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"It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us."

I can't help but keep on reading this line again and again that Rea marked in the book while she was reading it. I always knew that she had a complicated relationship with her parents but I guess I never really understood the gravity of it all. And probably never will. Looking at the way she handles everything around her even now, no one would even question that she could have a tough, let alone a complex relationship with her parents.

I sip on my caramel cappuccino, while overlooking the window of Bookworms Cafe, the book cafe which has become my safe haven in the past few years and also a brilliant space to wait up for Rea, so I could catch up with her after work and then we head home together. I hear the wind chime ring against the door, which lets us all know that someone has either entered or just left the book cafe, but the leaves of the trees swaying in-front of the window have my entire attention.

A few minutes pass, I feel a tap on my shoulders and I look up. OH MY GOD. It was like suddenly time had come to a stop and this boy in-front of me had captured all my attention and the only thing that was playing in my mind on loop was OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD.

And he's just standing there smiling at me with his dimpled cheek. I finally come to my senses and give him a small smile."Can I sit here? All the other reading corners are occupied. And I really like to be able to look out the window at the trees, whenever I look up from my book" he asks me, while gesturing at the empty seat next to me.

It was like the words had left my mouth and the only thing I can do was nod and move my seat a bit, so he could have the space to pull out the chair and sit comfortably. I would like to say that I don't really judge someone based on their appearance, but we all know, that we should appreciate when someone looks this good. I mean it is only fair to appreciate the thought and effort the universe put into making this human.

Slicked back black hair hidden under the hood of his black hoodie, dragon shape eyes that I have never actually seen on anyone, and not a mark on his perfectly chiseled face. Oh and his shoulders. How can he have such broad shoulders. And legs which never end. I never thought anyone could look like this when they were wearing dark jeans with a hoodie and oh did I mention the white Nikes.

If I were to stand beside him, I would reach just below his upper chest, I mean not that it matters, but still. You have to appreciate what is in-front of you. I let out a small whisper internally, Oh thank you universe, for this beautiful vision which just made this whole day even better.

As if I didn't already feel blessed enough, he pulled out a pair of round-rimmed glasses from his bag along with a couple of books and put them on. I think he felt me staring at him and so as to not raise any questions or even see the look on his face when he turns towards me, I simply keep my coffee cup on the desk and get back to the book I was reading.

I was as it is towards the end of it, might as well finish it rather than making the boy think that I am a crazy person. Well I am, but he doesn't need to know it just yet.

I am so engrossed in the ending of this book, that when I reach for the coffee cup and take a sip, I didn't realise until afterwords, that it wasn't my cup. And I look at the cup and wonder since when did caramel cappuccino taste so bitter and since when was it Americano. Only it took me 5 seconds to register the fact that I accidentally picked up this guy's cup and took a sip from the same.

Too embarrassed to even look at him, I just keep the cup down and try to focus on the book again. But I obviously fail at it. And I just sit there face palming myself, for 5 minutes which actually felt like forever and then I hear giggles. I slightly turn my head and peak at the guy sitting next to me through my fingers and no wonder he's giggling. At me. For the blunder that I made. While he still tries to read his book.

Before I could turn back he catches me looking at him and I am a goner. What are these beautiful dimples on his face? Why is all this happening today? When did he even get a coffee mug and place it there? Why didn't I look before sipping from the mug?

I think he saw that I was overthinking the past 5 minutes to no end. And he stops giggling but the dimpled smile doesn't leave his face.

"It's okay, it can happen to anyone. You don't need to feel bad about it" he says calmly trying to help get rid of my first hand embarrassment.

"I don't feel bad about it, but I feel embarrassed that I did that. I am sorry, can I buy you another cup of coffee?" I reply while slowly taking my hands off my face and I get a really good look at his face.

"No it's fine. You clearly didn't like it, doesn't make sense to waste it just like that." He says and picks up the coffee mug and sips on his coffee from the other side of the mug. "See, all good"

"Okay, I am really sorry though. I wish I could do something to make it up to you. I am really not like this" I try to apologise to him again.

"It's absolutely fine, don't fret over it. It can happen to anyone" he replies calmly.

I look at the desk for my coffee mug and pick it up, only to notice that I had already finished my coffee. No wonder this guy was giggling at me like this, he would be thinking that I am absolutely crazy to not know that my coffee was already over and I didn't notice it.

But then I look at the book in front of him and see that it's in a different language. Before I can even gather my thoughts to ask him about it, the chatter in my mind gets interrupted by his voice

"Do the owners here allow you to mark things in the book and put so many sticky notes on it?" He asks, while looking at the book kept in front of me, with all the colourful sticky notes coming out of it. To be honest, this was one of the books with only a few things marked in it.

"Well, not really. I mean the owners here don't allow scribbling of any kind on the books that you can borrow from here. This is actually from my sister's collection and she loves marking things that she likes and resonates with."

"Can I take a look at it, if you don't mind?" He asks while pointing towards the book.

"Yeah sure, but can I ask you something first about that?" I say while pointing towards the book that's open in front of him.

"Yeah tell me" he says while picking up his coffee mug.

"What language is that?" I ask while trying to get a closer look at his book to understand what the different letters are, cause none of it makes sense to me and from far off it reminds me of the hatching patterns that we learnt in our design studio.

"Oh this, it is Hangul, the Korean Language" he replies.

