The next morning the same day --or it seems like it not quite, something was different just a bit different
The the town woke slowly like it always has been , the cafe started its day , Arin working on the counter of the cafe. The sent of baked apple pastries rommming in the periferi of the location miligling with the freshly brewed coffee.
Arin greating the people with a smile, the door chimed , people mummered their greetings ,and Arin moved and dancing with the rhythm of the song played in the background, but only he could hear it?.
Air his habit his already note the morning pattern of 9:00
'8:05 AM- baker only whistle only when it's sunny , sunny today'
'8:36 AM — Two students argue at the same table every Thursday'
'8:49 AM — Man in gray suit always sneezes before checking his watch'
But today was something, something slightly different, when Elen walked the bell chimed twice not once but twice, Arin heard a different song when entered at 9:01 AM
A light, quick note, followed by a second that hung in the air a breath too long. Arin blinked and scribbled it down before even greeting her with a smile.
'9:01 AM — Bell chimed twice. Elen arrived. Interference?'
She made her way to her seat by the window, same one as yesterday, without hesitation.
Arin walking towards her waving his hand "Café au lait!" Said in some what a playful tone.
She said "you remember "
"Remember is what matters " he said with a Simle , placing the coffee on the table. Thinking 'was that too foward'
But Elen didn't flinch. Instead, she set her sketchbook down and gestured toward the chair across from her. "Sit a moment?"
Arin hesitated, but thinking about sitting beside her he nodded. Neither of them said anything to each other. Elen took a bite of her scone and stared out the window. Arin watched her—not intrusively, just… attentively. Every movement felt meaningful.
She lookeing at the awkward silence said "Do you ever get the sense that this place listens?"
Arin tilted his head.
"Not just the café," she continued. "Virell. The town. The people. The quiet between footsteps. Like it's all... waiting for something."
Arin smiled faintly. "I've always thought it was 'remembering' something."
She turned to him, interested. "Remembering?"
He shrugged, glancing down at his notebook. "Sometimes I feel like I'm not writing the patterns. I'm just… catching them. Like they've always been there, I'm just finally tuning in"
Elen's fingers drummed against her cup, slow and thoughtful.
"I think that's why I draw," she said. "I can't explain it, but sketching helps me 'feel' the shape of a moment. Even the ones no one notices."
Both of them finding familiarity between them.
They shared another silence. This one felt fuller. Arin flipped to a clean page in his notebook and began to write:
'9:17 AM — Shared silence isn't empty. Elen = echo of awareness. Shared perception sharpens.'
Elen leaned over to peek. "You always write like that?" Locking at the randomly written notes in the format of riddles.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to solve a riddle only the world knows the answer to."
Arin chuckled. "Aren't we all?"
She laughed, a real laugh this time, soft and low, like the first real sound of spring after a long winter. At the moment something should not have happened had happend. Their interaction that was it.
The bell chimed again. Another customer. The moment shifted.
Elen stood. "Same time tomorrow?" .This time Elen was the the one who asked .
Arin nodded. Smiling at her, And as she walked out, he noticed the bell rang just once.
Clean. Clear.
He stared at the door after she left, then underlined the final note of the morning.
'9:24 AM — Elen speaks, and the static fades.'