Chapter 25: Date at Columbus Cafe
Arriving at Columbus Cafe, they immediately stepped inside. The atmosphere was bustling, yet warm. Yellowish chandeliers cast a soft glow, illuminating rows of wooden tables filled with young couples and small families.
Soft acoustic music drifted from the corner of the room. The aroma of coffee and sweet treats wafted over, whetting their appetites. Anindya’s eyes lit up, completely captivated by the atmosphere, while Julian remained silently in awe. They both walked around, looking for an empty, comfortable spot. After finding a suitable spot, Anindya immediately told Julian.
"Julian! Julian! Let’s sit over there, the one with a direct view of the ocean!" Anindya said excitedly while pointing at a bench.
Anindya walked to the bench, while Julian smiled softly as he followed behind her. Every step Anindya took captivated those around her with her beauty, to the point where a man with his girlfriend was scolded for staring at her.
"Uwahh, so he’s also attracting attention here" Julian said in himself with an amazed expression while glancing at the people around him.
As they sat down, a waitress approached them with a menu and table number.
"Good evening, welcome to Columbus Cafe!" the waitress said with a smile and a polite tone.
"Please take a look at our menu" the waitress continued, handing the menu to Julian and Anindya.
"Thank you!" Julian and Anindya replied.
Without further ado, Anindya ordered.
"I’ll have a Beef Burger & Fries, Meatballs, Seafood Dimsum, and Jus Mango Peach ," Anindya said to the waitress with a smile.
"That’s unusual for you to order so many," Julian said, looking at her with a flat expression.
"You’ll get fat, you know~" Julian continued with a mischievous smile.
Anindya was surprised to hear this, then she immediately pouted.
"Moo!, I won’t get fat!" Anindya said while pouting..
"Pfft! Ahahahaha, okay," Julian said with a chuckle.
Julian looked at the waitress and said,
"I’ll have Chicken Katsu Curry, and a Blue Ocean Drink, please?" he said, handing the menu back to the waitress.
After writing it down, the waitress took the menu and said,
"Alright, please wait a moment" the waitress said politely, then left their table.
The sea breeze gently brushed their faces. Anindya stared at the ocean, supporting her chin with her right hand, and said
"This place is so peaceful... I like it" Anindya said, narrowing her eyes and smiling.
Julian was captivated by Anindya’s beauty. He smiled and said,
"Yeah, me too" he said, smiling and looking out at the ocean.
But Anindya didn’t look back for long, then said,
"As I thought, Julian is as strong as ever" Anindya said with a smile.
Hearing Anindya’s words, Julian was a little confused.
"Before?, Have we met before?" Julian asked with a confused expression and tone.
"Yes, you don’t remember?" Anindya asked back.
Julian tried to remember. After 5 minutes, he still couldn’t remember.
"Sorry, I don’t remember..." Julian said with a resigned expression and tone.
"Ah! It’s okay," Anindya said, trying to comfort him.
"Besides, you’re mine now" Anindya continued with a sweet smile.
Julian was surprised and his face began to blush.
"I-i also thank you for helping me... From the Khitam knife attack" said Julian with a shy expression and tone.
"Snap!" Anindya’s phone camera shutter sounded.
"W-what are you doing?!" Julian asked with a shocked expression and nervous tone.
"Hihihi, I just wanted to immortalize your shy attitude" Anindya replied while laughing mischievously.
A shocked Julian took a deep breath, trying to calm his still-reddened self.
"You really are..." he said, shaking his head.
Anindya just smiled in satisfaction as she examined the photo,
"Wow, your expression is so cute!, I’ll save in my gallery~" Anindya teased, quickly putting away her phone.
"Don’t save it away!" Julian protested, but Anindya had already hidden her phone in her skirt pocket.
"It’s too late, bleeh~" said Anindya while sticking out her tongue.
Julian nodded, then said
"Then I have to reply too" Julian said, taking his phone out of his jacket pocket.
"E-eh?, What do you mean by reply?" Anindya asked, starting to panic.
"Reply to your photo when you’re off guard," Julian said, quickly taking a picture of Anindya, who was dazed.
"Snap!" Julian’s phone camera shutter sounded.
Julian looks at the results of his photos
"Pfft! Hahahahaha!, Look, that expression makes you look so silly!" Julian said, laughing and looking at his phone.
Anindya’s face immediately turned red like a boiled crab.
"UWAHHH! JULIAN!, DELETE IT! DELETE IT!" Anindya shouted, her face flushed red as she tried to grab Julian’s phone.
"I can’t~" Julian replied in a mischievous tone while raising his phone high with his right hand.
Anindya immediately stepped back because she couldn’t reach Julian’s cellphone, then with a sullen expression, she started to hit Julian’s chest gently, but suddenly, a loud clearing of the throat was heard behind Anindya.
"EKHM!" the waitress cleared his throat with a menacing smile.
Anindya immediately stopped hitting, and they both looked behind her. It turned out to be a waitress who had just delivered food to another table
"Excuse me, sir, miss. Please calm down, you’re disturbing the others!" the waitress said with a menacing smile.
"S-sorry..." they both replied with apologetic expressions.
Anindya sat back in her chair, while the waitress just nodded and smiled politely, then left, leaving them to calm down again, although when the waitress left they were both still laughing a little.
A few minutes later, their food and drinks arrived, beautifully presented on beautiful plates and bowls. The aroma of the Beef Burger & Fries, Meatballs and Chicken Katsu Curry immediately filled their table.
"Your orders, please" the waitress said politely, placing the dishes one by one.
"Wow, this looks delicious," Anindya said, her eyes sparkling.
"Enjoy!" the waitress said.
"Thank you!" they replied.
The waitress left politely, leaving Julian and Anindya. They prayed before eating, then began to devour their meal with gusto.
~To be continued~