Chapter 19: Noona's a complete catch.
Her hair was the same as before, cut short just close to her shoulders. She'd swapped her professional heels for flat, comfortable-looking leather sandals. It was a casual outfit, but on Sarah Lee, it looked effortlessly chic, like something from a lifestyle blog titled 'How to Be Comfortable and Stunning at the Same Time.'
The simple clothes, far from diminishing her beauty, somehow made her seem more approachable, more comforting and in a confusing way, even more breathtaking.
*****
Back to the present.
"Is something the matter, Julian?" Noona asked, tilting her head slightly, a curious, gentle smile playing on her lips as she slid into the chair opposite me.
Only then did I realize my gaze had been fixed on her, without blinking for several seconds now without me realizing.
I felt my ears grow warm. "No, it's nothing," I stammered, quickly looking down at the laminated menu in my hands with feigned interest.
"I just… I just thought that Noona looks even more beautiful in simple attire. It's a nice change from that office wear I sure you in earlier."
"Oh my." she chuckled lightly in a soft musical tone. Sarah Noona reached across the small table and patted my hand. "It seems your years alone in the big city college have really polished your tongue. You've become quite the smooth talker." Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
"I'm sure you've already gotten popular with your female course mates by now, haven't you?"
" I just hope you haven't started breaking hearts left and right already."
'Hahaha, I wish that were true.' The thought echoed in my head, leaving a hollow, helpless feeling settling in my chest.
The truth of the matter was that the only things I had gotten smoother with, where my part-time shifts, late-night study sessions in empty library corners.
And as for my social life, it consisted mostly of acquaintances from shared classes and the occasional forced small-talk with Zoe Noona at the store.
'To be honest, Zoe Noona had to be the person I was closest with in this city, well that was before Sarah Noona got here.' I thought to myself in an amused manner.
'Well, besides Zoe Noona and some people I recognize from lectures, I don't think I'm really on close terms with anyone...' I suddenly felt a tad lonely thinking about my social life.
"Excuse me, Sir?" A polite voice cut through my thoughts. One of the café staff, a young woman with a friendly smile and an apron dotted with coffee stains, had approached our table.
"Would you and your girlfriend care to make your orders now, or do you need a few more minutes with the menu?"
The word, girlfriend, took me by surprise.
I flinched, before my eyes flew to Sarah's face. She looked momentarily surprised, then a faint, amused blush colored her cheeks before she elegantly looked down at her own menu, a small smile tugging at her lips.
'Girlfriend?!' My brain short-circuited. The automatic correction.
'She's my aunt!'
died on my tongue. Saying it out loud would definitely feel weird.
Since the situation it self was complicated.
Rather than spending time explaining to the staff, I decided against it, besides.
'Noona does look really young. And we don't exactly look related…'
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a casual nod. "Uh, yes, thank you. We're ready." I handed my menu to Sarah, my voice hopefully steadier than I felt. "What would you like? Feel free to pick anything you want. My treat, remember?"
Sarah took the menu, her fingers brushing mine. "Well, aren't you a generous one today," she said, her voice laced with playful warmth, completely ignoring the server's assumption.
She skimmed the menu for a short moment, before coming to a decision. "I think… two creamy lattes, would suffice. And perhaps one of those lemon-poppy seed muffins to share?" She looked at me for confirmation.
I nodded, relieved she'd taken charge. "Sounds perfect." I didn't protest the latte; the thought of something sweet and creamy was immensely appealing after what had transpired this morning.
The server smiled, jotting down the order. "Excellent choice. I'll have those right out for you." She gave us another vaguely approving glance before gliding away to the counter.
The brief moment of shared social awkwardness passed, leaving me feeling momentarily relieved.
We sat in silence for a moment, watching the quiet bustle of the café, a student typing furiously on a laptop, an older couple sharing a newspaper, the soft sound of the espresso machine in the background.
Our orders soon arrived with impressive speed, delivered on a small wooden tray. The lattes were works of art, the creamy foam decorated with delicate leaf patterns. The muffin was golden and studded with poppy seeds, smelling of citrus and butter.
We dug in without further hesitation. The first sip of the latte was what I had to describe as wonderful. It was rich, smooth and perfectly sweetened.
I felt like I was suddenly treating myself rather than Noona. For a few minutes, we ate and drank in comfortable silence, the simple pleasure of good food acting as a temporary moment of peace.
"Ahh, that was so good," I let out a long, satisfied breath, setting down my empty cup. The warmth of the coffee and sugar had spread through me, easing some of the lingering chill from the morning's confrontation.
"I won't deny that," Noona agreed, dabbing her lips delicately with a napkin. A serene smile was on her face, but then it twitched.
She covered her lips with her hand, her shoulders beginning to shake with suppressed laughter. Her eyes were fixed on my face, sparkling with amusement.
"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"I think," she managed between soft giggles, "you've got a little bit of something… right there." She pointed a slender finger at the space above my upper lip.
Mortification dawned on my face. I swiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. A smear of milky foam
came away on my skin. To think i'd managed to give myself a perfect, foamy mustache. "Oh, geez."