JUN 12, 2024
BY NR.BALOCH
Mia cherished the aroma of coffee. It was her morning routine, her consolation, and her comfort that gave everything a slight improvement. Her little café, “The Bean and Leaf,” was tucked away in a peaceful area of the busy metropolis. Her haven was the café, where she could share with others her passion for reading and coffee. The strong perfume of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air, and the shelves were stocked with poetry and novels.
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Mia cherished the aroma of coffee. It was her morning routine, her consolation, and her comfort that gave everything a slight improvement. Her little café, “The Bean and Leaf,” was tucked away in a peaceful area of the busy metropolis. Her haven was the café, where she could share with others her passion for reading and coffee. The strong perfume of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air, and the shelves were stocked with poetry and novels.
The café filled with the usual mix of newcomers and regulars as the morning rush started. Mia kept herself occupied by talking with the patrons, preparing lattes, and taking orders. She looked over at the man in the corner every now and then, wondering what he was writing so passionately. At last, amid a lull, she made the decision to go up to him.
She grinned and said, “Good morning. What can I get you, please?
Startled, as though he had been yanked from another planet, the man looked up. Mia was temporarily taken aback by the depth and startling tint of green in his eyes.
Yes, I guess. Please, just a black coffee, he said in a low, silky voice.
“Coming right up,” Mia continued to smile. With questions about the strange writer in the corner running through her head, she went back to the counter and made his coffee.
She couldn’t resist asking, “What are you working on, if you don’t mind my asking?” when she gave him his coffee.
After a little pause, the man grinned. “I write.” Actually working on a novel.”
Mia said, genuinely impressed, “That’s amazing.” “What’s the deal?”
With a trace of hesitation in his voice, he declared, “It’s a love story.” “But here’s the twist.”
Mia became intrigued. A curve? I’m genuinely curious now.
The man laughed. “You’ll have to read it to find out, I suppose.”
Mia grinned and added, “Well, I’ll be the first in line to buy it when it gets published.”
“Okay,” he answered, his smile growing. “Oh, and my name is Alex.”
“Mia,” she murmured, holding out her palm. “Alex, nice to meet you.”
Alex started going to “The Bean and Leaf” on a daily basis after that. He would spend hours writing while perched in his corner and occasionally looking up to see Mia at work. They started exchanging brief conversational fragments and discovering small things about one another’s life. Mia learned that Alex had recently relocated to the city in search of motivation and a new beginning. Alex discovered that Mia had inherited the café from her grandmother, who had imparted all of her knowledge on life and coffee.
A subtle bond developed between them as the days stretched into weeks. Every morning, Mia eagerly anticipated meeting Alex, and Alex took solace in Mia’s company and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee that seemed to envelop her.
The café was almost empty one rainy day when Alex came up to the counter. Would you like to read some of my writing, Mia? With hopeful eyes, he inquired.
Mia said, her heart skipping a beat, “I’d love to.”
A beautifully bound stack of documents was given to her by Alex. “Please be kind,” he urged, laughing apprehensively. “It’s still an ongoing project.”
Mia picked up the papers and sat at a table close by. She started to read, skimming over the words that Alex had given his all to. The narrative was exquisite, rich in nuance and passion. It told the story of two people whose paths crossed by fate and love and who unexpectedly met one other.
When she was done, Mia looked up to see Alex observing her with a worried expression on his face. “It’s amazing,” she exclaimed, her tone brimming with praise. Actually, Alex. It’s lovely.
Alex murmured, “Thank you,” comfort and happiness visible in his eyes. “Coming from you means a lot.”
Alex and Mia’s bond grew stronger as the aroma of coffee and the buzz of discussion filled the café. They laughed, dreamed, and shared stories for longer periods of time. There was a closeness and warmth to each moment that neither of them had experienced in a long time.
As they were closing the café one evening, Alex turned to face Mia. He said, “May I show you something?”
Naturally, Mia said inquiringly.
Alex escorted her around the back of the café, to a little garden tucked away. The smell of fresh earth and blossoming flowers filled the crisp, aromatic air.
With astonishment in her eyes, Mia exclaimed, “This is beautiful.”
“I come here to think,” a quiet Alex uttered. “And to write from time to time.”
For a brief period, the only sound coming from the leaves rustling in the breeze was their quiet. After that, Alex inhaled deeply and gave Mia a passionate glance.
He started, “Mia, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.” “Since moving here, the best thing that has occurred to me is meeting you. You give me hope and motivate me to believe in love once more.
An intense emotion swelled in Mia’s heart. “Alex, I have the same emotions. You’ve made my life so much happier. Every day I look forward to seeing you.
With a step closer, Alex reached out and cupped Mia’s cheek tenderly. He said, “I love you, Mia,” his voice quivering with emotion.
Mia grinned, tears welling up in her eyes. “Alex, I love you too.”
They planted their first kiss in that same moment, encircled by the peaceful garden and the lovely aroma of flowers. It was sensitive, full of all the feelings and unspoken words that had accumulated between them.
The relationship between Mia and Alex only got stronger as the seasons changed. Mia ran the café and Alex wrote his novel during their days together. With every day that went by, their love story developed, each moment infused with the reassuring aroma of coffee and the enticing scent of budding flowers.
While they were sitting in the garden one evening, Alex gave Mia a beautifully wrapped surprise. “What is this?” With inquisitive eyes, Mia posed the question.
With an expectant expression, Alex added, “Open it and see.”
When Mia carefully opened the package, she was met with a book with a tasteful yet understated cover. She read the title, “The Smell of Love,” and her breath seized in her throat.
With tears in her eyes, she looked up at Alex and murmured, “It’s your book.”
“Yes,” Alex replied in an emotive voice. “And Mia, it’s dedicated to you. You are my love, my inspiration, and my muse.
With a heart full of love and appreciation, Mia turned the page to the dedication. “To Mia, who showed me that love is not just seen or heard, but also felt and smelled,” said the dedication. You are the aroma that brings warmth and joy into my existence.
As the moments passed, their love story continued to develop as Mia leaned in and kissed Alex, tears flowing down her cheeks. When they wrote together, they felt they could create the most exquisite tale ever—one that was replete with laughter, love, and the reassuring, alluring scent of love.