Properly talking to Fernanda. Kind of.

Saying that seeing her again was a shock would be an understatement, but thankfully my surprise didn’t show in my face. Still, on the inside, I was practically stunned.

I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t remember her. I mean, I’ve only mentioned her a few times. She was a regular at our coffee shop until she suddenly stopped coming. We had never had a proper conversation. The most we’d talked was me greeting her, taking her order and then wishing her a good evening. Really, the only reason she was still on my mind was due to a similar reason Diana was before I even knew her. I had this odd, inexplicable gut feeling that she and I could hit it off. Oh, and she was hot as all hell.

“We were on our way home from the airport and my wife said she wanted coffee,” Mr. Carlos explained. “We were nearby and Fern said this shop was good.”

I smiled. “Yes, I remember her.” The girl flinched and looked away. I had an idea why. The last time I saw her, she… Um… We caught her watching one of my videos. For the longest time I believed she stopped coming simply out of shame. That’s what I would’ve done. Of course, I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by bringing that up. “She was a regular here. Cappuccino and half a dozen cookies, usually.”

She turned to me with wide eyes and reddening cheeks, but didn’t say a word. Mr. Carlos laughed heartily. “Yes, that’s what she has most of the time! I can’t believe you remember her usual order!”

“Yeah, he’s good at that,” Maria said from behind the counter, grinning. “It’s part of why our customers like him. So I take it you’d like your order to go?”

“Yes, please,” Mr. Carlos said, stepping up to the counter. “My wife is waiting in the car.”

Maria took his order and began to prepare it on her own. Three coffees, two pastries and a sandwich were easy enough to get done. The problem was that left me alone with this girl in an awkward silence. I could’ve easily excused myself and gone to clean up or something, but… I had been hoping to see her again. After I made up my mind (and with a strong push from the girls) to talk to her, she disappeared. I couldn’t waste this chance to at least share some small talk.

“U-Um…!” She spoke before I did. She had one of her hands gripping her opposite forearm, and I noticed it was to stop both from shaking. “F-Fernanda. I don’t… I never told you my name, did I?”

I smiled. “Ah, so that’s why Mr. Carlos calls you Fern. I’m Oliver.” She likely already knew, but if I was in her shoes, I’d be grateful to be given an out of looking like a stalker.

…

You know, maybe she WAS a stalker and I was making a very big mistake, but I decided to take my chances. You know, because of my instincts, not because she was every bit as hot as my girlfriends and exactly my type.

“I’m glad to see you again,” I told her. “When you stopped coming I got worried thinking something might have happened.”

She mindlessly rubbed her forearm and looked towards Mr. Carlos. “Went with my dad back to Brazil.” I expected her to say more, but she didn’t.

“What for, if you don’t mind me asking?”

It took her a short moment to answer, like she was gathering her thoughts. “To see some family.”

“Ah, that’s nice. Are you guys back for good or is it temporary?”

She paused before speaking again. “For good,” she ended up saying.

“I see.” Aaaand I could tell we were heading back to an awkward silence. She was difficult to talk to, huh?

…

…

…

Oh God. So THIS is what it was like talking to me back then? Mila, Grace, Sarah… I might need to build them a church instead of a house.

Man, this was rough. I had learned that most people love talking about themselves, so asking questions was a good way to keep conversations going. But maybe Fernanda just didn’t want to talk and I was bothering her. Maybe it was better I give her space.

“Well, it’s good to see you again. I hope you’ll drop by again. Now…” I was about to excuse myself, but Fernanda spoke up.

“H-Hey, you…” I stopped and looked at her. She pursed her lips and swallowed hard. Her hand gripped her forearm hard. “I… I h-happened to find your music channel. I’m… I’m a fan. Thanks for all the videos. They really… cheer me up.”

I blinked, and for a moment I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I mean… She was talking to me, right? Talking to me about MY channel. A real, flesh and blood person I couldn’t even really call an acquaintance was saying she was a fan of my music.

“A-Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say! S-See ya.” She turned around and went out the door before I could say anything. That reset my stun gauge.

I heard a heavy sigh behind me. Mr. Carlos gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder, the bag with his order in his other hand. “I’m sorry about her, my boy. She’s not very sociable. Thank you for talking to her. I’m sure it meant a lot to her, and it means a lot to me. I have to go now, but we’ll see each other again at the gym, won’t we?”

His voice and the weight of his hand brought me back to earth. “Yes, of course. And it’s no problem. You don’t need to apologize. It’s good to have you back, sir. Please tell her I’m happy she likes my music.”

Mr. Carlos grinned. “I will, my boy. Take care.”

The big man left as well and we were back to an empty shop. Slow day.

I turned to Maria and saw her with her hands on her face. “God, I’m gonna lose SO many customers when you’re gone…”

“Just… Buy a radio ad,” I told her, sighing.

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