"Uh, seriously? The lights went out again! What the fuck!"
The person groaned and rocked their head to one side before sighing. A few people stared at him while he quickly sank into the background.
Complains rose for the crowd inside, their voice clashing with others as their frustration and disappointment played across their faces.
For little Yan, it meant nothing. She kept nibbling on her sweet round bread—soft and warm, topped with a layer of sugar cut semi neatly.
Her bites broke the bread apart, sugar crumbs sticking to her face. She swallowed, then tore off a piece of the soft bread and handed it to the woman with a soft smile.
"Thank you."
The woman replied, tossing the piece into her mouth before chewing slowly. The faint hum of boiling water became the only sound while the brewers fell silent.
The headlights from the cars outside bringing them some comfort, illuminating the inside in moving stripes of light.
clnng—clnng—clnng!
Heads turned toward the source of the sound, catching sight of a flashlight hanging from a minimalist chandelier. One of the baristas grabbed the ladder, folded it, then quickly lifted it and hauled it out of sight.
A young man stepped forward, clearing his throat into his fist. A few people quieted down once he opened his mouth.
"Ahm—"
The lights turned back on, the sound of the brewers powering up following it. Clicks repeated in the background while someone cursed from the back—something crashing from behind the wall of brewers, filling their ears.
"Never mind...would you like anything?"
The barista spoke, moving behind a register while asking the person in line for his order. A sheepish smile plastering itself on his face.
Another worker came from somewhere, unfolded the ladder, then climbed onto the steps again to unbind the flashlight and switch it off.
The woman's bracelet let out a soft ding, regaining some semblance of a connection when the screen finished loading—they waited several minutes before her name was called.
"Dos para Valentina!"
A Coelhinho barista called out to her, his floppy ears pinned flat on his head—making him look rather innocent.
Valentina stood and walked to the counter. She spun two warm cups, picking them up after reading her name on both, and carried them back to their table.
She took a sip from one while sliding out her chair with one foot, and sat down with a soft thud.
Her face scrunched up from the bitter taste, and she offered it to the man while reaching out, taking a sip from the other drink. He took it and drank, his expression barely changing—if at all.
Her bracelet rang softly as a screen popped up, quickly taking a sip and flicking her wrist like she was about to throw a thumbs up.
The caller ID glitched around when a distorted voice came through—"H-Hello?...lo..."—the questioning tone repeating a few more times before the call abruptly cut off.
"Ahh! Again...whyyy..."
Valentina whined, placing her cheek on a propped-up hand and letting out a sigh, complaining for the umpteenth.
"Its been this way the whole month...Tch...I don't even have their address."
She took another sip of her coffee, lifting the led up before blowing on the hot coffee.
She watched the screen when a message popped up, reading it while little Yan finished her sweet bread and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
She flicked a finger, the message at the top taking center when it opened—the image of an older couple appearing above the caller ID.
「Sorry! I've been trying to answer but it would never works...」
She continued reading, watching three dots bounce up and down before another message appeared.
「I sent an address—it's the library that was renovated a few months ago. Sorry again!」
She hummed quietly, the man gulping down his coffee before opening his mouth.
"Where we going?"
"A library"
Her calm voice passed through his ears—standing up after taking a few more sips.
"Alrighty then...up we go little Yan!"
He stood up too, catching the little girl's attention. She jumped to the floor—her shoes hitting with a soft tap.
"Did they send an address or anything?" He asked.
Valentina dragged one finger up, the screen mimicking the motion but, their was no luck.
"No..."
Her tone disheartened, she glanced back up and saw the man fixing the little girl's dress.
"Wow...so we're just walking now then?"
He threw a questioning look her way, his brows furrowing while they walked toward the exit—tossing her own empty cup into the trash bin. She grabbed the handle and pulled, the chilly air hitting her for a moment too long.
"Maybe don't hog the doorway?"
"Hah?"
She turned around and met his eyes—staring intently with a mildly offended look, running her gaze up and down him before placing one hand on her hip and leaning forward slightly.
"I'm not fat!...I just need more than than you is all.."
Her voice pitched higher when he pushed her out of the doorframe. A few people around them looked over but they ignored the stares.
"I ain't say you fat—you did."
Valentina clicked her tongue, dragging her gaze down before pulling up her bracelet again.
"So...lead the way."
The man's hand rested on little Yan's head, holding her in place.
She scrolled around until she found the search engine, her fingers tapping lightly in the air while she searched, her eyes settling on something promising.
"I think its this one? Look."
He leaned over her shoulder, taking in the bits of information he could see. A map spread across the screen, tracing several routes with her ginger before settling on the shortest.
"Lets get going then."
She took a few steps forward while the man followed suit who guided the little girl, moving her head away from anyone who got too close.
They walked in silence for who knew how long, their steps reverberating softly while little Yan hummed away, keeping her plushie clenched tightly in her arm.
Every now and then, a cruiser passed—its lights flickering. Yan would raise her head to look, only for the man to turn her gently away for being nosy but it did little to stop her from trying, huffing at each failed attempt.
"Should we really be walking that far? A cab would be better."
His suggestion hung in the air, accepted only by the silence. They stopped at an intersection, and he pressed the pedestrian button, waiting for the light to change.
The little girl peeked around, barely moving her head to free herself from judgement. her eyes darting in every direction. She spotted a crowd just outside her line of sight—several cruisers parked with their lights flashing. Some people in the crowd whistled while others stood quietly, their faces unreadable from her distance.
Her eyes spotted a man standing on something, shouting away. She could barely understand him, yet the folks beneath him listened intently.
Her eyes turned questioning the moment her head was guided away, and they crossed the street—only for a drop to fall on her feathers. She blinked and looked both ways instinctively at the sensation.
A shiver ran through the soft feathers before sliding down her spine, shaking her little head to chase it off.
She lifted one hand over her head, grabbed a tuft, and pulled at it repeatedly as if that would wipe away the wetness and grime. After a few stubborn tugs, she flattened both tufts in triumph—satisfied with her work, only for it all to go to waste when a few more drops fell onto them.
Valentina looked on in amusement, feeling a vibration on her wrist.
She lifted her hand, an address flashing across the screen the moment the display came to life.
"I just got the address."
The man looked mildly surprised, glancing at her over his shoulder. The coffee in his hand long gone.
"Just now?"
He blinked when a drop struck his brow, lifting his gaze toward the sky.
"We should get a cab."
His voice stayed flat, another drop hitting his head the moment he lowered his gaze.
"Give me a minuteee..."
Her tone dragged toward the latter half, her eyes searching for an icon. The man sighed, took her free hand, and gently guided the little girl while pulling Valentina along. His eyes landed on a nearby bus shelter—its roof just enough to shield them from the drizzle.
A few moments later, they settled on the bench inside, the soft patter of rain tapping against the glass roof.
"Ten minutes."
Valentina said, her screen glowing faintly as she held it toward him. On the screen, the cab's route ticked second by second.
The quiet minutes ticked down until a flash of red and blue washed over them. The siren blared—loud and obnoxious in the dark, shaking the thin wall's of the shelter.
Vehicles shifted out of the way the best they could, barely making enough room for the ambulance.
Little Yan squinted, her eyes narrowing while she followed the ambulance, the colors streaking across her reflection in the glass.