The story - her experience

"So what's your story" I asked him and at the same time I tried to guess it myself before hearing his response. He didn't look like an artist or musician. He seemed close to my age and he was dressed rather sharp compared to the usual casual attire of his peers. And he was wearing that cologne that gave me shivers from the first moment I saw him. He seemed smart, a bit geeky maybe? Well not geeky but definitely smart, wise even.. Definitely down to earth, you could hear that in the tone of his voice. Confident but also a bit shy that he would try to hide behind his gorgeous smile. Not a lawyer. And so effortlessly handsome. A gentleman. Sweet and kind.

"I'm currently a fourth year computer engineering student, just finished my December exams. And you?"

The first toast - his experience

She seemed like knowing the place since she pointed out the coziest seating spot without even looking around. Near the window and so comfortable. Lately, I was really enjoying winter and I couldn`t understand why but at that moment it made perfect sense. "Indeed, they are comfortable. Beautiful day today isn`t it?" She looked at me with a puzzled face. I don`t know why but she seemed like a winter person to me. The way she was holding her mug, breathing its warmth and looking out the window with those eyes, those eyes..“I used to be a summer person but lately I find myself enjoying the rain and winter more than ever”. And as I predicted, she replied at once that she is a winter person. Talking with her and sharing all these small things about myself comes so easy with her. I couldn`t understand it at all. And then she said the most amazing thing that made everything so clear about me turning into a winter person. “There is something about the cold and the rain. The cold makes our hearts warmer. And the rain makes everything clearer”. I never thought of that but that actually made perfect sense. She made perfect sense. My heart never felt warmer and my future never seemed clearer. But I thought to not let these things out just yet and say something lighter for the sake of a lighter mood. “That sounded very poetic. I never thought at it like that but I guess there is some true to it. Cheers to the winter!” I raised my mug as if I was holding a glass of wine during a romantic dinner at a luxurious restaurant. 

“Cheers!” she raised hers and we clinked our mugs together.

The first toast - her experience

“Let’s sit over there, near the window. Those red armchairs are really comfy.” I pointed out to him. These were my favourite seats because they are close to the window and I loved watching the people, all sorts of people, walking by. Most of the time, I was coming to Starbucks alone, just to have a hot drink and a read. This was my way of relaxing.
“Indeed, they are comfortable”, he told me as soon as we were seated. “Beautiful day today isn’t it?” he continued.
I tried to understand from his expression whether he was kidding or not since it was raining the whole day. Actually, it was raining the whole week. And it was cold. Not many people find this kind of days beautiful. So I needed to take a second or two before replying. It was really difficult for me to understand when he was serious or not, still is! Again, he must have understood my confusion and elaborated on his previous statement.
“I used to be a summer person but lately I find myself enjoying the rain and winter more than ever”.  So he wasn’t being sarcastic! He was actually enjoying winter!
“I always was a winter person!” I replied at once. “There is something about the cold and the rain. The cold makes our hearts warmer. And the rain makes everything clearer”.
“That sounded very poetic” he smiled. “I never thought at it like that but I guess there is some true to it. Cheers to the winter!” he raised his mug cheerfully.
“Cheers!” I raised mine and we clinked our mugs together.  

The introductions – his experience

I felt so happy when I saw her holding my drink but she felt embarrassed when I pointed it out to her and started apologising. And at that moment, my worries and fears that I had a few minutes ago that kept me from having a decent conversation with her disappeared at once because I had to talk to her to make her feel better because I couldn’t stand the thought of her feeling embarrassed. I had to make everything possible to make her feel only extraordinarily good feelings and no bad ones. As she was making me feel. So I let myself loose.

“Please don’t apologise, it was the right thing to do! Shall we find somewhere nice to sit and enjoy our drinks? By the way, we haven’t formally introduced ourselves, I am Kevin! Nice to meet you…”
“Annie! My name is Annie!” she interrupted me. She was so pretty, elegant and cute at the same time. I laughed and replied to her “Hi Annie! We are already finishing each other sentences!”.
And then she said the most amazing thing to me “God, you have a great laugh!”. She had the most amazing face, so honest and calm and the most amazing eyes that continue to penetrate every aspect of my existence. Her face was like a mirror and all her feelings were clearly reflected on it. So it wasn’t hard to see that she was feeling terrible with herself for saying that out loud. But was it because she regretted saying something she didn’t actually mean (in which case I would be the one to be sad..)? Or was it because she meant it but she didn’t want to let it out considering how soon it was for saying such things (in which case I would be ecstatic!)? I had to know so the only way to know was to also be too-soon-for-so-much-honesty with her too and see her reaction. “Hahaha, and you have such an adorable look on your face when you realise that you said something that you shouldn’t have. And now you are feeling awkward and uncomfortable so in order to make you feel better I will say something that I am not supposed to.” And then she looked me in the eyes and it came out as natural as breathing “I could love that look”. And that was the first time that she made me happy by giving me the most sincere smile ever.

