Chapter 14: CAFÉ KISS

In the evening, Dmitri started walking towards the book café near the stream, which had an old world charm, a perfect place which offered a quiet refuge to flip through the pages slowly as one sipped coffee.
On the way, Dmitri met a tourist who asked for directions for the old famous book café in their small town.
Dmitri offered to accompany him, as he was also going to the same book café.
"I have heard it's a book lover's delight" the tourist commented.
Dmitri smiled and replied with a nod, "Yes, it is. If you are looking for a quintessentially Parisian experience, then it is hard to outdo this Book Café which effortlessly bridges old and new," he answered. "You seem new here. How did you notice about this quiet place ?" he asked intrigued.
"I read about it in the tourist guide," his companion replied. "It was one of the hotspots on the list, which seems to be a favourite hangout spot for some of the town's most respected luminaries, artists, and intellectuals for over a century."
As they made conversation on their mutual love for books and coffees, they turned round the street. Dmitri could see the brilliant lighting of the book café and a large plethora of hanging baskets, packed with verdant ferns and colorful blooms round the corner.
Outside the glass-walled Book Café, there was a beautiful and sparkling rustic vibe. It just exuded elegance and class. It was a sight to behold during the night.
For alfresco seating, numerous mini lanterns and glittering fairy lights were adorning the trees, around which marble tables with vintage style umbrella and rattan chairs were laid.
And today, after an exhausting day, all Dmitri wanted was to be in a cosy interior to distract himself from the thoughts of the girl, who seemed to have stolen his heart in the first two not so romantic encounters.
The unique front entrance of the Book Café, made an aesthetic statement with plenty of green and colorful cascading flowers of bougainvillea and jasmine draped over its glass door like a living waterfall.
"The chic set up of the Book Café is a perfect place for a romantic date," Dmitri mused as his mind conjured situations where the fiery, young girl was involved in Dmitri"s favourite setting. Who knew they would come true so soon ?! Sooner than anyone imagined.
As they made their way through the transparent glass door, a blanket of warm air filled with the rich aroma of coffee hit them.
"Stepping into this quaint café is like stepping into the past when life was laid back and kind of slow," Dmitri dreamily remarked.
"Oh yes, I couldn"t agree more. I feel the same. This is one of the sights to behold with an elegant Victorian-inspired interior, complete with a huge centrepiece and a splendid murano chandelier hanging from the ceiling !" the tourist exclaimed in one breath while taking a full circle across his one foot like a ballerina.
"It truly evokes the charm of magnificent venetian interiors, with these muted wallpapers, dark wood furniture and romantic murals," the doctor showed a surprising amount of knowledge on interiors and aesthetics.
On the left, there was a Baroque bookcase.
"The book collection here, takes up the walls from the floor to the ceiling and you can spend days here going through an eclectic collection of books. They have a large variety of books ranging from mythology to nature," Dmitri guided the awe-struck tourist.
Then, Dmitri took the tourist to a vintage looking coffee bar on the right, made of reclaimed wood, where soft classical music was playing in the background.
"This Book Café is known for its gourmet mochas that are named after books," Dmitri explained the reason behind the christening of the beverages on the menu.
"Wow ! I have never heard of such a thing in my life !!" The tourist exclaimed.
"Me too. This seems to be the first," Dmitri chuckled at the wide-eyed man beside him. "A quick glance at the menu will reveal all the names of the good old classics like The Scarlet Letter, Oliver Twist, The Great Gatsby, etc. Each drink is created with a book in mind," Dmitri added as he showed the interesting menu.
"Ah ! They all sound delicious," the tourist replied as he took one of the menus in his hand and studied it.
"The one that sounds the best to me is the Don Quixote, which is described as "Azteca D'oro Spiced Chocolate Mocha topped with home-made whipped cream and dusted with Mexican spiced powder," Dmitri revealed.
"Hmm !" The tourist appreciatively made a yum sound. "Sounds like an exotic drink. I will try this today for sure," the mesmerized man with him declared without a second thought.
"Sure ! Now, I'll take your leave and leave you to your devices. Hope you'll enjoy reading a book while sipping delectable coffee here," Dmitri smiled.
"Thank you for being my personal tourist guide,"the tourist jokingly said while shaking hands with a chuckling Dmitri.
"Here's your Don Quixote with traditional apple strudel," Sophie, the barista at the coffee bar said while plating the doctor"s regular in front of him.
"How come my order is already ready ?" Dmitri asked surprised.
"I know your order by heart by now, Doctor. In fact I already had your order ready by the time you came through the door with your friend," Sophia replied.
Dmitri was a regular customer who frequented the Book Café often.
While smiling at her, Dmitri gratefully said, "Thank you !" and took his order, paid the regular amount and took it to his little nook.
Taking a sip of his Don Quixote, he savored the invigorating smoky taste of apple strudel which was heavenly.
Before he sat down in his corner, he grabbed a book from the shelf. Dmitri didn't look at the title, he just grabbed the first book that his fingers touched.
