There’s a Stranger I Can’t Stop Thinking About

A year ago, around this week...

I desperately wanted to take my friend to Pakiki to try Snowcap, as she loves her coffee strong, and I would settle for something totally opposite. The plan was simple. Gossip over a cup of coffee and hot chocolate. While I rant about how awful my experiences in the job market were, she would exchange details about the latest updates in her life.

But God works in mysterious ways.

The unwanted entrance of rain forced us to find shelter in one of my recent favourite cafés. It was supposed to be a quiet and calm Sunday, but I didn't know one spark could change the course of the whole weekend.

The place was buzzing, but not loud. The kind of energy that makes you feel at home and alive at the same time, without really imposing anything on you. I loved the smell of fresh coffee as soon as I entered, and we decided to take a table near the entrance that was perfect for the two of us. Almost everything felt familiar, and it was a normal Sunday evening.

Until it wasn't.

A pair of beige linen pants caught my attention; I've always been a sucker for romanticising the small things, and natural fabrics are somewhere on that list. I love natural fabrics after all! And just like it happens in movies, my eyes scanned the outfit from bottom to top. 

And I heard myself thinking, "Man! Who takes the effort to wear beige linen pants in this climate!"

Our eyes met for a few seconds and quickly drifted apart. It started with a glance I wasn't supposed to catch. But I couldn't control myself. I looked again, and this time a little longer than I should have.

He wasn't the kind of guy you would instantly label as "drop-dead gorgeous." Nope. He was something quieter yet appealing. More composed and less chaotic, even while struggling to get on a call with the person he was supposed to meet.

He was the kind that grows on you in layers, through posture, presence, and perfectly maintained linen pants. I immediately thanked my stars for giving me this moment alone. Otherwise, I wouldn't have noticed this thing of beauty in the middle of a conversation.

While he was trying to steal a look, our eyes met again, and I felt that familiar fluster.

I'm not sure why I allowed myself to linger on him more than usual, but I noticed him welcoming his company. And in that moment, I told myself this was my cue to exit because, honestly, when you're not sure if something is a date or not, it rarely ends well either way.

But to my surprise, that wasn't it.

Every now and then, I'd feel that subtle shift like air being tugged in my direction. The kind of unexplained connection with a stranger that doesn't announce itself, but still manages to make your stomach flutter anyway. I tried to stay present. My friend was midway through a story, and I was nodding, reacting, but half my mind was somewhere else, with the stranger in beige pants.

I didn't expect to cross paths with him again, but I had to go to the restroom. And wouldn't you know it, the universe or maybe just bad café architecture made sure the hallway was too narrow for polite passing.

I got a smile in exchange for a smile. And I was happy with just that.

I went back to my table pretending nothing had happened. But my pulse gave me away. So did the way I stirred my hot chocolate five times without even sipping it. He left a little while later. Quietly. Our eyes met one last time while he was on his way out. No missed notes on napkins. But the chair he had been sitting on looked emptier than it should've. I don't know his name. I don't know if he lives in the same city or if he was just passing through.

All I know is… there's a stranger I can't stop thinking about. And I think I'll stay in that feeling for a little while, in the in-between, where things don't need a name yet.

Until next time

XOXO

The Queen of Random Things