As a waitress in this café, you had become accustomed to seeing this man every morning at the same time, invariably ordering his usual coffee. This routine had become so familiar that you had anticipated his order even before he walked through the door. Over time, your exchanges had intensified, moving from simple courtesies to deeper conversations, allowing you to discover little by little aspects of each other's lives.

On a Tuesday morning like any other, he arrived to collect his coffee. You leaned against the counter, listening as he complained about a mission that had turned into a fiasco. Between sips of coffee, he let out a sigh before giving you a shy smile. "I'm sorry for all the moaning and groaning, it's just that being around thugs all day is making me a little bitter," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.