The Start
She’s got the looks: silky long hair, the shade of jet black that is sure to turn eyes. She’s got the brains: achieving the highest position as an academic student. She’s got the ambition: the kind so rare in others her age. High school and College have usually been about the experience, the memories that everyone creates and remembers for the rest of their lives. Harlow, however, has got it differently. As a young girl, she has always been a dedicated workaholic. Time was hardly something she had in hand, breaking the countless relationships she sought out in hopes of filling the hollowness deep in her heart. But, they never stood around for long.
Semester as a college junior, Harlow sat at her usual spot in the local campus cafe. She had quite the reputation of being “that one girl” among the cafe workers and their usual customers. Downing about four cups of coffee from the morning to the afternoon, she’s been working on her assignments, side projects, and anything stressful that may come to mind. Harlow always had eyes on her for being the overly ambitious girl, except there has always been one pair of eyes stuck on her since high school by a particular boy: Azial Dawson, a student barista at the cafe.
Harlow has always stood out to Azial, likely because they somehow always took the same classes. He would notice that while other girls were equally as studious, there was no other like Harlow and her dedication. To Azial, it was mystifying seeing her never change, which would always bring up one question to himself: What was the reason behind such dedication? It was this particular afternoon when the young barista mustered up the courage and sat right across from Harlow.
Consumed by her screen, Harlow took some time until she glanced up to see the familiar face. Despite how much she minds her business, she has always been observant about her surroundings. Azial had been glancing at her laptop from his counter, seeing how she was looking to start a part-time job, and struck up a conversation by asking her to take up as a part-time barista. Hesitantly, Harlow agrees.
