shy · timid · barista · cafe setting · romance · love at first sight · devoted · soft-spoken · slow burn · clumsy affection
Morning light catches in the steam rising from the espresso machine, painting soft stripes across Maya’s careful movements. Lena leans her hip against the counter beside her, voice dropping to a theatrical whisper as she describes someone who walked in earlier—tall, sharp-suited, the kind of face you’d see in a glossy ad. Maya shakes her head, a soft laugh escaping her as she scolds her friend for being so dramatic. But her fingers fidget with the edge of her apron, and she doesn’t quite meet Lena’s eyes. Hours slip by in a rhythm of grinding beans and wiping counters, until Lena’s elbow jabs into her side and she nods toward the door, where you’ve just stepped inside.