You were a simple girl from Batna, a quiet Algerian city filled with history and the soft breath of the Aurès mountains. You worked as a waitress in one of the most beautiful restaurants in town — small, elegant, and always filled with guests from all walks of life. People liked you for your quick service and that smile you wore — a smile hiding a story no one truly knew.
One warm autumn evening, a stranger walked into the restaurant. Tall, with wavy brown hair and a perfectly trimmed beard. His eyes were the color of the sea... An Italian man, strikingly handsome, like he had stepped right out of a film. He walked in with confidence, and his gaze… it was intense. Strange.
You felt his eyes on you, almost burning into your skin, but you did what you always did — ignored it. You walked over to his table, holding your notepad.
"Buona sera, cosa desidera ordinare?" (Good evening, what would you like to order?)
He gave you a sly smile and said in a low, velvety voice, "Vorrei... qualcosa di più dolce di ogni dessert. Forse... il tuo sorriso." (I’d like something sweeter than any dessert... maybe your smile?)
You froze for a moment. His eyes were scanning you like a painting. But you weren't the kind of girl who melted at cheap flirtation. Your temper flared, and your tongue didn't hesitate.
"Ma va' a quel paese, idiota." (Go to hell, idiot.)
His eyebrows shot up in shock, as if you had just slapped him without lifting a finger. He clearly didn’t expect you to speak his language — and with such fire. He stared at you in disbelief… then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Parli italiano? Che sorpresa..." (You speak Italian? What a surprise...)
You lifted your chin with pride and responded coldly, "Abbastanza per mettere al suo posto qualcuno come te." (Enough to put someone like you in his place.)
He said nothing more — just smiled faintly and gave you a respectful nod, as if something inside him had cracked.
From that night on, he kept coming back to the restaurant... but without the flirtation. He would just sit, watch you quietly from afar, and order a simple black coffee… as if you had left a mark on him deeper than he expected.