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It’s a nice summer day, the brisk wind blowing amongst the green leaves with some white puffy clouds painting the bright blue sky. The rising sun is warming up the area, replacing the comfortable nightly summer breeze with stale, dry air that comes with the scorching heat.
The warmth settles on Conrad’s skin as he makes his way down the street. The town is already packed with children rushing to the park and their parents trailing behind, hoping to catch up. Others are walking on the sidewalk, chattering about their upcoming plans. Some ambitious folks are on their bikes, exercising in spite of the blistering heat.
In spite of it being a great day to take a brisk walk and enjoy the outdoors, Conrad is here for a different reason. He isn’t chattering with anyone or enjoying the summer outside. For what is a simple, but beautiful Saturday to many, this day could change his entire life.
For how many presentations and assignments he does for his university courses, this meeting is one of the most nerve wracking things he’s ever done. His heart thumps in anticipation, enough to echo in both of his ears. His hands are clammy as he leans against the brick wall, waiting where his little sister said she wanted to meet. With an empty Saturday, Conrad will have all the time in the world to catch up with her.
It’s a good place for a first meeting. The shade will be covering the right angle for when the sun fully rises in the sky and it shouldn’t hit either of them while they talk over breakfast.
She’ll be here any minute now and he can’t help but fear he isn’t going to be the cool big brother she had hoped for. What if Anthiese doesn’t like who he is outside of their calls? What if she finds him to be too goofy and this is the only time they’ll meet?
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath through his nose, trying to do anything to settle down. He just needs to do his best and be authentic. That’s all he can do. Besides, what does he have to really worry about? Anthiese has been nothing but a big sweetheart over their calls. She’s been enthusiastic to know about one of her siblings.
He glances down at his clock after a few minutes, wondering where she’s at. He blinks before chuckling, realizing he’s an hour early. Anthiese…er, Celica won’t be here for quite a while.
Whoops.
Considering that he hadn’t slept very well because of all these stupid nerves, perhaps it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to stop by the cafe next to him for a spot of coffee. Maybe even a drink with four espresso shots drowned out by creamy milk and too much sugar to cover the bitter taste of the coffee…
Usually, he tries to keep healthy and not drink something like this, but he has to stay awake all day.
He makes his way into the cafe to be welcomed by the delicious aroma of roasted beans and the sweet scent of cream. There’s some idle chatter amongst those who are enjoying their breakfast and coffee, engaged in deep conversations that Conrad tries to not eavesdrop on as he examines each option on the huge menu. There’s so many options, but he settles on a simple large vanilla iced latte with some extra shots of flavor. Sure, he could be more adventurous, but vanilla’s usually a pretty safe bet that it’ll be made properly.
He yawns before leaning against the counter, waiting for his order. He rubs his eyes, trying to focus. It definitely was a good call to grab a cup of coffee. He is more tired than he thought he was.
In the corner of his eye, a maroon haired gentleman walks in with a stern expression on his face. The barista greets him by name, Lukas, and immediately scribbles down his order without asking what he would like.
Conrad is able to see what she’s written down; a black coffee with room. An interesting choice, but a classic. Maybe the roast is a good one, unlike the bland one near his house. Conrad tends to avoid coffee shops near his place when he can because they’re all chains, but he’ll make an exception for a local joint…
Once the order is taken, the two men stand next to each other in silence, not even greeting each other.
Is that normal?
Conrad averts his eyes to be polite, but Lukas is quite a sight to behold. His chiseled features tone the rest of his body. He’s donning typical workout gear with a black compression top and maroon shorts. Hanging from his left shoulder is a gym bag, half opened. There’s a half drunken water bottle, tilted on an angle. It’s pretty clear what he had been up to before coming here. Why he’s wearing shorts that match his hair color is a question Conrad can’t help but ponder on. Even if his choice of style is a bit strange, he is a very attractive man.
On further inspection, there’s still some sweat glistening on his skin from his earlier activity.
Conrad swallows, deciding to say something to break the silence. “…Just came from the gym?”
