Thulile stared at the truck. The bricks held better than she hoped.

She no longer bought hot caps and wheels, which always ended up stolen. Many people thought the truck was stationed there by choice, when in fact, it just could not be moved.

Thulile used to travel around Joburg. The truck was a celebrity in the shanty towns. Of course, it was Palesa who drove since she didn't have a driver's license.

The police would have had the van towed away from its current position if Thulile's coffee hadn't helped the police station superintendent's son pass his exams.

Thulile entered the truck and began the inventory of her stock. She needed money fast to buy the beans, move the van, get her gran a new wheelchair, and the list went on.

She wished money to fall from the sky like the mana in the desert.

"Ah, sista, you are here, finally," Palesa said as she entered.

"Hi, Palesa."

"Howzit?"

"I'm Better ."

Palesa grinned, "you look it, those cheeks are sure dumpling fluffy."

Thulile smiled, "I guess I needed some rest."

"Of course, here."

Thulile looked down at the money Palesa gave her.

"What's this?"

"I used the truck; it's rent."

"No, Palesa, it's okay. Your girls worked too. It would be unfair to keep the money."

"Thulile, don't make it difficult otherwise, I will keep it."

"Do, I insist."

Palesa shook her head to disapprove, "you'll never get rich if you're this generous."

"Perhaps it's my karma."

"Don't say that. So many people find happiness thanks to you."

"It's a shame I can't do the same for myself."

Thulile, something good will happen as long as you're optimistic. No one is supposed to live a life of misery; your father told me that. You know my story. I never thought I could have children, but your father told me believing was the first step towards reaching my goal. Look at me now; I have five kids. Yes, it's not easy to make ends meet, but I feel blessed."

Palesa married young, and her in-laws put a lot of pressure on her to have children. All thought she was barren, including herself at the time.

Thulile sighed, "I hope you're right."

In his bed, Lars debated whether he should try to go to the truck once more or let it go. His thoughts had him worked up for an hour before the man decided to try. Lars didn't follow his shower protocol; he tossed on a steel grey hoodie and short set.

His white pajama tee hung out like a witness from the sweater.

It was the last time, and if she wasn't there, Lars swore to never drive to the truck again.

It was 7 am when he arrived, and from the looks of things, he would not have his coffee till about 8.

The news of Thulile's return traveled fast. People called their colleagues or family members to come.

"Thuile, I don't know if I'll have enough snacks."

"I don't know if I'll have enough beans." Thuile had not anticipated the number of customers.

At 7:30, the sun was high. Lars took off his hoodie, forgetting the old Off The Wall Vans white tee he wore to sleep.

The queue suddenly began to move quickly.

Lars' turn finally at 8:50, he walked up to the truck's window, "eh."

"There's no coffee."

"Parㅡdon."

"I said there's no coffee."

Lars saw himself jump to grasp Palesa's neck while screaming, "what do you mean there's no coffee? I've been waiting under the scorching sun. Oozing with sweat like a snail on the grill for an hour, and you're telling me there's no coffee."

At that instant, the man was relieved to know his mind sealed his thoughts, and no one saw the murder her committed internally.

"Palesa."

The woman spun around, and Thuile handed her two cups.

Palesa wondered why Thulile had made these coffees that didn't budge from the beginning of their shift.

Palesa understood Thulile anticipated the coffee stock out there, but how did she know the man would come?

Palesa had not even told her about Lars' daily visits.

"Here, the white lid is his, and the black one is yours."

"Can you do me a favor? Can you ask her to come to the counter for me, please?"

"She's busy."

Why did Palesa block him this way? Lars thought.

Palesa left him no choice, "Hey, can I talk to you?" Lars yelled, startling Palesa, who placed a hand on her heart. "I won't leave until we talk."

Without any options, Thulile came to the counter. The cap was still there, but she had no mask.

Heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, relatively small lips, and Nubian nose, she was ordinarily cute if the term existed, thought the man who finally saw her face.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Lars began.

"He was worried about you," Palesa added.

The man swiped a hand at the back of his head, "I really wanted to drink your coffee. It's delicious, by the way."

"He came here every day almost crying for it," Palesa slid.

Lars glared at Palesa, "eh, I wouldn't put it that way. I only came once."

"Every day, I tell you," Palesa threw.

"Can you please, stop with the bracket comments," Lars exclaimed, his voice came out like a cat who had its tail stepped on.

Thulile smiled, her cheeks sunk in, revealing her teeth and dimples. Again their eyes met. None wished to blink or turn away. It seemed this was their stares goal. They both wanted to drown in one another's—Lars in Thuile's dark brown brew and her in his ocean of waves.

