It was one in the afternoon, and as I warmed my hands with a cup of hot vanilla, I stared out of the cafe’s window, wondering if Rin already had dinner. “Nine o’clock,” I murmured absentmindedly. The instant conversion from London to Manila time had already become a daily habit of mine. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe because I just ate that I felt like closing my eyes.
“Julia?” Dmitri’s voice, and the faint screech of his chair interrupted my daydreaming. He just came back from the loo and I immediately noticed the ash blonde wisps curling up his ears were now pressed down, although without much success, as splashes of water had left dark spots on his brown cashmere sweater.
“Oh, it’s… I was just resting my eyes,” I said as he took his seat across from me. I was wondering if Rin had left any message this morning when Dmitri spoke again. “So… not a fan of tea, eh?” He spared me a glance before pouring himself another cup of Earl Grey.