“Hi, Mr. Frans… besides being handsome, what else have you been up to?” Caramel asked flirtatiously, batting her eyelashes at the handsome barista at her regular café across from campus.
“Oh, beautiful Caramel. What would you like to order?” Frans asked with a sweet smile, complete with dimples as deep as an old well.
“Do you have any opportunities?” Caramel asked with her cutest smile.
“Opportunities?” Frans looked confused. Was the café where he worked celebrating Eid or something, suddenly selling opor?
“Yeah, opor… any opportunities to make you mine. Aaaah!” Caramel squealed all by herself.
“Cara, please!” Intan—Caramel’s best friend, who was practically her shadow—quickly nudged the cheerful girl’s arm with her elbow. Then she turned to Frans with a sour expression. “Two of the usual. Pay via QRIS!”
“Let me be.” Caramel pouted, twirling a bit of her hair around her index finger. But then she turned back to Frans, who was grinning to himself as he made the coffee.
A moment later, Frans handed over the two coffees Caramel and Intan had ordered. “Two cappuccinos with extra sugar, so they’re as sweet as the people who ordered them,” said the thirty-two-year-old man.
“Aww… aww! Handsome, buy me a toy—when are we getting married?”
Intan could only sigh at her friend’s behavior as she picked up her coffee. Then they chose their favorite table to enjoy their drinks.
“Cara, seriously… stop flirting with Mr. Frans. He already has a wife, you know.” Intan spoke emphatically after they sat down.
“But he’s handsome, Intaaannn. Ugh, he’s so cuuute… look at those thin lips. They make me want to nibble them until they’re plump!” Caramel immediately bit the end of her straw until half of it was gone.
“Your behavior! Are you trying to be a homewrecker? You’re already the subject of campus gossip!” Intan was genuinely angry this time.
“Chill, babe, chiiill… I just have a crush on him. I’m not having an affair.”
“Have a crush on someone with a little substance, not someone else’s husband whose salary is probably below minimum wage! Remember, Cara, you’re a tycoon’s daughter. You’re beautiful, you’re a virgin—you should find someone on your level, someone who matches your standards!” Intan was furious enough to shake the whole neighborhood, but the person she was scolding merely smiled and kept gazing at Frans.
“I like Mr. Frans because he’s mature and dignified, and his body is just… ohhh… mmm!” Caramel immediately wiped the corner of her mouth.
“Gross! If you really like mature older guys, find one who’s single. A widower is fine too, as long as his wealth matches your family’s. I’m seriously warning you, Cara! Your Dad asked me to tell you to stop chasing Mr. Frans! You used to chase Adit, that repeat offender who was always getting high! Why can’t you ever like a decent guy?” Intan immediately turned Caramel’s cheek so she would look away from Frans. “Look at me!”
“Huh?! What was that? You sounded like Mr. Frans was saying ‘I love you’ to me.”
“You’re insane!”
“Oh, I’m out of coffee!” Caramel held up her cup, which contained nothing but ice cubes. Then she stood. “I’m getting another one!” Caramel sashayed toward Frans with a coquettish bounce.
“Cara!” Intan was frustrated by how shamelessly flirty her friend was.
She was just about to follow when a handsome man in formal clothes that hugged his tall, athletic frame entered the coffee shop. He was towering, as tall as a regency gate. He walked over and stopped beside Caramel.
Intan tried to remember who he was because he looked familiar. A few seconds later, she remembered!
Intan noticed that Caramel immediately turned toward the man. She looked him over from head to toe. Apparently, the man was wearing perfume strong enough to make Caramel turn around.
Unfortunately, Caramel’s interest lasted only a moment before she turned back to Frans. Not long after, Caramel approached Intan carrying another drink—this time, a matcha latte.
“Car, what were you doing staring at that handsome older guy?” Intan whispered, pointing at the handsome man with nothing more than a glance of her eyes.
Caramel glanced over again. “He smells like a grave that just got a fresh visit from mourners—his scent is everywhere!”
“You’re not attracted to him? You like mature men, don’t you?” Intan asked seriously.
“Even if I buy food to eat out of a wok, Mr. Frans is still the one and only,” Caramel replied, clutching her chest and smiling faintly.
“Were you born stupid, or did you actually take a course?”