A warm sensation filled him; the man didn't need to see himself in the mirror to know he blushed.

"Hey, Mr. If you finish, can you step out? People are waiting."

"Thank you for the coffee. I missed it."

Of course, the man spoke of the drink. Still, it didn't prevent Thulile's heart from pinching.

Lars stepped aside, and Palesa began to throw out, there's no coffee sentence like a frisbee.

The customers were angry.

Lars left; he had kept the coffee holder from the last time. He placed the two cups, strapped his seat belt, and was about to start the car when the thought hit him.

The man lowered his head on his steering wheel, "what is wrong with you, Lars Abel Potsmann? You didn't even ask her her name," he muttered.

Many questions hounded him as he drove. How did the woman know he would come?

The people in front of him went without their drink, but Thulile made his and Stevens.

Did she really keep them for him?

Why was he so obsessed with her coffee?

Why did he feel it was essential, and what was the answer to the equation, which included the drink, the woman, and him?

There was something Lars wasn't picking up on; what was it?

"You like her," Steven said in his usual brutally honest expression.

"No, no," protested Lars half an hour later as he drank his coffee with Steven.

"It's the only explanation."

"I told you she's not my type."

"Why because she's black?"

"No,ㅡno, I don't know anything about her. It's this mysterious aura she has."

Steven nodded, "you're infatuated."

"No."

"Why are you refuting it? There's nothing wrong with being attracted to someone."

"I'm not attracted to her. It's her coffee and what she does with it. By the way, what's on your cup?"

"Bon voyage."

"See, she knows you're going on the trek."

"What's on yours?"

Like the last time, two words decorated his cup.

Lars had opportunity on one side and chance at the bottom.

The man wondered why she didn't place the words at the same height and if there was something to retain from their position.

He then began to question himself about the meaning of the words.

What was the opportunity at hand?

"What's wrong?"

"Steven, do you believe in fateful encounters?"

The man leaned back, "I'm a man of science. Why do you ask?"

"My brother Jonas, he's the spiritual type. He's into Buddhism and all that yoga namaste lifestyle. He believes all events have a purpose that's there's no coincidence.

Jonasㅡ," Lars chuckled, "my brother fell in love with my sister-in-law after reading letters she wrote as a teen, and he hadn't even met her."

Steven took another sip of hid coffee, "dude, I'm not going to say this twice, but it seems to me that youㅡwell."

"Shut up, I swear Steven, shut up. It's not what you think it is."

Steven cocked a brow, "but every word you're saying affirms what I think it is. You know what, don't overthink it. You like her coffee, the way she moves, seeing her, I get you. It's not an attraction. I mean, it's not like it's how things have been going on since time is time. So carry on, buy her coffee see what happens, and prove me wrong."

"You're wrong."

"I hear you."

Lars got up and pointed his finger at him "you're wrong."

"If you say so."

Lars pursed his lips, snatched his cup up, and left the counter like a frustrated housewife while Steven grabbed his phone to watch the news while drinking his coffee.

In the meantime, the woman took a short five-minute break at the coffee truck.

"I think that man likes you."

"What, who?"

"The tall white man. I didn't lie when I said he came every day looking for you."

"I doubt it's me that interests; it's the coffee."

"Stop that, child, that man is a gonna when he looks at you. He has an expensive car. He's probably well off. That type of man could change your life. He looked shabby today, but he was Prince Charming on the others. He smelt so good Thulile I thought my daughters were going to faint."

"Palsea, you know how foreigners are. They come here, sleep with us and leave us dry in our misery to go back to their country."

The older woman chuckled, "at least they have being a foreigner and visa expiration to leave as an excuse. Wealthy black South African men give out promises every day and rotate poor girls on weekends while being with their wives on weekdays. How I pity all these girls who believe those mommas boys will marry them. Trust me, Thulile, you might be better off with foreigner."

Palesa spoke and poked Thulile with her words. She, too, knew the rumors about Thulile and wealthy men. The young woman's supposed lifestyle divided those who knew her.

Some said she was wise to profit from her sugar daddies. While others predicted, Thulile would catch a sexually transmitted disease like aids or HIV if she continued.

Again none knew Thulile had one man and one only since her teens.

That night Lars tossed and turned in his bed. Sleepless, he went TikTok. His feed was full of coffee videos since he posted his cups.

He stopped at a video that showed a brewing method. Lars sat up, why didn't he think of it before?

Of course, this was the reason.

He came there to find her.

Thulile was the opportunity.