“Yeah.” The man glances his way with a nod. “You’re new. I haven’t seen you around here.”
“I’m not usually here.” Conrad admits. “I’m here to meet my sister. Er, half-sister.”
“Ah, gotcha. You two close?”
“Well,” Conrad pauses, “We’re working on it.”
It’s silent again as Lukas flips open his phone. He frowns before answering the phone. “What is it, Alm?”
Alm?
There’s no way.
Celica had mentioned her boyfriend’s name was Alm. Conrad had remembered it because it was a name he had never heard before. He once again tries not to eavesdrop, but now he’s curious. Is it possible they know of the same Alm?
“Yeah, I’m done with the gym. I can come by.” Lukas continues his call. “Want me to bring the others?”
There’s an awkward silence as Lukas nods following along to what Alm has to say.
“Okay, that’s fine. We can meet at the coffee shop. I’m already here. You bringing Celica?”
Celica…
Okay, that can’t just be coincidence. Celica’s name is also pretty uncommon. Maybe her name is a bit more common than Alm, but now, he has to know. Once Lukas is off his call, of course.
There’s another pained silence as the barista slides over Conrad’s iced latte to him. Conrad thanks her before taking a sip of his sweet drink. A sweet vanilla bean taste bursts into his mouth with the subtle shot of bitter espresso following behind.
Perfect. Just the way he wanted it to be. Actually, this may be the best latte he’s ever had.
He may swing back here again. After all, this is a pretty easy walk from his own little apartment, not even taking a half hour to get to this spot. He could use a bit of private time with his own thoughts once in a while. A destination would be a good idea to keep himself active and do something for himself with his busy schedule.
“…Uh huh. Yeah, I can wait. Well I’ll say hi to Celica before she heads on out to meet up with her brother. See ya.” Lukas closes the call without waiting for a response. He glances over at the barista, who hands him his drink. “Thanks.”
Conrad glances over at Lukas. “You wouldn’t know of a Celica, would you?”
Lukas pauses before glancing over. “I knew there was something familiar about you. The hair color, mostly.”
“Huh?”
“You two look so alike,” Lukas hums. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m pretty sure we know the same girl. Well, may as well make yourself comfortable here. It’ll make it easier for her to find you. She has been talking about meeting you all week.”
Relief flushes through Conrad hearing that. Though he’s someone that more or less keeps to himself so he can focus on his degree, he has been anticipating this week.
“You better make yourself comfortable too.” Conrad notes.
To his surprise, Lukas snorts through his nose while pouring some creamer in his cup. “True. There’s a table back there. I’d recommend we snag it before others come in. It’s gonna get packed soon.” Lukas suggests, pointing at a table away from the other patrons.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” Conrad offers before stepping away. He weaves around the idle seats, moving to the quiet area of the cafe. He’s not sure if Lukas will actually follow, but he does and makes himself comfortable. He may as well with all the time he’s got time to kill.
The music is upbeat and the atmosphere is still cozy, in spite of people starting to pile in. Conrad’s life generally is a peaceful one, but to have the time to relax for just a moment to himself instead of running errands for others and burrowing his late hours to study is a rare treat.
He cannot believe his luck that he met someone in public that knows Celica…
Well, perhaps he should have expected that since they’re so close to Celica’s apartment, but still. What were the odds? He makes himself comfortable in the booth, taking another sip of the sugar bomb he’s ordered. Lukas slides across from him, taking a seat before sipping on his coffee.
Conrad swallows before attempting to make conversation again. “What creamer did you get?”
“Oh, I think it was hazelnut. I didn’t double check before pumping it in.”
“Huh? Why wouldn’t you double check?”
“I dunno. I don’t add a lot anyway. Black coffee is way too bitter for me, but only barely. So I add just one shot of whatever they have. I like the surprise. Makes the day more interesting.” He takes a sip of his drink with a nod. “Yeah, that’s hazelnut. Not bad.”
“Wouldn’t you have memorized what options they have by now?”
