The customer seemed quite pleased with the service here. He raised his cup and took a small sip, the flavor melted gently across his palate, rich and satisfying. From behind the cashier counter, I watched him with anticipation, silently hoping for some kind of approval. And I wasn't disappointed... he gave me a thumbs-up, a silent compliment that said more than words could.

He didn't stay long, maybe half an hour, just enough time to enjoy his pastry before heading out. From then on, it became something of a routine. Whenever I saw him come in, I'd start preparing a cappuccino and a slice of tiramisu, no need for him to order.

"Do VIP customers get any special promotions?"

"Yes, sir. For every ten points you collect, you get a free drink."

"Oh no, I haven't been collecting points at all."

"No worries, I've been saving them for you. If you come by tomorrow, you'll get a free drink."

"Alright, thank you."

As usual, he picked his familiar table, took a few quiet sips, and left. The next day, he came again.

"One drink, please."

"Today, the shop will be giving you a complimentary drink."

"Great. I'll have a cappuccino, and for the free one—"

"Would that be two drinks in total, sir?"

"Yes. Oh, and what's the complimentary drink?"

"Anything from our menu."

"Hmm. If it were you, what would you choose?"

"Our bestseller is the Thai iced milk tea with snow ice. It's cool, creamy, and very popular."

"Alright then, I'll have that."

" Oki."

As always, he sat at the same table..only today, there were two drinks instead of one.

"This one's for you."

". . ."

"Think of it as a tip."

"Oh... thank you."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Dunk. Dunk Natachai."

"Nice to meet you, Dunk. I'm Joong Archen. I work at a company nearby."

"Ohhhh."

This customer was Joong Archen, 28 years old — a handsome office worker specializing in children's toys. He had a calm, gentle demeanor, always polite, yet in his work, he was known for being precise and demanding. For him, work and personal life were two completely separate worlds, never to be mixed.

"Are you free this weekend?"

"I'm not sure yet — we're still short on staff at the shop. Why do you ask..?"

"Oh... I just wanted to invite you out for lunch. I mean, just a simple meal. But I don't know when you might be free."

"Hmm... probably the evening the day after tomorrow. I'll be taking a bit of time off to run some errands."

"Then how about dinner that night? I'll wait for you at the café."

"Ah—yes, thank you."

It wasn't that I accepted so quickly out of excitement. I just thought simply..he's a VIP customer, and I was just... maintaining a relationship.

That evening, he was already waiting in front of the shop in a modest four-wheeled car. Neither of us dressed particularly fancy, yet somehow, we ended up dining at a rather fancy restaurant.

"Why didn't we just go somewhere more casual?"

"Worried I can't afford it?"

He asked as he pulled out the chair for me.

"No, it's not that... I was just wondering. It feels a bit too much. I mean, it's just our first meal together."

"What are you thinking about? You don't have to pay me back, you know. Just enjoy it ..I'm treating you."

This place was known for its beefsteak, so he ordered that, along with two glasses of red wine.

"Hey, um..."

"Hmm?"

"Why did you invite me out to eat? Is there a reason?"

He was cutting the steak for me, slicing it into neat little pieces.

"I just thought you were enthusiastic, and... I have a bit of a soft spot for that. So I wanted to treat you."

"So anyone who's nice to you gets a free meal?"

He handed me the plate with a grin that reached all the way to his eyes.

"Nope. Not everyone catches my eye. Come on, eat — it won't taste as good once it's cold."

"Okay... thank you."

The meal was filled with the kind of questions you ask someone you've just started to get to know, casual, light. Nothing too deep.

By the time we finished, it was already 9 p.m. He took me on a short drive around the city before pulling up in front of the café.

"Why won't you let me take you home?"

"I still have a few things to take care of here at the shop. But thank you... for the meal tonight."

"Um, strawberry."

"Strawberry?"

"Ah, no, I just suddenly had a craving for strawberries. Does your shop have any? Strawberry cake would be fine too."

"Of course! Just give me a moment."

He had treated me to dinner earlier, so this time, it was only fair that I returned the favor. I stepped inside for a bit, then came back out with a large paper bag, inside were a strawberry smoothie, a strawberry tart, and even a slice of strawberry tiramisu.

"That's a lot. I don't think I can finish all this."

"The tart is best eaten right away, but the rest can be stored in the fridge. I hope you enjoy them. Oh — since you usually order cappuccino, I made the smoothie a bit less sweet. I hope it suits your taste."

"You're quite thoughtful, little one. Alright, I'll gladly accept. Thanks, let's go out to eat again sometime."

"Yes, sure. Bye!"

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#sapo🇻🇳(21:15 / 210525)