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The moment Wilhelm entered the cafe, he could pinpoint exactly when the rich scent of strong coffee entered into his bloodstream and released all the tightly coiled tension in his core. After the morning he’s had, a strong cup of coffee was needed. He walked straight to the counter and absently read the menu while he waited to catch the attention of the barista.
The person who came forward to take his order was a new barista, he was certain of it as he had never seen so much perfection before. The barista looked to be around his age, brown-skinned, with the most gorgeous mop of curly hair he had ever seen on a person. He didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about feeling this strongly attracted to a boy he’s never met before, he’s always labeled his sexuality as a shoulder shrug anyways, however, he almost went into panic once he realized he was wearing yesterday’s rejects and had definitely been staring for way too long than socially acceptable.
“Hi, welcome to Hilerska! What would you like today?” the boy said while sending Wilhelm the most beautiful smile he’s ever seen, it’s possible Wilhelm didn’t know what perfection was before this moment.
“Hi, umm” he started, trying to think if he brushed his teeth before fleeing his house that morning and if he was standing close enough for the boy to smell his breath, “can I uh, get a medium americano with two shots of espresso?”
“Absolutely! Your total is $5.67 and who should I label this coffee to?” the boy, whose name is Simon according to his name tag, asked while smiling way too wide for this time of the day.
“Um, Wilhelm” He was sure his face was a splotchy red mess by now. Damn beautiful people, he thought as he paid the total with his phone.
“Alright Wilhelm, we should have your coffee in a little bit, thank you for visiting Hilerska today!” Simon said, still with that obnoxiously beautiful smile, as he began with the order.
He was about to respond ‘you too’ like an idiot when a barista he did know and resented stepped out of the back room.
“Tone it down a little newbie, don’t wanna scare away our regulars now” his cousin, August, said jokingly and a little mockingly as he brought clean blenders to the left counter. He looked towards Wilhelm and sent him one of those disgustingly smug grins “Hello cousin, haven’t seen you in a bit, dear aunt finally let you out of the house?”
He was conflicted between defending Simon’s bright attitude and punching the grin off of August’s face, but once he realized his diminishing beauty would degrade even more in front of Simon as a result of that, he decided against physical altercations.
“At least some of the workers here seem to value their job, rather than some people just working to appease mommy” He shot back, August had no place to allude to what happened a while ago, he had no wish to go back to the loony bin.
Simon cleared his throat to dissipate the awkward tension in the air as a result of the relatives, “Uh, your order is ready Wilhelm” he said trying to catch Wilhelm’s attention.
There was no need as the thought of August barely compared to this beautiful stranger Wilhelm wanted to buy a country for. “Thank you so much!” he said while taking the cup of coffee off of Simon’s hands and trying to work up the courage to ask him for his number or insta or WhatsApp or whatever he would give to an increasingly desperate Wilhelm.
Unfortunately, he caught a whiff of his own breath and decided to reschedule his desperation. He needed some hygiene like, right now. He shot Simon one more smile and flipped August off as he left the counter and headed out of the cafe. He was almost at his car when he saw it.
I noticed the staring, and don’t worry your breath wasn’t too bad (saw you trying to smell it discretely). I also think you’re distractingly cute. xxx-xxx-xxxx
It was a little note tucked carefully between the lid of the hot cup and the cup itself, so creative and slick. Wilhelm was prepared to be wed, like now. He looked back at the cafe as soon as he read it and saw the smirk on Simon’s face rise and fall when another customer walked up to the counter.
He feels like he got played somehow, and he hadn’t shared more than 3 sentences with Simon. Ok, wow. He didn’t know what to do with himself, he wanted to go back and talk to Simon, face to face, but he also didn’t like how he looked and August wasn’t wrong, his mom would probably call the FBI if he stayed out longer than he had already, nevermind the fact that he’s a perfectly functioning adult.
…
Okay, maybe not perfectly functioning, and he just turned 19, so maybe not an adult , but it’s more the principle of the thing.
He decided to go home, he’ll text the cute boy later, he had plans for the day, and it’s only just 9 am, Simon probably won’t respond to a text message right now anyways.
-
xxx-xxx-xxxx
-Hi, it’s Wilhelm from the cafe earlier today!
‘Ugh, the cringe’ Wilhelm sighed, who even invented the talking stage anyways. He laid on his bed still searching ‘Simon’ to no avail on Instagram.
Simon
-Wilhelm? who?
Oh god, it was a prank, why does shit like this always happen to him, this is why he has anxiety, people are all shit, ohgod-
Simon
-I’m only pulling your leg 😂
How are you Wilhelm, finally brush your teeth?
Wilhelm
-you literally almost made me lose my fate in humanity, you are in no position to joke with me rn
Simon
-aww, someone angy?
Wilhelm
-no, just amazed at how you seemed like the sweetest angel this morning, but you sound like a little shit now?
Oh no, he was overdoing it, this is why he should never text anyone to begin with, he was so rude, ugh-
Simon
-Damn, my cover is blown, how will I ever get you to accept this date I was about to propose
Wilhelm squealed, he loves straightforward non-straight boys, he bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling too much.
Wilhelm
-Maybe if you give me your insta, we can negotiate this date business?
Simon
-it’s simme.nils, can we negotiate now, or do I have to plea in court
Wilhelm
-Your case just got approved, date is a definite go.
Simon
-Great, was about to suggest coffee, but I think coffee dates are overrated anyways, dinner?
Wilhelm
-We met at a cafe, your argument is invalid, dinner works fine for me, Thursday, 6 pm at Frantzen?
Simon
-you paying? cause that place is expensive as fuck and I’m a poor college student
Damn Wilhelm, your privilege is showing.
Wilhelm
-I’ll pay, but do you have somewhere else in mind
Simon
-you, me, meatballs for the people?
Wilhelm
-😂 that’s perfect, I gotta go now, but see you then?
Simon
-Absolutely, goodnight Wille!
Wilhelm
-Night!
--
Wilhelm had absolutely no reason to go, but he heard steps outside his room door, and that pretty much wiped all the giddiness from him. Leave it to his family to give him privacy and mental issues, and still make it out to be his fault.
“Just come in!” he shouted and waited for whosoever it was to come in.