He thought that was what made it fun, not knowing what you were going to read for the day, and he reveled in that surprise.
Some days he could be reading an action novel and another day he could be reading a cookbook.
As Dmitri looked at the cover of his book, he smiled. It was a mystery thriller novel. He was excited to read it because it had been a while since he had last read a novel like this one.
Just as Dmitri was getting cozy, he heard the bell above the entrance door jingle. He didn't think anything of it. It wasn't like he was the only one who knew this place.
"Ahhha ! Our other regular !!" Sophie exclaimed behind the counter.
"Hey ! Good Evening, Sophie !!" Audrey greeted as she dashed inside. It felt like the a whirlwind had managed to break into the cafe.
"A big sized suit jacket and sweatpants ? Interesting choice of clothing," Sophie commented with an amused grin as she took Audrey"s order.
"A big sized suit jacket and sweatpants ?" Dmitri thought. "It couldn't be her. There is no way that is possible," he muttered.
"Oh this ?" The other feminine, lilting voice questioned behind Dmitri and he sucked in his breath. He could recognize that voice anywhere. "Yeah ! Someone spilled coffee on my sweater the other day and lent me this one as a replacement," she further explained to Sophie who could not stop grinning at the cafe regular.
It was the voice of the person who had saved him from falling, the very person he had spilled coffee on and finally the person whose name he still didn't know of !
"Hah ! That sounds funny," Sophie said while laughing.
"Oh, yes ! It is ! Ask me" Audrey sniggered.
"Well then, here is your Black Beauty, anyway. Enjoy !" Sophie said as she handed Audrey her cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Sophie ! I would like to buy a drink for the next customer, who orders a Cortado, under your 'Buy a drink for a random customer program,'" Audrey said and gave the required change.
"Ooh ! Lovely," Sophie cooed as she always admired Audrey for being so thoughtful.
Dmitri could hear the sound of money being exchanged and the footsteps of the person approaching.
His heartbeat was picking up pace with each step that brought the person closer.
"Jeez ! I've got to get out of here," Dmitri thought. He hurriedly swallowed his apple strudel in one bite and scrambled to get away.
"There is no better place to unwind and enjoy a cup of coffee than at this tranquil Book Café," Audrey murmured to herself while walking.
Dmitri crouched down, carrying his Don Quixote in one hand and continued to stay low as he made his way to the door.
Dmitri made sure the person wasn't around, focusing on the sound of her footsteps. And then he made his move. The fatal move.
He scurried past one bookshelf to another, not seeing her once. He felt accomplished as he raced towards the door.
"I'm going to make it !" Dmitri thought. He was so close to success, he could almost taste it.
As Dmitri approached the second to the last book shelf, someone stepped in his way just as he came to it.
He crashed into the person, spilling his Don Quixote all over them.
He gasped. Not only was that coffee expensive but this was also the second time that he had spilled coffee on someone within a span of a couple of days.
"I - I'm so so sorry," Dmitri began, until he saw the person he spilled coffee on.
He stopped mid sentence the moment his eyes met hers. And then his heart swooned when her eyes crinkled up with a smile.
"You sure have a habit of spilling coffee on me," Audrey grinned. "Or do you this all the time ?" She asked.
His face turned bright red. She was right here in front of him- again ! Although, this time she wasn't angry with him. In fact she was looking at him with an amused gaze.
Dmitri's heart was pounding, his heartbeat in his ears. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't even comprehend what was happening.
Dmitri never got like this with people- never in his life.
Audrey had that effect on him, the effect where all he wanted to do was look at her, and it made him crazy.
Dmitri thought of running, running far away from her and what she was making him feel.
But everyone knows you can't run away from fate and that's what Dmitri was doing, only to be faced with it again and again.
"Hold on ! You're so stubborn," Dmitri retorted, regaining his composure. "I guess that's why I keep coming back."
"Good heavens ! Not me but you're stubborn," Audrey huffed. "You're the one who keeps spilling coffee on me. This time on your own suit jacket !"
"Whoa, take it easy there, young lady ! Seems you have fallen in love with my suit jacket and that is why you're wearing it again," Dmitri teased with a naughty dimpled smile on his face.
"Yeah ! Today, I decided to wear my favorite suit jacket with the smile you gave me," an exasperated Audrey replied.
"You look like a darling in it, either way, spilled coffee or no coffee," Dmitri huskily said, his voice a deep, low murmur as he came closer to Audrey.
Unable to resist, Dmitri leaned down and gave a light kiss on Audrey's cheek and left the Book Café hurriedly while Audrey gasped and stood rooted on her spot. What just happened ?
A soft, enticing kiss. That is what happened.
It was like a tantalizing soft breeze that kisses a water surface, except that the ripples it produced in Audrey were long-lasting.
Entranced, Audrey brushed her fingers over the moist imprint on her cheek to savour the feel and couldn"t help but repeatedly flutter her eyes in shock.
She looked after Dmitri"s retreating back get smaller and smaller, wishing for the man to turn back and take her with him.
It was funny how love worked out in the end. It was funny how spilled coffee could bring two people together ...