It was a chilly autumn evening and I was battling with my second-hand umbrella against the wind. The News had told me that it was supposed to rain that day; however, my umbrella had yet to come into use. Unless of course I was trying to mimic Mary Poppins. Once I had forced that stupid contraption to behave, my eyes and nose were sorely tempted by the scent of freshly brewed coffee and delectable looking pastries in the café across the road. It was shining like a beacon of hope in an otherwise dreary street and was exactly what I needed.
My entrance into the quaint café was announced by the ringing of a bell. The teller behind the counter - a middle-aged Filipino lady who smelt strongly like nutmeg and had a flavour of cinnamon sugar - smiled cheerfully at me and asked if I'd like something to go or a table.
I obviously chose a table.
The inviting atmosphere of the place drew me in like a moth to the flame and I wasn't the only one; the place was packed and they only had one free table left. A booth all the way in the back.
It was only once I had sat down that I realised it was already occupied.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't realise that there was anyone sitting here," I exclaimed, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly as an embarrassed blush crept up onto my cheeks.
You didn't react at all, completely focused on the laptop screen in front of you. It was as if I wasn't even there. I had thought that perhaps you didn't hear me or you were just being rude.
It was as I glared at you that I realised you were completely flavourless, there wasn't even a hint of sour or a slight tingle of sweet on my tongue. Not even something bland like crackers without cheese. It intrigued and frightened me.
"I can leave," I stammered when you eventually looked up.
You just shrugged, the barest twitch of your shoulders, and continued to tap away on your keyboard. You were well dressed that night, rocking a striped mustard turtleneck, a fitted black blazer and round wire glasses. I thought you looked stunning and was admittedly rather jealous - not many people can pull off that shade of yellow.
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The awkward silence slowly ate into me and made me feel like a ghost, and so I broke it.
"So...uh, what you planning to order?" I chuckled and bore a smile like a shield.
"Hmm...I would like another cup of tea." You answered softly after an eternal moment with an almost thoughtful expression cracking your blank mask.
I simply nodded and began tapping my fingers on the tabletop to a beat that only I could hear, silently contemplating whether I should just take a cup of coffee and a cheese and bacon croissant to go. I was willing to do anything to spare me from the ash like mood that clung to you. Then the waiter came and handed me a leather bound menu with a polite smile and the promise of good service but he had a flavour of bitter lime - snide and judgemental.
He didn't even look at you.
I then realized that perhaps you were the ghost and not me.
When the waiter finally came back, after my entire college career had come and gone, he carried two trays instead of one and handed me my croissant and coffee with a shining smile and apologies for the long wait. Then he gave you your tea down without so much as a kind word. I didn't dare to ask why he treated you like that, perhaps he was an ex-boyfriend or something - it wasn't my place to ask anyways. I tried striking up a conversation with you once again but you only answered in monosyllabic grunts and shrugs. To be honest, it ticked me off and a part of me wanted to give up but the rest of me stubbornly clung on. You were an anomaly that I had yet to understand and was no closer to solving.
After another failed attempt of trying to get some sort of reaction out of you - to catch at least the faintest sliver of your flavour - I decided that I was still hungry and motioned to one of the waitresses. However, as I did so, I bumped my empty coffee cup off the table and scrambled to try and catch before it shattered on the ground but I ended up bringing everything else with me.
All eyes zeroed in on me, drawn by the loud crash, and I desperately wished I could sink into the floor and cease to exist. I began to blabber apologies and tried to pick up the broken pieces of my plate and the two cups, despite the reassurances the staff were giving me.
Then you began to giggle, a sound like Santa's sleigh bells and for a moment I could taste it...jasmine tea. Soothing, sweet and calm. Just like you. I couldn't help but start to laugh as well - that annoying, embarrassed kind where I sound like a pig in the dirt. It wouldn't be for a few more months until I saw you like that again. You offered to pay the bill and then we began to chat, I can't quite remember about what but I definitely know I did most of the talking. To this day it is my favourite memory of you. One of the best moments of my life as it was the beginning of such an amazing friendship.
"Do you remember that day?" I whisper and caress the name that was engraved into the cold slab of stone in front of me.
"You had such a beautiful personality hiding behind that mask of yours. You helped me set my life straight. Supported me. I could tell you anything." My voice cracks and I grip the mismatched bundle of jasmine, chrysanthemums and black roses tighter. Clenching my teeth I will the tears to stop but to no avail.
"So why didn't you tell me you were sick?" I drop to my knees and begin to sob all over again.