The day at the coffee shop had been busy but satisfying. Emma felt a sense of accomplishment as she and Ana cleaned up and prepared to close for the night. The customers had dwindled, leaving the shop in a peaceful quiet.
"Thanks for helping out today," Ana said, wiping down the counter. "You were great with the customers, even Mr. Rude."
Emma laughed. "No problem. It was a good distraction, and it felt nice to stay busy."
"How about we reward ourselves with a movie night?" Ana suggested, tossing her rag into the laundry bin. "We can order some takeout and find something fun to watch on Netflix."
"That sounds perfect," Emma agreed. "I could use a good movie to unwind."
They locked up the shop and headed home, stopping by their favorite Chinese takeout place on the way. Once they got to their apartment, they changed into comfortable clothes, grabbed some blankets, and set up a cozy spot on the couch.
Ana fired up Netflix while Emma plated the takeout. As they settled in, Ana started scrolling through the movie options. Just as she was about to click on a title, an ad began to play.
Emma's eyes widened in surprise as the screen filled with the familiar face of the man from the coffee shop. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his hair perfectly styled, and he spoke with an air of authority and charisma. It was an ad for a marketing company, showcasing their latest product.
"Hey, that's him!" Emma exclaimed, pointing at the screen. "The rude guy from the coffee shop!"
Ana's eyes widened as she looked from the screen to Emma. "No way! That's the same guy?"
Emma nodded, unable to take her eyes off the screen. The ad showed him confidently presenting the product, his voice smooth and persuasive. He was completely different from the impatient customer she had met earlier in the day.
"Well, he certainly cleans up nicely," Ana remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Who would have thought he was a marketing hotshot?"
Emma shook her head, still processing the coincidence. "I knew he seemed familiar, but I never would have guessed he was in advertising."
The ad ended, and the movie they had chosen began to play. But Emma found it hard to focus, her mind drifting back to the encounter at the coffee shop and the polished version of the man she had just seen on screen. How could someone so polished and confident be so rude in person?
Ana nudged her, bringing her back to the present. "Hey, you okay? You seem a bit distracted."
Emma sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... weird, seeing him like that. I can't get over how different he seems."
Ana gave her a sympathetic look. "People can be surprising. Maybe he was just having a bad day when he came into the shop. Or maybe he's just a jerk with a good on-screen persona."
Emma laughed. "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, let's focus on the movie. I need a break."
They settled in, enjoying the movie and their takeout. But even as the film unfolded, Emma couldn't completely shake the image of the man from the ad. It was as if the universe was playing some kind of strange game with her, throwing unexpected surprises her way.
By the time the movie ended, Emma felt more relaxed. She and Ana cleaned up and prepared for bed, the day's events slowly fading into the background. But as she lay in the darkness of her room, her thoughts drifted back to the man from the coffee shop.
***
The Bio Bar was buzzing with its usual evening crowd, a mix of professionals unwinding after a long day and groups of friends catching up over drinks. Ryan sat at a high table with his friends, nursing a whiskey and trying to engage in the conversation. But his mind kept drifting back to the coffee shop and the intriguing encounter he'd had earlier in the day.
"Hey, Earth to Ryan," said Mark, waving a hand in front of his face. "You with us, man?"
Ryan snapped back to reality, offering a sheepish smile. "Yeah, sorry. Just got a lot on my mind."
"More like someone on your mind," teased Sam, his closest friend, taking a swig of his beer. "What's going on? You never zone out like this."
Ryan hesitated, then sighed. "It's this girl I met today."
"Oh, the CEO of XX Marketing Company has a crush," Mark said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "Tell us more. She must be something special to get you this distracted."
Ryan rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. "I wouldn't say crush. It's just... she's interesting. I met her at the coffee shop. She was helping her friend behind the counter. We didn't exactly hit it off."
"Interesting how?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're usually pretty smooth with the ladies."
Ryan took a sip of his whiskey, trying to find the right words. "She was different. Most people get flustered around me, but she didn't. She was polite but not overly impressed. It was... refreshing. Plus, she made a damn good espresso."
"Sounds like someone left an impression on you," Mark said. "What happened?"
Ryan chuckled, remembering the interaction. "I might have been a bit rude.
You were rude and now you're think about her, weird...Sam said.
"Yeah, weird, right?" Ryan said, shaking his head. "It's like the universe is playing a joke on me."
Mark laughed. "Well, maybe it's a sign. You should look her up. Apologize for being a jerk and see where it goes."
Ryan considered the idea. He rarely let personal encounters affect him this much, but something about Emma had struck a chord. "Maybe. I just can't get her out of my head. There's something about her that feels... different."
"Different is good," Sam said, clinking his glass against Ryan's. "You've been all business for too long. It's about time someone shook things up for you."
Ryan smiled, feeling a bit lighter. "We'll see. For now, let's just enjoy the night."we