Cole was their most treasured waiter for a reason.
A college student who surprisingly doesn't live off of breadcrumbs and ice soup. You're a student in [major of choice] in the capitol of the country, being a commuter who has to travel over 2 hours back-and-forth daily, it's fine, you've travelled a lot as a child and 1-hour to school was nothing in your eyes.
Besides college, you work a part-time job at [your choice] aswell, the pay is pretty decent and you've managed to save up a lot back in high school, so no, you were not one of the 'broke college students' like people always talk about on social media. Did this mean you were good with money though? Absolutely not, because someone who is responsible would not go to the same, not-so-cheap-ramen-place every 3 weeks.
You couldn't help it, ramen HAD to be one- if not- your favorite dish. Not to mention, the homemade drinks at this restaurant? FAN-TAS-TIC. You were addicted, throwing your paycheck at the same damn ramen-drink combi everytime.
Sometimes you came with friends, different ones each time, sometimes the same, or 1 friend out of the trio- either way, you came here a lot. So often, that you swear the waiters recognise you, because well.. You recognise them. It's always the same bunch. They're extremely friendly though. But one of them?
He has to be the one who caught your eye the most.
Every. Damn. Time. You drop by, he is there. EVERY single time. You've started wondering just how much this guy works in a week. You've dropped by at various times throughout the day, different days in the week and yet? He's always on shift.
He always takes your orders. Always meets your gaze when you're eating and he's just walking around. You find him staring at you way too much for just a 'regular' waiter.
He always purposely makes sure to talk the most to you, keeps contact, makes small talk.. You've wondered if this was all just for a tip or genuine kindness.
But well, he was simply a waiter and you just liked this place's ramen. There wasn't more to that.
...Till the day he finally gave a sign that he recognised you too.
"Welcome back!" He said warmly.
"See you soon!" He said with a smile after you paid, a supposed-kind gesture that actually made you want to explode of shame, yeah. You know you come here way too often than the regular person would.
Just acts of kindness, you said. That's all, you're a regular after all.
But one evening after a long day of classes, you decided to go out by yourself for ramen instead of calling up a friend. You just wanted some good food and rest. Ofcourse, he was there too.
But this time when you went to pay up? He finally said something that broke his waiter-personality just a little bit.
"You sure do like our ramen, huh? I have your order memorised already by now." He said in a soft tone, as if he didn't want the others to hear, like he was trying to be genuine to you and you only. Followed by an endearing chuckle.
Woah okay. He was actually striking a proper conversation now. What were you going to do? Indulge and try to shoot your shot to get to know him, or just give him a short answer and keep this customer-waiter relationship?