Nima: The Girl In Search Of True Love

Chapter 1

It had been 23 years since Nima had lived on this planet called Earth, yet she had never truly felt the warmth of a human heart, whether from her family, friends, or even the idea of a boyfriend. Truthfully, she had never had the chance to focus on such things, always preoccupied with life's demands. But as she grew older, she began to wonder if there was someone out there she could call her true love.

"Thank you! Come again," Nima said to the departing customer, her voice carrying the weariness of the day.

"I'm really tired. I just want to go home and rest," she thought to herself, the fatigue evident in her eyes.

As she turned to wipe down the counter, the familiar sound of the café door opening caught her attention.

Squeeeek.

A tall young man with ocean-blue eyes entered the café, instantly capturing Nima's gaze. She had never seen anyone quite like him-his presence was almost otherworldly, and his gorgeous looks only added to the intrigue.

"What would you like to order?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.

"An iced Americano," he replied, his voice deep and smooth.

Nima nodded and busied herself preparing the drink, her mind racing with thoughts. Who was this man? Why did he make her feel so flustered? She returned a moment later, the iced Americano in her hand.

"Here's your iced Americano, sir," she said, handing it to him.

In that brief moment, her hand accidentally brushed against his. The contact sent a jolt through her-his hand was large and veiny, making hers seem small in comparison. She felt an inexplicable warmth from the touch.

"Thank you," he said with a smile, and then he turned and left the café.

Nima stood there, watching him go, mesmerized by his smile. It was the kind of smile that could light up a room, like the warmth of the sun on a cold winter's day-beautiful and comforting. His voice lingered in her mind, smooth and soft, as if he were whispering directly into her ears.

"Is it okay for me to find a stranger's smile so comforting?" she wondered to herself.

The rest of her shift passed in a blur, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the mysterious man. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she closed up the café and headed home. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her bed with a sigh of exhaustion and relief, falling asleep without bothering to change her clothes.

That night, Nima dreamed of the same man. In her dream, he smiled at her, holding her hand and calling her name, "Nima." The dream felt incredibly real, and she woke up in a daze, her heart pounding with a strange new sensation.

"What was that, and why did I see him in my dreams? Why did it feel so real?" she wondered aloud.

She checked her phone and saw that it was already time to get ready for another day at the café. With a reluctant groan, she got up and quickly prepared herself, constantly glancing at the clock.

"It's already time. Why does it feel like I didn't get enough sleep? It's almost time to open the café. I only have 45 minutes. Will I make it on time?" she muttered to herself, letting out a long sigh.

Back at the café, Nima slipped into her routine, greeting customers and serving drinks. But her mind kept drifting back to the man from the previous day.

"Thank you for coming. Have a great day," Nima said to a departing customer, trying to stay focused.

Squeeeek...

The door opened again, and Nima's heart skipped a beat. She looked up, half expecting to see the mysterious man.

"What would you like to order?" she asked the customer, her voice tinged with a hint of hope.

"An iced Americano," said the customer.

Chapter 2

"An iced americano," said the customer, his voice smooth and deep.

Nima looked up, her eyes widening in recognition. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stammered slightly with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "A-an ic-iced americano?" she repeated, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

The customer nodded, his expression calm. "Yes, please."

"Right away," Nima replied, trying to steady her trembling hands as she prepared the drink.

As she worked, she couldn't help but glance at the man. He had long golden eyelashes, sharp jawline, and smooth, glowing skin. His silky long golden hair flowed over his shoulders, and he smelled sweet and floral, yet warm and comforting. Nima wondered what cologne he wore.

Every day after that, the man appeared at the café at the same time, always ordering an iced americano. Nima began to look forward to his visits more and more.

One day, as the door squeaked open, Nima's heart leaped. She turned to see the man entering, his presence lighting up the room. With a bright smile, she greeted him, "An iced americano."

The man looked at her, slightly confused by her enthusiasm. "Ah, yes," he said.

"Here's your order," Nima said, handing him the drink with a smile she couldn't suppress.

"Thank you," the man replied, his gaze lingering on her.

"Have a great day," Nima said, still smiling.

The man paused, his eyes softening. "You have a really beautiful smile. You should smile more often."

Nima felt her cheeks flush. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Have a great day," the man repeated, turning to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Nima's nerves got the better of her. "Wh-what's your name?" she blurted out, her voice trembling. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she added quickly, laughing nervously.

The man turned back, a wide smile spreading across his face. "James," he said.

"Huh?" Nima replied, confused.

"My name, it's James," he repeated, still smiling. As he was about to exit the café, Nima gathered her courage and called out, "I am Nima."

James turned back once more, his smile growing wider. "I know," he said, pointing to the book on the counter. Nima's name was written on the cover. With a final nod, James exited the café, leaving Nima standing there with her heart pounding.

Nima placed her right hand over her heart, feeling it race with joy. A vague smile played on her lips as she whispered to herself, "Is this the feeling people call love? Is this how people feel when they fall in love, or am I just being delusional?"

The image of his warm smile stayed in her mind. The café seemed quieter now, filled with a new kind of energy. For the first time, Nima felt a special connection, a spark that hinted at dreams she had never dared to imagine.

Her interaction James hinted something deeper. She felt a warmth in her heart and flutter of excitement she had never experienced.

As she got back to work, her mind kept on drifting back to james.

Chapter 3

"Have a great day," said Nima to the customer.

"Ufffffffff," she sighed, exhausted. "Finally, it's all done. Luckily, there aren't many customers around this hour, so I should probably continue with the book I was reading," she muttered to herself, patting her aching back from standing all day.

She picked up her book, "When My Skin Touched Yours," and turned to page 190.

"Do you know how much I've longed for your touch? I've died every day and night, struggling not being able to breathe the same air as you. My tears went dry from crying every night. Where have you been, my love?" said Ciel, the main character of the book.

"I thought it didn't matter where I went. I thought you didn't love me. All I could think about was how you'd abandoned me and married someone else," said Vanessa, Ciel's lover.

"What do you mean, my love? When have I abandoned you? I love you. I have loved you all this time, whether you were around or not. I couldn't breathe because you weren't by my side," Ciel responded, his voice trembling with desperation.

Slickkk. The sound of the page turning filled the quiet room.

"I know it all. Your mother told me how you went to your mother's friend's house to discuss your marriage with their daughter!" Vanessa yelled.

"It is true I went there, but never to talk about marriage. I love you and have never thought of marrying anyone but you. When I returned, I was told you had left. If I made you worry or cry, please forgive me," Ciel said, kneeling and holding Vanessa's hands.

With a blend of happiness and relief, Vanessa caressed his cheeks. "Stand up," she said softly.

Ciel stood slowly, looking into her eyes. "I have never abandoned you, Vanessa," he assured her.

After a long pause, Vanessa whispered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have listened to your mother."

Ciel gently pulled Vanessa closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and caressing her face. She leaned forward on her tiptoes, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss.

"To be continued..."

Tears unconsciously fell from Nima's eyes onto her hand.

"Here," said a voice, offering her a handkerchief. Nima looked up, surprised.

"Oh, thank you. When did you arrive? I didn't realize you were here," she said to James.

"I've been here for quite a while," James replied.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Nima asked.

"You were so engrossed in your book, I didn't want to disturb you," James said.

"It's one of my favorite books, 'When My Skin Touched Yours,' written by an unknown author. I don't know who they are, but this story touches my heart every time I read it," Nima explained.

James looked at her, his eyes widening in surprise. Nima stood before, her face alight with excitement as she passionately talked about how much she loved that book. This was the side of Nima, he had never seen before, it left him intrigued and awed.