Before I could ask him anything else, "No, I don't know Hangul fluently, I am still learning it. And trying to read this book helps me understand their sentence structures better and it's of great help to increase my vocabulary in the language." He continues with a small smile on his face.

Now that I actually take a better look on his side of the desk, I see a small notebook open where he has been scribbling notes.

"May I?" He interrupts my thoughts while pointing at the book in front of me. I just nod at him with a small smile on my face.

He's flipping through the book and reading the different things which Rea has marked in it. And the only thing I can do right now is stare at him. I mean what else could I do, I have already embarrassed myself in front of him, my coffee is also over, there is no way I am going to be able to read the ending of that book ever now, cause it will constantly remind me of this incident, and I am still waiting for Rea.

Rea. Oh. I should check up on her. I quickly take out my phone from the bag and see I have a missed call from her from a few minutes ago. And as I would have it, obviously my phone was on silent so I didn't realise when she called me in the first place.

"I am sorry, but I have to take a call, is that okay?" I don't know why but I decide to let this guy beside me know that I am gonna be on a call. And all I get is a nod from him while he has now started reading the book from the beginning which I was on the verge of finishing earlier.

I call back Rea and she picks it up on the second ring "Hey, I am sorry I missed your call earlier."

"It's okay, I figured you must be busy reading in the cafe"

Oh how well does she know me.

"Listen, today work has been a bit hectic and I still need some more time to wrap things up here at the office, before I can head home. I am sorry to do this to you so last minute, but you might have to eat dinner alone today. I can get you food delivered or I can send you some quick easy recipes to make from some of things we have in our pantry" she starts rambling and I have to stop her.

"No no, it is absolutely okay. You get done with your work, I will cook something for myself" I try to reassure her.

"Are you sure though? I can order dinner for you and it will reach home by the time you also reach and then you can have it while it's still hot. I already feel bad that you must have been waiting for me to come early today and cook, so that we could have dinner together" I can hear it in her voice that she feels guilty about having to cancel our dinner plans but I know how much she loves her work and what she's been through to get where she is now. And for that I will always support and respect her dedication towards her work.

"Yes yes I am sure, you don't need to worry at all. I promise not to burn down your precious kitchen in our home." As soon as I say this I can feel the boy's eyes on me. And my eyes, as if they have a mind of their own, just lock with him and automatically a smile forms on his face. Oh, that dimpled smile.

"Okay, but I am still going to send you a few quick recipes. And keep me updated. Also, if you don't want to cook, just let me know and I will order food for you. You don't even have to order it yourself." She says.

"Yes I know, now go and finish your work. Oh and get me a chocolate pastry when you are on your way home." I tell her.

"Yes ma'am" I can hear the smile in her voice as she says that and then the call disconnects.

As I move my hand away from my ear, to keep the phone down, my eyes are still locked with the boy in front of me and automatically I am mirroring his smile "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You don't need to burn down a kitchen today, I can recommend you some places where you can get good food." He says.

"Oh, so you don't think I have any cooking skills either" I reply.

"Well if you have to reassure the other person that you won't be burning down a kitchen, then can you blame me for assuming that?" He says, the smile never leaving his face

"I can fend well for myself. In fact, I am going to go now and cook. And I will send you both a picture of my dish to prove that I can cook basic things for myself" I say in an exasperated tone and let out a sigh.

"Well, we don't even know each others names, but sure I will be waiting for the picture of your dinner" he replies in a teasing tone.

I am taken aback with how forward and comfortable he is, and even more so with how comfortable I felt while having this conversation with him.

I get up from my seat and start gathering my things, while trying to think of what I can say to this guy. And when the only thing that is left for me to put away is the book that he borrowed from me a few minutes ago, I finally look at him and ask "Do you want to keep on reading it?"

"Yes, I actually want to continue reading this book, but you might need it back since you are leaving already" he replies.

"Oh well, I am not gonna be able to finish that book as it is tonight, I have to make myself dinner while ensuring I don't burn down a kitchen. So you can take it" I let him know.

"But how are you sure that I will come back to return this book to you?"

"You probably won't and Rea will probably not like the fact that I lent it to a stranger, given that it's one of her favourite books. But it's a good book and people should read it. So as long as you actually read it and enjoy it, then that's all that matters" I reply

"Can I have your phone number, so I can let you know when I am done reading and I could meet up with you to return it?" He asks with a hopeful smile.

"I am sorry but I am not comfortable sharing my number with someone I just met."

"Even though you just said that you will send me the picture of your dinner and we shared a cup of coffee?" He asks in that teasing tone.

I get flustered and start blabbering"What? No. We didn't share a coffee. I took it by mistake. I offered to buy you another one. You said no."

And he lets out a hearty laugh.

"I'm just going to go" I turn around and before I could take a step, he stops me.

I turn around to see him stand up from his seat and he's tall. So so so tall. I literally have to tilt my neck up a bit to see his face.

He brings his right hand forward and with his dimpled smile he says, "Julian"

I look down at his hand and back up at his face again. And I shake his hand and respond "Sky"

"I guess I will just come here and find you again when I have to return the book" He says, when I let go of his hand.

"Yes, you know the spot. This is where I almost always sit. I should go now" I point towards the door and turn around and start to leave.

And as soon as I am at the door, Julian speaks again, "I'll make sure to to order 2 coffees the next time around" and there are giggles that follow.

I want to turn around and reply, but knowing that I have embarrassed myself enough for the day, I keep my head low and with the biggest smile on my face I start walking home.