entry #02 – ginger lemon tea
by feyI extended an invitation to her for a cup of tea.
This was quite an impulsive choice, yet I felt compelled to approach her as she perused the shelves of the local bookstore. It caught me off guard when she accepted my invitation. Could it indicate that she might hold some interest in me too? Or was she simply feeling obligated?
I certainly didn’t want to portray myself as a lonely, desperate woman in need of affection. Even as I pen these thoughts, it does come off that way. My ancestors would surely shake their heads in disappointment, wouldn’t they?
“Are you available for some tea?”
That was a spur-of-the-moment decision, wasn’t it? Who in their right mind would approach a charming girl with a tea proposal? Well, apparently this foolish Bookman would. The girl regarded me as if I had lost my senses, closing the book she had been engrossed in, letting out a soft sigh, and turning away to replace it on the shelf.
Alright, I mused, that certainly didn’t go as planned.
“Is it merely tea?” she inquired boldly, and I nearly gasped out loud, “As far as I’m concerned,” she added, “the café nearby also serves delicious cake.” Her gaze returned to me, a smug smile illuminating her face, “Tea is nice, but let’s face it, it’s just flavored water. You’ll need to exert more effort to impress someone like me.”
I was stunned by her words. Did she… did she know? Did she sense my feelings, and was she now being coy? I gasped again, prompting her to giggle softly.
That giggle felt like a soothing balm for my heart, so smooth and delightful.
“Alright, tea and cake it is,” I said after finally collecting myself. She giggled once more, and I realized she was teasing me, wasn’t she?
“Is that your style? Approaching random women for tea? You Bookmen never change,” she said with a smirk.
I found myself unable to respond. How could she know? I hadn’t even properly introduced myself, yet she seemed to know who I was, and maybe even the entire Bookman bloodline.
“You Bookmen are pretty straightforward,” she remarked, “at least to me,” she added with a gentle blink. “What’s stopping you?” she prompted, “show me the way to the café if you’re so inclined.”
I decided to take her to the café just around the corner. Our conversation was sparse during the walk, but upon reaching our destination, I invited her to sit. For some unknown reason, I felt an intense wave of nervousness. Her gaze felt like it was cutting into my very soul, leaving me hesitant to speak. It was as though she could discern my thoughts before I even attempted to voice them.
“In case you haven’t picked up on it yet… I can read your mind,” she remarked casually, her fingers tapping lightly on the marbled table, “I know everything before you even mention it.”
Well, this was not going well for me. I could feel beads of cold sweat forming on my face. This was far from what I had envisioned for my first date.
“Don’t fret,” she giggled again, “I’m not plotting anything silly with you. But I’m glad you made this invitation. I was growing a bit hungry and had a desire for some tea.”
I was uncertain whether her comment would calm my nerves, but it was clear she knew I was planning to converse with her. I had nothing on my agenda for the day, and although I could have spent my time recording, I chose to meet this beautiful woman for tea instead.
My master would undoubtedly scold me for socializing since mingling with others was completely prohibited for us Bookmen.
“I’ll have ginger lemon tea and a piece of lemon tart. You’ll be having the same, right?”
How did she—…?
I simply nodded in affirmation. I didn’t want to replicate her order simply because she suggested it; it genuinely appealed to me. And deep down, I believed she understood that.
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