It was a very ordinary Monday (and Mondays, as we know, are made for falling in love with a barista). I went to my favorite coffee shop, where I usually get a cappuccino and run on. But that day he was not there - my usual bearded barista. Instead - a new one.

A smile worth a million, a voice - as if he swallowed a Spotify playlist.

He looks, and I lose my train of thought. I forgot what I wanted.

I took a double espresso, although I drink weak coffee and with milk. Just so as not to sound too "vanilla".

He hands me the cup and says:
- Be careful, it's hot.
And I answer (I don't know what came over me):
- Like you?

...Yes. That was my way out. He smiled even wider. And I mentally wrote my last name next to his. Well, just in case.

For a week in a row, I came every morning. We chatted. He asked how I was doing. I answered as if he was writing an article about my life. We laughed. He remembered that I liked to draw cats in the margins of my diary. And then one day he says:
- You know, we have an exhibition of drawings in the art space nearby, do you want to go?

I was already imagining how we go there, holding hands, then laughing, then he says that he can no longer keep silent about his feelings ... but I simply said:
- Sure, let's go!

And we went. It was great. He laughed at my jokes, even the ones I stole from Twitter. And then, on the way out, he said:
— By the way, come tomorrow, I'll introduce you to my girlfriend, she loves cats!
😂😂😂😂😂

And since then I've been drinking tea. Without sugar. So it's not sweet. And yes, now I first check — "Are you sure you're single?"

The moral? Don't be afraid to be funny, even if it makes you a little sad later. But there's something to remember. And yes, I still believe that somewhere in the coffee shop of my heart there is a barista who knows how much I like cappuccino — with milk, without lies, and with a pinch of flirting.

So, if you know how to make coffee, joke, are single, and want to chat — I'm here. And I'll make tea, if anything 😉