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RINGGGG! went off Harry’s alarm until he slammed it to silence. It was exactly 6 o’clock in the morning on a Monday, and he had just arrived in Warsaw 48 hours ago. And although there was only an hour difference from his usual cycle back home, Harry still found it difficult to get out of bed.
When he finally did, he first stood by the window of his hotel with his arms on his waist then stared outside. It was a beautiful summer morning in Warsaw and the streets outside lined up with bicycles as this was the common and easiest form of transportation in the city. Compared to London, Warsaw had more colorful and quaint buildings. While both were historic and beautiful in their own way, there was just something about this city that made Harry feel like things are about to change.
He shrugs off the feeling and considers it cold feet for his first day at his new job at the British Embassy. This would be his first overseas post and it’s always been Harry’s career choice to go the diplomacy route; although a translator might not have been the first position he had in mind.
Nevertheless, he gets dressed. After putting on his coat, he tidies up his tie and fiddles with his hair a bit (it’s always going to be messy curls no matter what anyway) then walks out the door.
Halfway out of his hotel, Harry couldn’t help but admire the charming Polish architecture that surrounded him. He was too busy admiring his new home for the next few months that he didn’t realize his stomach was grumbling.
“Ah, bollocks,” he muttered and looked at his wristwatch. It was a quarter before 7 in the morning, which meant he still had about an hour before his boss Mr. Walker gets on his ass. He wouldn’t want that for his first day. Harry then looks around for the nearest coffee shop he could find and one caught his eye.
Immediately as he walked in, the place was crowded. It was a bustling Monday morning after all, so what did he expect? Seeing all tables were full and thinking that he wasn’t going to stay and dine anyway, he went straight for the bar. There was a menu already on the counter and he went through the selections.
Obviously before arriving in Poland, he took it upon himself to learn about the different local delicacies. As he went through them, his eyes were simultaneously studying the area behind the counter where two young ladies were moving at incredible speeds and somehow brilliantly keeping their cool at the same time. One of them had dark, wavy hair and dark brown eyes to match, and based on her actions, Harry assumed her to be newer of the two.
On the other hand, the other girl had short blonde hair that sat on her shoulders and was slightly pulled back by a dainty clip by her forehead. She had striking blue eyes that could be either be your best daydream or worst nightmare. Harry slowly put the menu down and observed her. He sensed that she had a sweet aura to her but currently it was hidden under the stress of the morning rush.
Eventually, the blonde girl moved toward his spot to get some extra empty glasses for the other side of the counter. She was too busy counting how many glasses they had left when Harry cleared his throat.
“Hello, may I—“
“Yes, what is it?!” she snapped.
Harry looked taken aback by the girl’s reaction. “I... would like to make an order, please?”
The girl blinked and immediately realized that she was facing a new customer. “Oh I’m terribly sorry, sir, we are understaffed today, so I will beg your pardon for my being cross,” she said while pulling out her small notebook and pen to take his order.
“I see… So do you run this place all by yourself?”
“Oh, it’s just me and my partner over here,” she said, pointing to the dark-haired girl at the other end of the bar. “But we are managing,” she added with a small smile.
Harry found himself looking at her intently. Then when he realized the time, he replied, “Well I’m glad to hear of it. I think you are running the place very well.”
The girl chuckled. “Thank you, sir. So erm, what will you be having?”
“Ah,” Harry said, immediately returning his attention to the menu. “Can I have a cappuccino please? And um,” he stopped and looked at the pastry section. “A drożdżówka too, please. Would like to try that.” He smiled a bit bashfully as he struggled with the pronunciation, to which the girl chuckled too.
“A cappuccino and a drożdżówka,” she repeated. “Alright, sir.”
But before she could turn around to prepare his order, Harry smiled and said, “Harry, please.”
The girl turned around as she reached for a cup for Harry’s cappuccino. “I’m sorry?”
“Harry,” he repeated. “My name is Harry.”
The girl put her hand on her forehead, seemingly brushing her hair aside. She smiled back, almost blushing. “Ah, you are an English man? Is it your first time here?” She continued the friendly conversation whilst preparing the coffee.
Harry chuckled. “It’s my first week in Warsaw, actually.”
“Ah, I see.”
Harry sat there for a bit, watching her draw up his order and many times he would catch her eye. She was trying to focus on what she was doing and when she was finally done, she set the cup of coffee in front of him and grabbed a napkin on the side. The yeast pastry followed shortly after.
Seeing that she was about to go away to entertain another customer, Harry opened his mouth to ask a follow up question and inquire about her name. But, as if sensing it already, the girl turned to him with a sweet smile before walking away and said, “Kasia. My name is Kasia.”
And that smile stuck with Harry forever.
*
Harry returned to the café at lunch break. It was less crowded than it was this morning but still pretty full just the same. He tried to grab a seat by the bar again, but unfortunately for him, it was all occupied.
So he went to sit at a parlor by the window in the backside of the café. He wasn’t sure what to order this time, but he was intently waiting for Kasia to come out of the back kitchen. Since this morning, he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
After a few minutes, she emerged from the back kitchen door with two plates in her hands. Harry watched as she seamlessly carried the plates and delivered them to their waiting tables. She then smiled sweetly at her customers as they thanked her. And that was when Harry saw and confirmed that sweet aura he assumed she had from the first time he saw her this morning. It turns out she was just really stressed and was not snotty or cross at all.
As soon as Kasia laid the plates down, she turned around, unknowingly towards Harry’s direction. When they caught sight of each other, Harry smiled cheekily, his dimple showing and gave a small wave, to which Kasia immediately blushed.
“You are here again,” Kasia said as she walked to his table.
“Yeah, I didn’t really know anywhere else to eat,” Harry sighed teasingly. “I heard that this was one of the best places though.”
Kasia chuckled. “Well, I’m not sure if that is true. But all the same, what is it that you will be having?”
“Hmm,” Harry said, clicking his tongue. “I haven’t quite decided that yet. Maybe I’ll take your advice and eat somewhere else then.”
Kasia raised her eyebrows, slightly confused. She wasn’t sure if this was a joke or not, she never had to deal with English humor. Sensing her confusion, Harry looked up at her raising an eyebrow followed by a smirk.
“You wouldn’t happen to be free for some other lunch suggestions, would you?” he grinned.
“What? I-I…” Kasia stuttered, surprised at the gesture. “I’m not off yet!”
“Hmm. Perhaps after?”
“I don’t understand-”
Harry sighed and scratched his eyebrow. “I don’t know how you guys do it here yet, but I’m trying to ask you out for lunch. Clearly I’m failing badly at it.”
Kasia laughed. “You are very funny, Harry,” she blushed as she said his name for the first time. “I told you we are understaffed today.”
Then momentarily, she turned around and glanced at the counter. Her partner was busy cleaning some glasses but things seemed to be calmer now that the lunch hour has come to pass. She sighed then turned back to Harry, who was purposely looking out the front door, waiting for an answer.
“But I will go and have lunch with you,” she finally said, beaming.
Harry looked up, his face lit. “Really?”
“Yes,” she said. “I will show you the good places to eat around here, since you requested it.”
“Brilliant!” he exclaimed. “I’ll have you know by the way, I really don’t know anyone around here, so I could use a… friend, erm, a local who knows the area,” he added bashfully. He looked up to see her laughing at his awkwardness. He couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“Give me five minutes,” she said.
He nodded and watched her go back into the kitchen. Little did Harry know they will be sharing more laughs in the near future, but given the state of the world right now, he wasn’t sure for how long.