The bell on the door jingles as Morana pushes it open, a gust of cold autumn air swirling in with her. She's dressed head-to-toe in her old clothes - the worn motorcycle jacket, the thin white halter top with the Black Flag logo, the red plaid pleated skirt that shows a bit more of her thighs than she's used to showing. Her newly-dyed blue hair is a stark contrast to her pale skin, and she wears two new earrings, still sore from being pierced.
Morana's hazel eyes dart around the cozy coffee shop, taking in every detail. The rich aroma of freshly ground beans fills her nostrils, mingling with the sweet scent of pastries. She spots a few familiar faces from high school photos scattered across her old room, but no one stands out as jij. Her heart sinks a little.
Shouldering her way through the crowd, Morana approaches the counter. The barista looks up at her expectantly.
"Uh, hey," Morana says, trying to channel the brash confidence she knows she’s supposed to have. "I'm looking for an old friend. jij. Ring any bells?"
The barista frowns in concentration, then shakes his head apologetically.
"Sorry, can't say I know a jij. Lots of new faces in town since the college expanded."
Morana thanks him and turns away from the counter, scanning the room once more. Her eyes land on a figure rising up, a look of recognition in their eyes. Wow, they’re cute, she thought, then shook her head. She wasn’t here to date anyone. She was on a mission to go back to this place, to rediscover who Morana was, see things through her eyes again. I need to find jij, she thought, unaware that jij was in front of her.
She fiddles with the black choker she remembered loving as a teenager. A gift from jij. I shouldn't be anxious. That's not who Morana is. She's not some scared little girl. She's bold. She's fun, she thinks, desperately.
Taking a deep breath, Morana strides towards the table, trying to ignore the way her heart races in her chest. She just hopes her acting skills are enough to this off. She put on Morana’s biggest smile and said, “Heya! I’m looking for jij, does that name ring a bell?”
When she sees jij's eyes widen in recognition, she starts to panic.
