She waited outside the restaurant, bathing herself in the warmth of the sunlight. Her shades covered the dark eyes but the dazed glare within was visible, way too visible. Adjusting her glasses, she stepped into the building. All the waitresses cast a wary glance at the lady before them, averting their gaze when she turned. Only one, a young teenager with a tan complexion, lifted her head in question.

"One Mocha, please." She called out in a lulling voice, waving her hand to usher the waitress off. The tiny diamond embedded in her ring flashed under the gentle light cast by the wall lamps. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze when she stepped forward to occupy a corner table. Drawing the chair out, she nodded with gratitude as the young waitress set her coffee down. "Thank you..." The smile on her face remained as she picked a crisp hundred dollar note from her wallet and handed it to the waitress.

Even while the waitress walked away softly, she stirred her coffee slowly, occasionally sipping it. The sweet aroma drifted into her nose, refreshening not only her senses, but also the fond memories. Mumbling quietly to herself, she pulled the diamond ring out of her finger to appraise it. The words engraved in the gold were faded, caused by the constant friction against her slender fingers. With an inaudible sigh, she ran her fingers across the engravings.

---
"What do you wish to order?" He flashed a conceited smile to her, gesturing to the display board above his head. Returning a cold stare, she pointed at the Expresso Coffee with a practiced flourish. He ignored her cold attitue, returning seconds later to hand her her cup of coffee. "Thank you." She nodded slightly, reaching out to hold onto the cup. As he released hold, her fingers accidentally brushed against his burly fingers. He smiled apogetically, loosening his grip on the cup completely. Before she could curl her fingers around the ear, the coffee cup had dropped and shattered. She looked numbly as the brown liquid stained her perfectly white designer blouse, a tint of red appearing on her cheeks. Bending low to pick up the remnants of the cup, he swept the broken pieces away from her petite feet, cursing himself softly for the blunder.

When he straightened himself, she had regained her composure, casting an accusing glance at him. Curling his lips into a tight smile, he shook his head in resignation and offered to compensate her with another coffee. Before he could move off, she grabbed his wrist to halt him. Their eyes met for a brief moment when he turned but he quickly glanced down at his shoes. "I do not wish to ask for too much but you have damaged my blouse. I demand an apology as well as compensation." She called out loudly, drawing attention to themselves. Murmurs arose from around her as she tightened her grip around his hand. In response, he scratched his head and dragged her into the shop.

"I guess I was in the wrong. But hey, spare me some thought eh?" He grinned and pulled out his wallet. While he counted the notes, she scanned the surroundings, noting the spotlessness of the shop. Every trace of dust was removed and the machinery in perfect condition. A packet of coffee beans sat on the table, giving off the sweet aroma of coffee. Picking the packet up gingerly, she noticed the exquisite design encrafted on each coffee cup placed opposite her. "Here, is fifty bucks alright?" He handed her a stack of notes, mostly in small change. She accepted the notes quietly, returning her gaze back towards the array of cups. Noticing her change in attitude, he removed the packet of coffee beans and started grinding it manually. The fragance filled her nose once more and brought her back into reality. Covering her mouth in embarrassment, she turned to watch him worked, marvelling at his mastery.

"You seemed skilled in the art of coffee making..." She let the comment lose without realising it, unaware that she was running late for her appointment. Lowering his head to acknowledge her call, he quickened his pace before picking a pink delicately designed coffee cup to contain the Expresso. With another emotionless expression, she accepted the cup and sipped quietly, savouring the bitterness of the coffee accompanied with a sweet taste hidden within. His hands free now, he glanced at the domineering lady before him, noting the branded goods and self-confidence aura emitting from her. When she finally finished her Expresso, he showed her the way out before appearing in the counter once more. To him, the welfare of one customer was important; going the extra mile for customer was an essential factor in business. To her however, his sole attention on her was enough to prompt her with second thoughts.

