The only reason people study in a library is to flirt. I have no evidence nor doubt of this. It’s like the nerds’ dating app. Everyone’s looking around, constantly eyeing your study neighbours.

Naturally, this was the reason I was in the library too. Deer boy always chose the same corner seat on the big table closest to the door. Deer boy had big brown eyes framed by thick black eyelashes. I often wondered if he wore mascara because those lashes looked unreal. He did this thing where he’d look up from his book and look in front of him really intensely while muttering to himself. He reminded me of a deer who’s just been stunned by a flashlight, but in a cute way.

My principal aim in life is now to get him to notice me. Frustratingly, his study friends are always there taking the entire table. Sigh.

Mid afternoon, he always goes out to the little coffee shop a few blocks away and comes back with a espresso in a tiny paper cup. Deer boy doesn’t settle for the library cheap machine coffee.

Here’s my plan: I’ll buy him the espresso and write my number on the cup. Timing is crucial.

Thirty minutes before he usually takes his break I head out for the coffee. With two cups, on for him with my number and my name on it and one for me for good measure I renter the library, my knees trembling, my heart pounding. As I’m stepping out of the lift, this fast moving figure crashes against me and before I know what hit me, literally, I’m on the floor, both coffee cups smashed and the hot liquid dripping on my dress.

“Sorry!” A girl looking flustered turns her head as she’s pressing down the lift button. “I’m in such a rush but I’m so sorry, hope you’re …” I can’t make out the ending as the lift doors close. I just sit there, stunned, feeling the heat from the coffee transferred into my skin.

“Hey, are you okay?” A voice behind me says. “That was so rude of that woman.” Deer boy is extending is hand to me, looking at me with those huge eyes. The heat I feel suddenly on my cheeks make me forget the coffee burning the rest of my body.

“Funny, I was just going to the same coffee place just now.” He smiles at me while I’m clumsily lifted to my feet. My head is spinning and now I’m the one staring at him wide eyed. “If you’d like, I’ll get you one?” Before I can react, he’s picked up the empty cups off the floor. He frowns as he turns the written cup on his hand. “Emma, huh?” Deer boy seems amused as he disposed of the cups in the bin. “Smooth.”

“I’ll…explain on the way over.” I manage to say, smiling back.

Alright, not a bad outcome. Not as I planned, but not bad at all.