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After the most soul-crushing day of college classes (seriously, who schedules back-to-back lectures?), I needed to recharge. Naturally, that meant hitting up my favorite coffee shop for a latte and a little me time. As I waited in line, scrolling through my phone, the new Benoftheweek video caught my eye.
“YES,” I whispered under my breath, clicking on it immediately. His videos were like therapy after days like this. Watching Ben felt like catching up with a best friend you’ve never actually met, but it didn’t matter because he totally got you.
I was so into his latest antics (something about him trying weird snacks again or this time bugs? (Classic Ben) that I barely noticed my surroundings. The shop was packed, and just as I reached out to grab my drink, bam. I collided with someone.
I just hoped that the person who I ran into wasn't too angry with me
“Ah, sorry!” I stammered, looking up to apologize.
And that’s when I froze.
Standing there, holding his own drink with an amused look on his face, was Ben. Yes, THE Benoftheweek, or Ben de Almeida to be specific. The guy I spent countless nights watching while ignoring my homework. The guy who was basically a comfort character and real-life person combined.
When I had a down time during my high school years, Ben was the one who showed up. Even if It was just me finding his YouTube Videos
My brain short-circuited. Was I dreaming? Did I accidentally enter an alternate universe where this kind of thing happens?
Ben’s expression shifted as he noticed the fresh coffee stains all over my jeans and sweater. “Oh man, I’m so sorry about that,” he said, genuinely concerned. “Here.”
Before I could even process what was happening, he took off his oversized hockey hoodie and handed it to me. “This should cover it up for now,” he said with a small smile.
I blinked. “Wait… are you sure?”
“Yeah, of course,” he said casually, like it wasn’t the most insane thing in the world.
As I slipped on the hoodie, I swear it felt like wearing a piece of magic. It was soft, smelled faintly like cologne and coffee, and honestly, I was trying not to freak out.
“Can we, um, take a selfie?” I asked, my voice coming out way more nervous than I’d hoped.
Ben chuckled, that same laugh I’d heard in a million videos. “Of course.”
He leaned in, his arm around my shoulder as we snapped the pic. I was definitely going to frame it later.
“Let me grab you another coffee,” he said, already heading toward the counter before I could protest. “And a muffin too. My treat.”
A few minutes later, we sat down at a tiny corner table. I stared at him across from me, my mind still reeling. This is real. This is happening.
“So,” I finally managed to ask, “what brings you to the city?”
Ben leaned back in his chair, totally relaxed. “Filming a video,” he said, like it was no big deal.
“Of course you are,” I said, grinning. “What’s it about?”
He gave me that signature mischievous smirk. “You’ll have to wait and find out.”
“Ugh, not even a hint?” I pouted, hoping to charm him into spilling the tea.
“Nope.” He popped the p at the end, clearly enjoying my frustration.
I sighed dramatically, trying to play it cool even though my heart was doing flips.
Ben noticed the pile of books sticking out of my shoulder bag. “What’re you studying?”
“Journalism,” I said, trying not to sound too proud. “It’s my first year.”
“Ah, journalism! That’s awesome,” Ben exclaimed, nodding appreciatively. “Gotta love the power of words. You’ll do great, I’m sure.”
I thanked him, feeling a rush of encouragement from his words.
Then, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Ben leaned in closer and quipped, “Well, at least the coffee didn’t decide to make your books and laptop its next victims. That would've been a real headline: 'Coffee Spill Disaster Strikes New Journalism Student!'”
We both chuckled at his joke, the tension from the accidental collision melting away into shared laughter. Moments like this were rare, and I wanted to hold onto it forever.
As we continued talking, I glanced out the coffee shop window and caught the reflection of the clock. My stomach sank as I realized how quickly time had flown.
“I should probably get back to my apartment,” I said reluctantly, not wanting this to end.
Ben nodded, like he could sense my hesitation. “Need a ride?” he offered.
I tried to say no, but he insisted.
As we kept talking, time flew by faster than I expected. When I mentioned I had to get back to my apartment, Ben offered me a ride. I tried to say no, but he insisted.
His car was exactly what I imagined—cozy, with little pom-poms dangling from the rearview mirror. “I remember these from one of your videos!” I said, grinning as I lightly batted one.
Ben laughed. “Yeah, they’re kinda ridiculous, but I love them.”
When we got to my building, I hesitated, not wanting the moment to end. And then, out of nowhere, he turned to me.
“Hey, do you want your hoodie back?” I asked, tugging at the hem nervously.
Ben shook his head. “Nah, keep it. Consider it a thank-you for watching my stuff.”
“Wait, seriously?” My jaw practically hit the floor.
“Yeah,” he said, shrugging like it was nothing. “Fans like you are the reason I do what I do.”
(Cue internal screaming.)
“Hey, this might sound weird, but… would you want hangout sometime, I'm in the city for a few weeks?” he asked, his tone surprisingly shy.
My heart stopped. “I—yeah! Definitely!”
We exchanged numbers, and before I got out, he handed me one of his favorite caps from the backseat.
“Here,” he said with a grin. “Another souvenir from today.”
I smiled as he handed it to me, then we waved our goodbyes
As I watched him drive away, I hugged the hoodie closer, unable to stop smiling. What started as just another ordinary day had turned into a moment I’d never forget. And maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something even better
I made friends with a YouTuber