The introductions – her experience

“Yes, I’m sorry, it just that you were not here and..” I started saying with an embarrassing look. “Please don’t apologise, it was the right thing to do! Shall we find somewhere nice to sit and enjoy our drinks? By the way, we haven’t formally introduced ourselves, I am Kevin! Nice to meet you…”
“Annie! My name is Annie!”
“Hi Annie! We are already finishing each other sentences!” he laughed again.
“God, you have a great laugh!” For a second there, I hadn’t realised that I told that out loud. It was only after seeing him laughing even more that I realised that it actually came out from my mouth! I couldn’t believe that I said that. What would have happened if he got scared and thought I was weird and desperate (which none of these were true, well ok maybe only the first part but only the “good” weird!)? Any sign of happiness must have disappeared from my face and replaced by hopelessness. I couldn’t even look him in the eyes anymore.
“Hahaha, and you have such an adorable look on your face when you realise that you said something that you shouldn’t have”.
---So he also thinks that it was too much to say.. I ruined everything—
“And now you are feeling awkward and uncomfortable so in order to make you feel better I will say something that I am not supposed to.” I look up to his eyes again, not sure what I was expecting from him to say and then he said it “I could love that look”.
And that was the first time that he put a smile back on my face.

Back to reality – his experience

I went to the rest room and tried to hold myself. I felt like I was hit by a bus. I had to restrain myself. I couldn’t really understand what was happening to me. In my 21 years, I never felt like this for a girl even though I had my fair share of girl experience and dating. I was neither a player nor shy with women. But with this girl, this woman, something was completely different. She was mesmerising. Her aura was a radiant light. I wanted to be with her all the time to make sure that she is safe and smiling. I wanted to know all her dreams, her hopes, her likes and dislikes. I wanted to see how life looks from her eyes. And most importantly, I wanted to share my life with her. I could see it clearly in the mirror. I couldn’t stop smiling because something extraordinary arrived in my life. It was like I was reborn. But I had to restrain myself and get back to reality. I was never the kind of guy to make plans for the future, instead I was always the carpe diem kind of guy. But this girl WAS my carpe diem. And on that realisation, I cleaned myself quickly and rushed outside the toilet. And there she was. Just where I left her. Picking up 2 drinks, the one must be mine I thought. And then she turned and saw me and I couldn’t help but smile again and walk towards her at a fast pace. And here she was holding my drink too and I felt like not only staying as I asked her but also picking up my drink together with hers was the norm. Could it be..?

Back to reality – her experience

“So what can I get you?” The voice of the barista brought me back to reality. I was already dreaming about our marriage, our honeymoon, and our 2 kids (1 boy and 1 girl). “1 venti signature hot chocolate please, oh and 1 chocolate chip cookie”. Since he didn’t allow me to pay for his drink, I thought to buy him a cookie instead. And then I noticed my Celine bag. It was a present from my dad and was awesome. My dad and mom have the best taste in bags, shoes, clothes and they always buy pretty presents for me and my siblings (1 sister and 1 brother both younger and cuter than me). His Mocha Praline was spilled all over my Celine bag. I had to go to the ladies room to clean it with water in order to minimise the damage as much as possible. But I couldn’t go because he had told me to be here and I couldn’t bear the thought of him thinking that I left and him leaving too. And then it came to me.  That time that my mom told me that when I will meet the man of my life, I would just know and I laughed in disbelief. Oh mom, how many times did you have to prove me how wise and right you are? Could this be that moment? Could this man be THE man? “Here your drinks, Mocha Praline and signature hot chocolate together with 1 chocolate chip cookie”. The voice of the barista brought me back to reality one more time. “Thank you so much!” I replied and took the tray. I looked around for seats and there he was, coming back, smiling at me. God he was handsome. “Hi again”, he said, “I see you got my order as well” he laughed again. I hadn’t realised that I took both drinks like it was the normal thing to do. It seems that the dream was now becoming the reality. Could it be..?

