6:36 PM

The bell connected to the door dinged letting me know a customer had Just entered the coffee shop, It was almost closing hour for the shop so I had been wiping down a counter; upon the customer entering I set the rag aside and let out an exhausted sigh before making my way to the white tablet we used to take orders and tapping a few buttons on it, preparing for the order.

my gaze flicked up to the man staring above me in thought as his deep brown eyes scanned the menu, he noticed my stare and his eyes locked onto mine.

I quickly averted my gaze whilst clearing my throat "what can I get for you sir?"

"I think I'd like to try a chai milk tea. those don't have caffeine, right?" he asked giving me a friendly close-lipped smile before digging in his sweatpants pocket for a form of payment.

"Yeah, zero caffeine is in the milk tea's but if you want one with caffeine, I could definitely make you a chai latte." I offered him a small, tired smile back, it had been a long day for me, but the man was kind so I tried my best to be as polite as possible.

"I don't see that on the menu?" he replied in confusion after taking out a brown wallet from his pocket, his eyes flicked back up to scan the menu for the beverage.

"Oh, it's not but I'm willing to make it for you if that's what you'd like." I tapped in the total for a chai milk tea into the small tablet.

the man paused for a moment as his gentle gaze met mine again in consideration for the offer "Are you sure? I don't wanna burden you or anyth-"

"Trust me it's fine, do you want a latte or not?" I cut him off with a breathy laugh at his hesitation for the offer.

he flashed a smile and let out a small laugh as well before taking out some cash and holding it out to me "I appreciate it."

I felt my breath get caught in my throat as I saw his small grin, don't get me wrong he was definitely good-looking but something about that smile was like the icing on the cake.

I took the cash as he told me to keep the change for my kindness and began to make the latte for him, small interactions like that make my day worth it, just small chat that feels effortless and comfortable you know?

***

 7:30 PM

I hung up my apron on one of the hooks on the wall before grabbing my coat off a separate hook and throwing it on in a bit of a rush, I wanted to stop by this community park nearby the cafe before I went home and my shift had finally ended.

I zipped my coat up most the way before heading out of the store, flipping the open sign to closed as I shut the door and locked it. 

I was always the only one who worked this late. it was for good reason though.

I walked off in the direction of the park and stuffed my cold hands into my pockets which had those little hand warmers inside, I hated being cold and unfortunately it was winter.

I walked up on this pathway that went directly through the park and started to walk down it, taking a deep breath and breathing in the cold damp air that had a remanent scent of rain. The sun was setting, and the sky looked beautiful, painted with colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue. 

Don't judge me but I am definitely one of those girls who takes a photo whenever the sky is any color but blue, I can't help it if the sky is that beautiful. 

I found a spot where I could get a clear enough view through the park trees and took my phone out of my pocket, the album cover from the song objects in the mirror on my lock screen as it played through my airpod in my left ear, the park was quiet with not many people so I didn't feel super embarrassed about it as I got my angle and snapped a few pictures of the beautiful scenery.

"Oh, hey you're the girl who served me at that cafe down the street right?" 

I heard the familiar voice and turned my head to the right only to be met with that same pair of deep brown eyes from an hour or so earlier, he had the latte I made him in his hand and his phone in the other. 

his gentle gaze was accompanied by a small close-lipped smile that made his face seem to light up "oh- may I?" he held up his phone camera to the sunset as well as I moved over a bit to make space for him.

"sorry- this is like the only spot in the trees here that gets a clear view of the sky." he explained while snapping a few photos just as I had moments ago.

I stuffed my phone into my pocket and gave him a small smile realizing what he was doing "you like to take photos of the sky too?"

he turned and gave me a slightly embarrassed smile as he put his phone back into his own pocket as well "I mean' who doesn't?"

"I've never seen a man take a photo of the sunset before" I replied with a shrug before folding under his eye contact and flicking my gaze back to the sunset.

"Well sunsets are like.. the most beautiful things ever so of course I have to take a picture" he stated very matter-of-factly as I could feel his eyes on me for a moment longer before his gaze shifted to the sky as well

"Fair point." I replied with a content expression and a soft close-lipped smile on my face as we sat in comfortable silence like that for a moment just watching the colors ever so slowly fade.

***