Just The Regular!

Alina gave one last sniffle as she slammed the car door closed. Her nose was still stuffy, her eyes still red and swollen, wet with tears.

She couldn’t believe Brandon had really broken up with her. Two long years of toiling, of mending the broken pieces of their relationship, of bickering and fighting and trying so hard to make it work—all of it, for nothing. Brandon had sent her the text at six in the morning, saying that he wanted to go separate ways; Alina barely had the stomach to text back okay. She felt like sitting alone in her room and crying for hours, for days, until she couldn’t cry anymore.

But despite that awful, crushing feeling, today was still a normal day for everyone else, which meant that she, just like everyone else, had to go to work.

Which meant, now more than ever, that Alina was in desperate need for her coffee.

Let’s Go, Espresso was her favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood, right across from her house. It was a nice, quaint little place, with cozy furniture and beautiful decor, as well as the sweetest workers in the world.

She walked up to the door and pulled it open. Even now, in her pathetically depressed state, the place offered comfort that allowed her shoulders to drop, tension draining out of them. The smell of coffee was as pleasant as ever, and the warmth of the shop was a welcome change from the cold, rainy weather outside.

Alina sidled up to the register, money in hand.

“Hello,” she said to the worker, a young woman with dyed pink hair—probably around college age. “May I please have a medium iced vanilla coffee—”

“With oatmilk,” the worker finished, smiling kindly at her. “Right?”

Alina gave her a shaky smile back. “You guys are the best.”

“Anything else, ma’am?”

“No, thank you. Just the regular.”

Less than a minute later, Alina left with her iced coffee and got back into her car, ready to head to work. The first sip was so delicious, it took her mind off of Brandon, if only for a moment. Alina closed her eyes and sighed, a long, peaceful exhale, before yanking the car into drive.

Some things can never be ruined, she reminded herself, smiling slightly.

The following day, she stopped by the coffee shop again before work. The same pink-haired young woman was behind the counter, and when Alina stepped up to the register, she smiled brightly at her before brandishing an iced coffee in front of her. “I saw you on the line and grabbed it for you!” She laid a straw on top.

“Oh my God, thank you!” Alina exclaimed. She took the iced coffee. The color was perfect—light, but not too light. “That is so sweet.”

“Nothing else for you today, right, ma’am?”

Alina smiled at her brightly. “No, that’s it.”

“Four dollars, please.”

Alina handed her a five. “Put the rest in the tip cup—thanks so much!”

“Thank you, ma’am!”

To Alina’s surprise, the iced coffee was even better than it had been yesterday. That richness, that sweet vanilla flavor, that shot of energy—it left her feeling blissful.

The following morning, Alina was back on line. A different worker was at the register this morning, an older gentleman. Alina felt a twinge of disappointment—that girl always made her coffee so well. Oh, well.

“Ma’am?”

Several heads turned to face her.

Alina blinked when her eyes met the man’s at the register. “Me?”

He craned his neck. “Medium iced coffee with oatmilk?”

Alina was startled. She rummaged through her purse for money. “Um—yes.”

“Right here, ma’am.” He slams an iced coffee onto the counter with a thud. “And Lisa says it’s free of charge today.”

Lisa, the pink-haired worker, poked her head out from where she was preparing coffees and gave Alina a wave.

“Oh, you guys.” Alina felt close to tears. “Thank you so, so much. Excuse me—”

She made her way past the customers in front of her—several of them looking confused, others irritated—and grabbed her coffee. “Have a great day, guys!”

“You, too!” echoed a chorus of voices.

Once Alina got back into her car, she took a long sip.

The vanilla iced coffee was so good, so refreshing, such creamy, delicious perfection. The thickness of the oatmilk perfectly balanced out the bitterness of the coffee, with the vanilla creamer adding that perfect touch of subtle sweetness that made Alina’s toes curl in delight.

Who needed a boyfriend when you had iced coffee? Hell—who needed a boyfriend when you had such sweet workers down the street who knew you and were always there for you? Alina was so touched.

The iced coffee was so good that day, Alina had to go back after work for another. The moment her foot was through the door—

“Medium iced coffee, oatmilk and vanilla!” a voice boomed, so loudly that Alina jumped. “Jeffrey, can you grab that for me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Alina stifled a laugh. “Thank you, Lisa!”

“You’re welcome!” Lisa’s voice rings out, much more pleasant this time. “Anything else?”

“That’s it!”

Lisa, to Alina’s delight, propped herself up onto the counter before swinging her legs over to the other side. She handed Alina her coffee and a straw, beaming up at her. “Here you are!”

“Please, Lisa, take the money.”

“Free of charge!” Lisa said brightly.

The customers sitting in the shop were staring at them, but Alina couldn’t care less.

“Lisa, please.” She pressed a ten dollar bill into the barista’s hand. “Keep it for yourselves, at least.”

“Ma’am, you shouldn’t—”

“No, you guys deserve that and more.” Alina patted her arm before holding up her coffee in farewell, beaming. “Have a great day!”

“You too!”

The next day was a Saturday, and Alina took her friend Mikayla out for lunch. They had club sandwiches, which were delicious, and some coffee. Alina couldn’t help missing her regular at Let’s Go, Espresso with how watery and bland the diner’s coffee tasted in comparison.

Mikayla sipped from her cup and wrinkled her nose. “Man, the coffee here sucks.”

Alina sighed, pushing her own coffee away from her on its saucer. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe we can grab coffee from—what’s that place you’re always raving about?”

Alina perked up. “We totally should!”

After paying the bill, Mikayla drove them over to Let’s Go, Espresso in less than five minutes. Alina held the door open for her.

“What a cute place!” Mikayla exclaimed, looking around.

“I know, right?”

“Who’s got my medium iced coffee, vanilla and oatmilk?” a familiar voice rang out. Mikayla let out a yelp next to her.

Alina beamed at the familiar head of pink hair. “Hi, Lisa!”

“Good afternoon, Alina!” boomed the entire staff.

Alina waved at them excitedly. “How are you guys today?”

“Well, thank you!” came the collective answer, loud and cheerful.

“Why did Alina have to step past the doormat to get her coffee?” Lisa scolded. “She’s a frequent! That took way too long, Brian.”

“Sorry!” came a wail behind the counter.

“Iced coffee!” Lisa called out happily, and she launched the cup into the air.

Alina scrambled backwards, akin to a football player ready to catch the ball—screw you, Brandon—and caught the iced coffee with one hand, grinning ear to ear. Lisa reflected her grin right back.

When Alina looked back over to her friend, Mikayla was staring at her, slack-jawed.

“Alina, what the hell was that?” she asked incredulously.

“What was what?” Alina said brightly. She took a long sip from her straw, closing her eyes, savoring the flavor. “They’re the best, aren’t they?”

-

As a barista, this genuinely isn’t that far from reality.

Hope you guys enjoyed this dumb little piece! ♥️