The first talk - his experience

I hadn't realised how long it took me to gather my thoughts after laying eyes on her. It was only after she said hi again that it hit me that I hadn't reply to her first hi. "Hi" was the only thing that I managed to say. It was weird really because normally I was really good with talking to the opposite sex even with women that I was attracted to. But to her, I couldn't find any words to say apart from the necessary "hi". I think I was able to smile a bit but I am not sure. And then she spoke again! She offered to buy me a drink! Right, the one that I bought was spilled all over the place and myself! I denied her offer, of course, and turned to the barista "Can I have another one please?". "Yes, it's from the house", he told me and winked at me indicating that he noticed what was going on ;) I also tried to clean myself and the surroundings with the hope to calm myself in order to be able to actually talk to her but I couldn't so I found the perfect excuse; go to the bathroom to clean myself!! But what if she was gone by the time I had come back? Noway I could let this happen so without even thinking this time, I said "I'll just go to the rest room to clean my hands. You will be here when I'll get back right?"because you are going to be my wife. I stopped myself from saying the last part of my thought, or maybe she stopped me by immediately responding of course to my greatest satisfaction! The only thing that I knew for sure was that I didn't want to leave her. Not now. Not ever.

The first talk - her experience

"Hi!" I said again. Oh god, this is my second hi in less than 10 seconds and he didn't even reply to my first one! Oh god he is just staring at me! Oh god I must look like an idiot to him! I remember thinking these three "oh gods" and then it happened! He said hi back! And smiled back! And I completely melted.. He was so young yet his eyes had this calmness that comes with age and wisdom. "I can buy you another one!" I said with a rather happy voice. "You will certainly not! It was my fault" he answered back. "But I..." I attempted arguing with him but he was already ordering another one to the barista that witnessed the whole scene so I didn't even finish my sentence. I was just observing him, mostly admiring him actually, while he was placing his order and trying to clean himself. "I'll just go to the rest room to clean my hands. You will be here when I'll get back right?" "Of course!" I replied immediately even though what I really felt saying was I will always be here for you from now until eternity.

The beginning - his experience

The day I first saw her was the luckiest day of my life regardless the fact that she made me spill my drink at Starbucks. I didn't even like Starbucks before that day. But since then, I love them. I don't even know how I missed her. I hadn't even seen her standing behind me before shocking me with the cutest and at the same time scarest "hi" that I've ever heard. That day was going really bad. I had a feeling that I had probably failed my exam (which was not the case as it turned out!), had a fight with my flatmate for something that I cannot recall and I had to pay 50 pounds for parking slightly outside the parking lines. Oh and I hadn't slept all night because I was trying to cover the whole syllabus that's why I ended up at the nearest Starbucks shortly after the exam. And then she happened to me! At first, I was ready to start screaming at her for scaring me and making me spill my 5 pound drink. But then I saw her. That pretty face of hers with her big dark brown eyes that still get me lost every time I look at them. I couldn't even make myself say hi back. She was standing there, smiling at me and all I could think of was that these eyes belong to my future wife. That she is my future wife. And this was our beginning!

The beginning - her experience

I had never noticed anyone before that cold December night. But once I noticed HIM, I knew he was (still is!) the love of my life. All I had to do was making him notice me too! Which was weird at first because I had never felt like this for a guy. Guys come to me first and then I notice them. In my 20 (well 21 next month but who's counting?) years, I had never fallen for a guy who was not already mesmerized by me. To be honest, I have no idea why I was always "successful" with the opposite sex. I always had guys surrounding me but I am not the sexy magazine-beautiful type. I see myself as an average pretty but smart girl-woman. But that cold December night, I noticed someone first for the first time. God bless Starbucks (the second love of my life). He was standing in front of me. Right in front of me. Wearing that cologne that still gives me shivers. I remember my inner self screaming in my head "TALK TO HIM!! SAY HI!!! TALK TO HIM". But I only found the courage to talk, not actually talk but desperately shout to him, when the barista shouted his drink (Mocha Praline) and realized that he was going to grab it and leave.

I leaned towards him while shouting a hi in the weirdest vocals ever and smiled the most huge smile I ever smiled in my life. Poor guy.. He was surprised and scared and spilled the hot drink everywhere including my black Celine bag. And I was still smiling because he finally looked me in the eyes.. Those huge green eyes.. Looking into my humble dark brown ones.. Yes, at that point, I was certain. He. Was. Mine. And that was the beginning. Our beginning.