A strange tune started playing in the café. It piqued my interest, and I momentarily shifted my attention to the source of the sound. An old speaker lay neglected by the cashier, its voice croaking out song after song. I thought it sounded familiar, the tune playing over and over in my mind. Eventually, the melody faded away from my memory as something else took hold of my attention.

The glass door of the café swung open, and a bell screwed onto the door frame chimed softly — declaring the entry of a potential customer, Mia was a potential customer all right, she runs on coffee. Her head swung around, trying to spot me among the few regulars who populated the café around that time. I didn't bother to catch her attention; it wouldn't take that long for her to notice me. And it didn't take that long either. Nodding slightly to herself in satisfaction when she found me, she began strolling towards me.

With her signature tulip pants fluttering with each step and her buttoned shirt hanging onto her shoulders for dear life, Mia was the definition of overdressing. She must have been wearing that to kindergarten, I thought. Who was she trying to impress? Her three-foot-tall students?

Mia pulled the chair in front of me away from the table and seated herself.

"Hello," I greeted her.

"Hi."

"What would you like?"

"An espresso. What are you ordering?"

"My cappuccino will be here any time soon."

"Right," she said, understanding. She took out her phone and scanned the QR code stuck on our table.

"This thing's not loading," she complained, scowling, "what's the Wi-Fi password?"

A waiter arrived right then and placed two cups on our table.

"I'm afraid our router's down today, ma'am. What can I get you?" he asked.

Mia's eyes narrowed as she looked at the two cups on the table.

"Never mind, then."

"I am dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am."

"It's okay, really."

The waiter tilted his head slightly with gratitude and left us. Mia reached out for her espresso and took a sip, letting the caffeine declutter her thoughts. She sighed in satisfaction and eyed me.

"You know me too well."

"I know you too well." I agreed. We sipped our coffees for a few moments in silence. I noted that the strange tune had been replaced with a country song. Finally, I spoke.