but you never complained. This place was different because it had a living-room feel to it; perhaps everyone else enjoyed the flashiness of the newer cafes. Though the menu was simple and didn't have special beverages as exotic as the other surrounding places, the drinks weren't overpriced and were always sweetened at just the right amount for you.
You enjoyed the corner table most. There was a little lamp on the side that you could adjust according to what light preference you favoured. It was where you and your boyfriend could study together with the least distractions and get away with stealing the occasional kisses when typing essays on your laptops became too boring. When he needed a break and snoozed on the couch, you lowered the luminosity, and when you both needed to keep wide awake for those late nights, you amplified the lighting in your little corner. Now that you were alone, you could see that your favourite seat also provided the best location to take in the whole cafe. Office men and ladies walked in and out with coffee cups in hand, students occupied the rest of the small tables with their laptops and stacks of books, and the handful of familiar waiters and waitresses drifted to every corner of the shop to accommodate to their customers.
The waiter from before quickly returned with your drink in his tray.
YH: "Be careful, it's hot," he murmured as he placed the cup carefully down onto the glass table.
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It was your favourite latte. Your go-to usual. Sweet, milky, a soft foam layer on top, with a dash of choco powder inside the outline of a heart, just the way you loved it. However, today was an exception. It wasn't the right day for a choco-heart latte.
YH: "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"Not at the moment, thank you."
YH: "Let me know if there is," he answered with a smile again before walking away.
You stared at the drink in front of you with hesitation.
~ Flashback ~
"Latte art," he had said matter-of-factly. "It's a heart, see? Sprinkled with a bit of chocolate. It reminds me of you."
And just like that, you both got this same coffee drink with the same pattern every time you came into the shop. With a tap of your cups, you would both say "cheers" and sip at them slowly as you both studied.
