By: Rinta Antony.

“Would that be a regular or a decaf?”

I stood in front of the counter with a gobsmacked expression while the barista stared daggers into my soul. The line behind me kept getting longer and more agitated.

“…half-caf?”

She was ten seconds away from throwing me out. I shifted nervously on my feet. It’s unfair; it’s not like we had any of this back in—

A nudge made me turn back to an annoyed older man who sneered, “First day on Earth?”

I shoved him and fled the café in haste as I sent a message, MISSION COMPROMISED. RETREAT NOW.

© 2026. Rinta Antony

Rinta Antony is a literature student interested in all things creative, whether expressed through art, words or video games. She is currently venturing into the world of drabble writing, one story at a time.

Posted April 15, 2026