“I mean, probably.” Lukas glances over at the creamer. “A lot of people come here for the drip, so they change out the creamers daily. I bet with summer just around the corner they’ll have something fruity the next time I stop by.”
“Well since you know all of that, how long have you been coming here?” Conrad teases before sipping again.
“I’ve come around since I moved here. That was about…hmm, two years ago, I think.”
Conrad tilts his head, noting that as well. Celica had mentioned in their call that they had moved to this part of the city about two years ago when Alm went to follow a job opportunity.
He can’t stop himself from asking. “Did you follow Celica and Alm?”
“As a matter of fact,” Lukas raises his coffee before taking another swig. “I did. Home wasn’t great and there weren’t a lot of growth opportunities out there, so I decided to take a risk. So far, it hasn’t been too bad.”
“Yeah, same. I moved here about three years ago.” Conrad explains. “I live in the town over.”
“Oh, do you mean the college town?”
“Yep, that’s the one. Oh! I better introduce myself.” He reaches over to extend his hand to offer a shake. “My name’s Conrad. What’s yours?
Lukas grips it with his firm hand, giving a short but polite shake. “I’m Lukas. It is nice to meet you.”
“So, is this the only good coffee shop around here?” Conrad asks.
He’s legitimately curious, just in case if there’s something else a little bit closer for the days he can’t make the walk.
“More or less. You know how it goes. Everything else is chains.” Lukas nods, “You know how they always make the coffee so bitter?”
“Yeah, that’s the gist of the shops near me. It’s why I don’t go to a lot of cafes.” Conrad admits, glancing down at his own brew. “I usually make mine at home. Just a good ol’ pot of coffee with some creamer. Cheaper too. Though I don’t have the tools to make a latte, so I was hoping to find a place when I’m craving them.”
“I don’t blame you. Some of those are better, if I’m honest.” Lukas nods through a sip. “I just don’t have the time.”
“Oh? Not even for a quick brew?” Conrad asks.
“Yeah, I’m doing some physical training and it’s really hard to brew a cup before hitting the gym. Then I got work. Well, my job starts in a couple months, but I’m doing some prep beforehand.”
“That’s quite a while to start a new job.”
“Not really. I’m going to be a teacher. I start at the end of the summer.”
“That’s really neat. Congrats. What are you teaching?”
“I’m going to be teaching English this next semester. What about you?”
“I’m still in university. I’m studying literature.”
“Shoulda figured.” Lukas nods, “I remember those nasty eyebags during my college days.”
Conrad chuckles. “You caught me.”
There’s a peaceful silence between the two as they enjoy their drinks and the atmosphere without any conversation.
As Conrad is to spark another part of the conversation, a group of people flood into the cafe — and Conrad recognizes one of the members immediately. It’s so strange to see his little sister in person. She’s grown a lot since they last met as children. and she’s obviously very happy, which relieves Conrad of all of his internal worries.
She has a bright smile on her face, her curled red hair styled up in a ponytail. She’s wearing a white sundress with little blue flowers adorned on the hem. She’s grown up so much since he saw her as a little girl.
Lukas was absolutely right about one thing: they look almost like twins.
Celica has her arms linked with a young man with green hair, beaming as she listens to him talk about something or another. There’s a man following them with navy blue hair, his arms relaxed and laughing along to whatever Celica is chattering about.
She stops talking before glancing around the cafe. Her examination comes to a halt when she catches Conrad’s eye. Her eyes brighten as she pulls away from the gentleman Conrad can only assume is Alm before rushing over to Conrad. His fears completely ebb away when he sees the joy in her eyes, knowing she’s as excited to see him as he has been.
The group of her friends follows her, confused about why she’s broken away from the group. Celica grabs some chairs, surrounding the two before settling down. Alm and the other man are puzzled before they notice Lukas.
“Oh hey!” The blue haired man greets. “What’s up with your new company, Lukas? Want to introduce us to your friend?”
