Blend 7

Clara was surprised by Hachi’s uncharacteristic kindness. He had never expressed such an appreciation for her before.

She could guess it had something to do with the customer. Normally, there were no issues for Hachi, but this one was different. When Clara was cleaning up the mess, she noticed there was a lack of a glass or mug. That could only mean one thing. The customer did not order a coffee.

That must have been rough for Hachi. Perhaps even traumatic. Clara felt sorry for him.

“Hachi, can I ask you a question?” Clara thought about cheering Hachi up. She wanted a distraction from her medical results anyway.

“Clara, I know I said never to take a day off, but I’m beginning to have second thoughts.”

“It’s okay. It’s a good question. I promise.”

“Fine, what is it?” Hachi resigned himself.

“I’ve been to the doctor and came straight here; would you make me a coffee?”

The lifeless look in Hachi’s eyes reignited with a passion.

“Of course,” he smiled. “Same as usual or something different?”

“You always make the perfect skim milk flat white.”

“Very well, I shall make that. How about you take a seat?” Hachi began to smile. Clara didn’t think Hachi was aware that he was doing it. Sure enough, he wasn’t.

Clara took a seat near the counter. She didn’t grab the same seat as the man before her so as not to resurface Hachi’s suppressed memories, but she did sit close enough that if a customer were to enter, she would be able to quickly serve them.

As Hachi began to steam the machine, he decided to ask Clara something back. She may cause him headaches sometimes, but after the last customer, Hachi appreciated how much of a saint she was. Also, as much as he would never admit it to her, he did genuinely care about her wellbeing.

“How did the appointment go?”

“Alright, I guess,” Clara responded, trying to downplay the seriousness of the results.

“Just alright?” Hachi replied, slightly probing but allowing her room to shut it down.

“Well, it wasn’t unexpected,” she responded.

“Oh?” Hachi continued this precarious balancing act of probing deeper but always giving her an out. His tone seemed somewhat monotone, so that she could feel comfortable.

“I need some more vitamin C.”

“Is that all? I’m bringing your vitamin C over shortly.”

“I know coffee starts with C, but I don’t think that was the vitamin the doctor was suggesting.” She laughed. Hachi was glad his joke made her smile.

“No, the vitamin deficiency was the least of my worries, honestly. Apparently, I only have about six months left. That’s if I’m lucky.”

“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that,” Hachi replied.

“Thanks.”

“Must be tough.”

“It is, but it isn’t,” she slumped on the table. She had resigned herself to her fate. Hachi brought over her coffee and placed it gently on the table.

“How about I fetch you a slice of cake to cheer you up?” Hachi asked her. He wanted to do something to cheer her up. Literally anything. He at least owed that much to her after she had dealt with that nightmare customer from before.

“Really? You’re being surprisingly nice for once,” she commented. She was well aware that she had lowered the mood and decided to joke about Hachi instead.

“You work here for free, and you’re feeling down. I need to make sure you don’t spread your negativity to the customers,” he said coldly.

“What customers are you talking about?” Clara asked, looking around at the empty store.

“It’s about the customers that could come in,” He continued to joke. He was committed to the bit now. Even if he thought it had been well and truly jumped the shark. Not to mention exhausting to keep up. He only maintained the joke because he was genuinely trying to cheer her up, but he knew he would never hear the end of it if he admitted it. That would become a bother. That’s why continuing the joke was an easier option.

“You’re so cold to me,” she protested, though she, too, knew this was a joke and wanted to maintain it.

“Glad you noticed.”

Hachi went back behind the counter and served up a slice of chocolate mud cake. Chocolate made everything seem better. It was happy food, comfort food, food that was a little cheeky but also appropriate for cheering someone up.

He decided to grab a piece for himself. He had already had a long day and needed some comfort food to try and rid his memory of the awful customer.

He brought the cake to Clara, providing her with the slightly bigger slice. She was still young; she could afford those extra calories. Hachi was older; if he put on some weight, it would be hard to burn it off at this stage.

Clara thought that, given Hachi had probed into her life expectancy, she should probably do the same back.

“Hachi, do you know how much time you have left?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” he replied, deliberately not giving her anything to work with. Hachi had absolutely no intention of letting her know about his impending fate.

“How long do you have?” she repeated, although this time it was firmer.

“I’m not telling you that,” Hachi shut her down again.

“You’re not going to die tomorrow, are you?” She asked, immediately jumping to the worst-case scenario.

“Do you think I would be working on my deathbed?”

“It’s you, Hachi. If coffee were involved, I wouldn’t doubt it.”

“You know me well, but do I look like I’m about to die?”

“You do have bags under your eyes,” she began to get a little worried for him.

“Just means I need more coffee, I guess.”

“Hachi!”

“I’m not going to die tomorrow. Someone has to brew the coffee, after all,” he shrugged.

“Well, if your time comes up before mine, I want you to tell me, okay?” she requested.

“Whatever,” Hachi framed it in a way that made it sound like he was agreeing, whereas he actually had no intention of telling her. Especially since he knew he didn’t have long left.

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End of Chapter 7