Source
The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling streets of Paris. Amidst of it all, the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air as I sat in the small café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city.
I smiled as I quietly sipped my rereading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time.
"Excuse me." I looked up from my book at a young girl with the brightest eyes I have ever seen smiling at me.
"Can I join you? All the seats are occupied."
I wasn't really a fan of people but with the smile on her face, it was hard to resist so I nodded.
She sat down, "I'm Clarissa."
I wanted to tell her more than anything that I just wanted to read my book in peace and drink my coffee. My two favorite things to do in the world but then I heard my mum's voice in my head, "Miles, the characters in your book are not real. You can't be friends with them so put the book down and make some real friends."
I sighed, "I'm Miles."
"Oh I know. I've seen you around campus. Plus you are friends with my brother."
I looked at her again. Her dark hair fell in waves framing her heart shaped face and those eyes just kept sparkling.
She was really beautiful.
I didn't hang around a lot of people so I knew exactly who her brother was.
"I didn't know Nathan had a sister and I haven't seen you around."
"I'm a freshman. So can I tell you a secret?"
I blinked. I hardly knew this girl. Yet she wanted to tell me a secret. I didn't give her an answer so she leaned forward, "I found the secret to immortality."
"What?"
Clarissa grinned, "Yes. That's why I'm here. My brother told me you liked coffee a lot. He was really reluctant to give me the information. I had to beg a lot. Anyway, my best friend's mum is a scientist and they uncovered something really unravelling. There is a special coffee bean that makes you immortal by just sniffing it."
My first instinct was to laugh. Forgetting the fact that she was giving off major scary vibes, I found her cute and adorable. Believing that immortality was real.
I couldn't help it so I burst out laughing making the sparkle in her eyes disappear.
Sne frowned, blushing in embarrassment.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. But I don't just understand how sniffing coffee would make you immortal. How does it work?"
She spoke not as eager as before, "The scientists aren't really sure. They are still figuring it out. I just thought since you loved coffee so much you would want to try it out."
I knew I was attractive and Nathan said girls love the aura I gave off. The truth is I wasn't trying to be. I was just simply being me.
"Do you have this bean with you?"
Clarissa nodded.
"Okay. You know what. Let's do it. But I have a question. Why do we have to sniff it? Why can't we drink it?"
She shrugged, "I am not sure. That's just what my best friend told me."
I requested for some hot water and two coffee mugs. We prepared the beans and then we sniffed.
I waited for a few minutes. Nothing happened.
"I don't feel any different." I told her.
"Maybe it takes a little more longer to set in."
After that silence followed.
I picked up my book and continued reading but I wasn't concentrating. I watched her battle with herself, eventually she sighed sadly, standing up, "Well it was really nice to meet you Miles."
I watched her walk away and for the first time in my life I didn't want to continue reading. I gave up after an hour. I paid for my coffee and went to the street. I paused to put on my headphones and a truck came out from nowhere running right into me.
I flew off the road and then everything went black.
I opened my eyes. I looked around, everything looked the same. I touched my body. All my bones were still in place.
My eyes widened as the realization set in. "Holy shit it worked."
I burst into Nathan's room, "Your sister. Where is she? I need to speak to her."
Nathan dropped his game pad, "What the hell happened to you man?"
I ignored his question, "Clarissa."
"Don't tell me you actually like her. I sent her to you so you could ignore her and kill her dumb crush."
He wasn't going to be of help so I picked up his phone and called her.
Nathan frowned at first before saying, "Well if you two start dating she will spend less time nagging me."
She picked up, "What Nathan?"
"Uhmmm it's Miles."
"Oh."
"I need to talk to you. Can you meet me at the café?"
Clarissa listened as I narrated.
"So it actually works. We are immortal now?"
I nodded, "The beans? Is there anymore?"
"No. That was all. The truth is that her mum actually discarded it. I found it in the bin and she told me what it was. I didn't think it would work. I was just looking for an excuse to talk to you but you are clearly not interested."
She got up again.
"Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?"
My eyes widened as the words came out of my mouth but I couldn't take it back not with the way her eyes sparkled.
That moment marked the beginning of our love story. We existed together for the rest of time. It was hard seeing the people with we loved come and go but in the end, our love held us together and our story would be told for centuries to come as the story of the eternal lovers.