“Well, it’s an impromptu coffee date.” Lukas introduces with a smile. “This is Conrad. Conrad, this is Python and Alm. The guy I spoke to on the phone.”
Alm waves with a bright grin. “Hey there.”
Celica beams before squeezing her boyfriend’s arm. “Yep, this is my boyfriend I speak so much about on the phone.”
Conrad stands up and shakes hands with Alm. It’s nice to put a face with a name. He also greets Python with a handshake too.
“Hey, nice to meet you.” Python winks with a shake. “You must be a catch if Lukas winged a date with you.”
Conrad pauses before his face blushes a crimson red. He supposes that Lukas is right, it really is an impromptu first date. It’s been a bit awkward and they did end up sitting together to learn about each other, so it checks out.
“Well, this is pretty funny. This is my brother I was telling you about, Lukas!” Celica explains before sitting down right next to Conrad. The other two join, Python and Alm on either side of Lukas.
“Oh, I deduced that. You two look like twins.” Lukas notes again with a smile.
Celica scoots her chair closer with a smile. “How did you end up here, Conrad? I thought we were going to meet ”
“Well,” Conrad explains his early morning and how he had run into Lukas. “I overheard him mentioning Alm’s name and that’s how we started talking.”
“Awh man, I wasn’t expecting to be the fifth wheel.” Python playfully whines before sliding into a chair. “Eh, it’s alright. I don’t mind, really.”
“Don’t worry! We won’t leave you out!” Alm promises. “I’m grabbing everyone’s orders. Celica, what do you want?”
“Oh, I want to see the menu! I think they updated it since I last came here.” Celica stands up before giving Conrad a quick side hug with a tight squeeze. “I promise I’ll be right back and then we can catch up, okay?”
Conrad awkwardly swings his arm around her back before nodding. “Okay.”
The trio leave to the front of the cafe to wait in line. Conrad smiles at his little sister, relieved that his racing thoughts were only clouding his judgment. He glances over at Lukas with a bit of a teasing smile. “So, is that what this is? An impromptu coffee date?”
“You didn’t correct me.” Lukas shrugs. “Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything else to say at the moment.”
“Fair enough.” Conrad leans in with a smile. “Do you think you’d be up for a real date?”
Lukas is now the one to blush with a stunned blink. Then, a gentle smile forms on his face before trying to cover his flush with a hand. Conrad hopes he hasn't crossed a line, but Lukas pulls out his phone and places it on the table before turning it on.
“You know what? Why not? It’d be nice to get to know you in private. Once those three get back, we are going to have absolutely no privacy.”
“Yeah, I figured.” Conrad nods. “They seem like a party.”
“They sure are. Here, let me get your number and we’ll set up a time to meet up. What do you like to do?”
“Oh, I’m down with anything.” Conrad admits. “I like trying new things.”
“Hmm, do you think you’d be up for trivia night after some drinks? There’s one next Sunday at the bar down the street. It’s pretty fun.”
“Doesn’t that require groups?”
“On Saturdays. On Sundays, they do date nights.” Lukas explains. “Does that sound like something you’re into?”
Conrad hasn’t actually ever been to a trivia night, but he has general knowledge about the world around him. At least enough to keep on his toes. He nods. “Yeah, as long as you don’t mind losing.”
“I play with those two over there all the time,” Lukas glances over at Alm and Python, who are chatting around the counter, pointing at the menu. “I’m used to losing. They don’t tend to take it too seriously after a few drinks.”
“At least I’ll try. I’m actually a little competitive. I like to win.”
Lukas’s smile only grows with a glisten in his eye. “Good. So do I.”
Before they can continue their conversation, the trio returns with their drinks and begins some idle chatter. In minutes, Conrad is eased into the group without any bumps in the road, laughing with them as if he’s known them for years. He had admittedly wanted to spend some private time with Celica to ask some personal questions about what she’s been up to over the years, but today’s casual environment is good. She has made it clear she wants to meet up again soon, so they’ll be able to talk soon.
Nothing has panned out the way he had planned it for today, and yet, it couldn’t be more perfect.