A Coffee's Tale

Nil sat in silence, sipping his coffee, lost in his thoughts. Glancing at him, Stranger couldn't help but inquire,"Why are you so quiet today? Is there something on your mind?"Nil, meeting Stranger's gaze, offered a heartfelt response, "Thank you, Stranger."Stranger, puzzled, questioned, "For what?"Nil's eyes conveyed a sense of gratitude as he replied, "For your help. Without your guidance, entering the bustling city of Bangkok would have been an impossible feat for me."Stranger continued to hold Nil's gaze, his eyes revealing a depth of emotion.Suddenly Stranger rub his thumb on Nil's lips. Nil, slightly flustered, lowered his eyelashes, ''Whatt..?''Stranger, with a soft smile, replied, "Ah, umm, the foam from your coffee was clinging to your lips."Nil, a touch embarrassed, hastily wiped his mouth and inquired, "Is it gone now?"Stranger, with a playful glint in his eye, responded, "No, it's still there. Let me help."With a gentle, unexpected gesture, Stranger reached out, delicately brushing the foam from Nil's lips with his own hand. Their eyes locked, and a palpable tension hung in the air. Nil, feeling a bit flustered by the intimacy of the moment, attempted to dispel the awkwardness with a teasing comment."Stranger, in the morning, you didn't want to lay eyes on me, and now here we are, sharing coffee at the same table. Please don't tell me you'll be sending me the bill for the damage to your clothing," he quipped.Stranger, unfazed by Nil's remark, remarked with a hint of amusement, "Don't you think you talk a lot? In the English dictionary, it's called 'blabber.'"Niloy, taking the comment in stride, replied with a lighthearted tone, "You may call me a blabber, but I take it as a compliment. I believe you speak and smile so rarely. Choosing to remain apart from the world, isolated from happiness and love, must be much more challenging than being a blabber. At least in my day-to-day life, I can express myself."Stranger contemplated Nil's words, his gaze unwavering.Nil continued, "You're just an amazing person."Stranger remained silent, prompting Nil to clarify, "No, I'm not suggesting you. I'm trying to convey that you're my Stranger—well, not exactly mine, but you're the one who helped me in an unfamiliar country, in an unknown city'' ''I can feel your emotions, but why do you never allow others to experience the same? It's as though you've built a wall around yourself, preventing you from truly seeing the world. I encourage you to break those barriers and experience the beauty of the world. You'll find countless reasons to smile and realize that many people love you and care for you."Stranger, his gaze fixed on Nil, remained profoundly moved by the unexpected conversation.Nil, mischievously pinching the stranger's hand, quipped, "It's not just a figment of your imagination."Stranger, taken aback by Nil's sudden playfulness, let out an "Ouch!"Nil smiled and reiterated, "It's not an illusion."In the worker's room, Mary observed the exchange between Nil and Stranger, her heart touched by the unfolding connection.Techno gently suggested to Mary that she should get some sleep, but she remained in the room, merely listening to the ongoing conversation and remarked with a wistful tone, "How romantic they are."Meanwhile, Lava happened to pass by the cafe and noticed the familiar sight of Stranger's car. Intrigued, she parked her own car and stepped out to take a discreet peek inside, her curiosity getting the better of her.As she gazed across the room, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and unease. The sight before her was a peculiar one, for she had never witnessed Kao, her beloved, so utterly content in the company of another. There he was, seated at a cozy cafe table, sharing laughter and coffee with the waiter. A sense of wrongness gnawed at her heart gnawed like a creature of jealousy. Unwilling to bear the torment any longer, she discreetly departed from the scene.Meanwhile, Nil, who had been silently observing the unfolding drama, finally broke the silence. "I've finished...my coffee," he uttered, his voice trembling with a hint of apprehension.Stranger inquired, "So what?"A shiver ran down Nil's spine as he replied, "I think...you should leave now."Stranger glanced at his wristwatch and exclaimed, "Oh, it's nearly 3:00 am. I really ought to be on my way; it's late.""Goodnight," Nil bid him farewell."Goodnight," Stranger reciprocated before making a swift exit.As Nil watched the stranger's retreating figure, his thoughts swirled like a tempest within him. Suddenly, he clinked a finger against the rim of his glass, the sound resonating through the dimly lit cafe. As Nil approached him, Stranger swiftly made his way to the waiting car outside, muttering to himself."Kao Neptune...what's wrong with you," he mused, the bewilderment evident in his voice. He climbed into the car and drove away, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions that hung heavy in the night.In the quiet solitude of his thoughts, Nil pondered the enigma that was Stranger. His heart bore the weight of a gnawing unease, whispering to him, "What's wrong with him today? Why is his demeanor so peculiar?"With a heavy sigh, he carried the two cups to the sink, allowing the soothing water to cleanse them of their secrets. The night beckoned, and Nil's mind was burdened with a multitude of questions that danced like shadows in the periphery of his consciousness. Mary, too, yearned to probe the mysteries that lingered in the air, but Nil remained resolute in his silence. He shrouded his thoughts, denying her the opportunity to inquire about the enigmatic events of the evening.