I take a petite sip of my cappuccino, the frothy milk leaving a whimsical mustache above my lip—one that I’m almost too amused to wipe away—and I can’t help but feel like an extra in a European indie film.
The outdoor café is bustling with the typical mid-morning rush, a harmonious symphony of clinking cups, animated conversations, and the occasional moped buzzing past. Around me, life unfolds with the ease of a practiced play: locals barter over fresh pastries, tourists clumsily unfold maps, and pigeons peck at yesterday’s dreams.
I lean back in my wrought-iron chair, angled just so, the sun casting a golden hue across my face, perfect for that candid, model-esqe photo I’m envisioning in my mind. I am no Tyra Banks, but I remember her lessons on “smizing” – smiling with one’s eyes. I gaze through my oversized sunglasses, attempting to channel her fierceness into my unwavering glance. An enigmatic smile plays on my lips. I wonder, do I pull off the allure of a fashion mogul?
My cappuccino, a mere accessory to my impromptu photo session, grows cold. Who knew sipping coffee and practicing nonchalant expressions would be such strenuous work? But there’s something liberating in this solo café performance art, a freedom in knowing no one around me is aware of the mini fashion fantasy playing out in my head.
Suddenly aware of my surroundings once more, I glance at my watch and realize an hour has slipped by, one smize at a time. It’s time to fold up my inner glossy magazine spread and stride back into reality.
But for a moment, Jessie Bee, aspiring smizer Vinfluencer extraordinaire, owned that European café catwalk, and my heart is still racing with the adrenaline of it all. And the caffeine, definitely the caffeine.