She returned almost everyday, ordering the same coffee to savour the bitter and sweet of the coffee. He faced her cold attitude everyday but returned it with a heart-warming smile. Slowly, the ice cast on her heart began to melt and she showed her true personality. The Expresso coffee still accompanied her but a new addition joined in: him. He was the one who introduced her to the various coffee and taught her the art. She had sampled almost every coffee he had made but the Expresso remained her favourite. They enjoyed each other's company despite her always criticising his rough behaviour and him letting her on her way.

----
"... I don't think, we should meet each other again." She smiled apologetically, backing herself away from the coffee shop while staring at the floor. His eyes reflected shock but slowly morphed into understanding. They were in two different worlds but fate had brought them together. At the same time, it had mocked them, and their feelings. He flashed a soft smile in return, reaching out to pull her back in. Pouring her a cup of Expresso, perhaps her last cup, he maintained silent, waiting for her to explain. That was one characteristic she liked, he was never rash, and always fair to her. Setting down the cup, he sat opposite her and tucked his hands across his chest. He was patient and could wait. A good quality nonetheless but bad in this situation. She sighed and placed both hands on the table, resting her head above them. For a while, the silence was deafening as she continued to avoid his gaze. Then he moved forward and caressed her hair, pushing the insignificant cup of coffee before her.

She shivered slightly, afraid that he would notice the trails left on her cheeks as she lifted her head. Their eyes met for the first time that day, reminding her of their first meeting. As she searched through her thoughts, he held out his hand to rub away the moisture under her eyes. She felt the touch, shook her head stubbornly and pushed away from the table. There would be no explanation, only a final conclusion.

----
There was nothing but sweetness in the coffee now. The usual bitterness was gone, like the small shop he had opened. She sipped the Mocha, trying to find the familiar taste that had been lost for two months. Despite sampling almost all the shops in the small city, none had the same taste. She fell into deep thought, spinning the small ring on the table top. It seemed almost impossible to find him in the vast country, even the world. "Is something wrong?" The dark-haired man before her frowned in question before pulling out a chair to sit. She shook her head and studied her fiance, her fingers absentmindedly putting the ring back. As he called for his own drink, she dropped her face into her hands, resting them on her laps. The bells on her bracelet tinkled merrily, a rhythm matching the swishing motion of her dark hair. Agony was torturing her, and she was thankful that she was the only one suffering. When the young waitress set the coffee down before her fiance, he thanked her and flashed a wide grin. It was this smile that captivated many, even the waitress. But to her, it resembled a devil's smile. "Strange you should choose my brother's old shop as a meeting point... Perhaps it is fate?" He sipped his own coffee slowly, the eagle sharp eyes capturing her every move. She raised her head once more, flickering her eyes in doubt and surprise. Did he knew, or was he merely commenting? Deciding to play safe, she nodded in answer and stirred her cup of coffee. "It might be. I frequent this cafe because I find the coffee satisfactory." She met his eyes, steadying the glare. Smiling to himself, the man clutched her left hand and pulled it towards him. On the fourth finger, a round mark could be seen, having been cut in for countless days. She stifled her gasp and glanced at him in coldness. "Perhaps we should start our discussion. You know for the fact that I was bethrothed to you because of our parents strained business partnership." Her eyes flared in anger as she put emphasis on every word.

The man nodded quietly, releasing hold on her hand. They still held the gaze though. "You wish your own freedom in choosing your eternal happiness so you want to call off the engagement. Am I correct?" His smile was still playing on his lips, making her shiver in fear. Nevertheless, she replied with a ghost nod. "Very well... I will call someone here as a witness." He sighed softly and looked towards the counter.

Following his gaze, she froze when he appeared from behind the frosted screen. Her fiance seemingly the mastermind, got up and walked towards him. Watching them laugh and chat, she realised the obvious fact that she had overlooked. The pair of brothers were a twin. "Not that it matters to me now..." She cursed silently and finished the cup of coffee.

I promised that day,
That we will be together,
Yet I was the one who broke the promise,
At that particular time because of my naive...

I know your trouble, the doubts you had
And for that you keep your mask
Let there be nothing now
Only the sweet and bitterness
In the Coffee we both share