Cinta Sepotong Blackforest (A Slice of Black Forest Love)

Margaretha Dania atau Maggie adalah seorang wanita muda yang selalu menyempatkan diri untuk mampir ke kafe kecil di sudut kota sepulang kerja. Di kafe itu, dia punya kebiasaan unik: memesan sepotong kue black forest yang menjadi favoritnya sejak kecil.

Kafe itu memiliki suasana hangat dengan alunan musik jazz yang menenangkan. Maggie biasanya memilih duduk di pojok dekat jendela, ditemani buku bacaan atau laptopnya.

Di sudut lain, ada Richard Edward, seorang pria berusia 30 tahun yang juga sering mampir ke kafe yang sama. Sama seperti Maggie, dia selalu memesan sepotong kue black forest. Richard suka menghabiskan waktu di sana untuk menikmati kopi hitamnya sambil mencatat ide-ide untuk novel yang sedang ia tulis.

Mereka sering saling melihat tanpa saling menyapa. Hanya tatapan singkat dan senyum tipis yang terkadang mereka lemparkan satu sama lain.

Suatu sore, Maggie datang ke kafe seperti biasa. Namun, saat dia memesan, barista memberi tahu bahwa hanya tersisa satu potong kue black forest.

“Maaf, Mbak Maggie, ada yang pesan duluan,” ujar barista itu dengan sedikit canggung.

Maggie menghela napas kecil, kecewa. “Oh, tidak apa-apa. Saya pesan lemon tart saja, ya.”

Ketika Maggie duduk di meja favoritnya, seseorang mendekat dengan membawa sepiring kue black forest. Itu adalah Richard.

“Maaf, saya dengar tadi kamu suka black forest. Kalau kamu mau, ini untukmu,” katanya, meletakkan piring itu di hadapan Maggie.

Maggie terkejut. “Oh, tidak perlu, aku bisa pesan yang lain.”

Richard tersenyum ramah. “Tidak apa-apa. Aku bisa pesan lain. Lagipula, sepertinya kamu lebih menikmatinya dibanding aku.”

Maggie akhirnya menerima tawaran itu dengan rasa terima kasih. “Terima kasih banyak... Umm?”

“Richard,” dia menjabat tangannya.

“Maggie,” jawabnya sambil tersenyum.

Setelah pertemuan itu, Maggie dan Richard mulai saling menyapa setiap kali bertemu di kafe. Kadang, mereka duduk di meja yang sama, membicarakan hal-hal ringan.

“Aku tidak tahu kenapa black forest selalu jadi favoritku,” kata Maggie suatu hari. “Mungkin karena itu mengingatkanku pada ulang tahun masa kecilku.”

Richard tertawa kecil. “Aku suka black forest karena rasanya klasik. Tidak pernah gagal membuat hariku lebih baik.”

Dari obrolan-obrolan itu, Maggie tahu bahwa Richard adalah seorang penulis. Sedangkan Richard tahu bahwa Maggie adalah seorang desainer grafis. Percakapan mereka terasa begitu alami, seolah mereka telah lama saling mengenal.

Hari-hari berlalu, dan kebiasaan di kafe itu menjadi lebih berarti bagi keduanya. Bukan hanya tentang kue black forest atau secangkir kopi, tetapi tentang pertemuan dengan seseorang yang membuat hari mereka lebih cerah.

Suatu sore, saat hujan rintik di luar, Richard membawa sesuatu untuk Maggie. Sebuah kotak kecil dengan pita biru.

“Ini untukmu,” kata Richard sambil menyerahkannya.

Maggie membuka kotak itu dan menemukan sepotong black forest di dalamnya. Di atas kue itu, ada tulisan kecil dari cokelat: Would you like to have dinner with me?

Maggie tersenyum lebar, matanya berbinar. “Tentu saja,” jawabnya tanpa ragu.

Sejak malam itu, hubungan mereka berkembang menjadi sesuatu yang lebih. Black forest yang dulu hanya menjadi makanan favorit mereka kini menjadi simbol awal dari kisah cinta mereka.

Setiap kali mereka pergi ke kafe, mereka selalu memesan sepotong kue black forest, tetapi kali ini mereka membaginya bersama.

Bagi Maggie dan Richard, sepotong black forest bukan lagi sekadar kue, melainkan kenangan akan pertemuan sederhana yang membawa cinta ke dalam hidup mereka.

[Bahasa Inggris]

Margaretha Dania, or Maggie, was a young woman who always made time to stop by a small café in the corner of the city after work. She had a charming habit: ordering a slice of black forest cake, her childhood favorite.

The café had a cozy atmosphere, with calming jazz music playing softly in the background. Maggie usually sat in the corner near the window, accompanied by a book or her laptop.

In another corner sat Richard Edward, a 30-year-old man who also frequented the same café. Like Maggie, he always ordered a slice of black forest cake. Richard enjoyed spending time there sipping his black coffee while jotting down ideas for the novel he was working on.

They often saw each other without ever exchanging words just brief glances and faint smiles.

One afternoon, Maggie arrived at the café as usual. But when she placed her order, the barista hesitated.

"I'm sorry, Miss Maggie... someone already ordered the last slice," the barista said apologetically.

Maggie let out a small sigh, disappointed. "That’s okay. I’ll just have the lemon tart."

As she made her way to her favorite table, someone approached with a plate of black forest cake. It was Richard.

“I overheard you like black forest,” he said, setting the plate in front of her. “If you want it, it’s yours.”

Maggie looked surprised. “Oh no, you don’t have to. I can order something else.”

Richard smiled warmly. “It’s okay. I can pick something else. Besides, I think you enjoy it more than I do.”

Maggie finally accepted the offer, grateful. “Thank you so much... um?”

“Richard,” he said, extending his hand.

“Maggie,” she replied, smiling as she shook it.

From that day on, Maggie and Richard began greeting each other every time they met at the café. Sometimes, they shared a table and chatted about simple things.

“I don’t know why black forest has always been my favorite,” Maggie said one day. “Maybe because it reminds me of my childhood birthdays.”

Richard chuckled. “I love it because it’s a classic. It never fails to brighten my day.”

Through their conversations, Maggie learned that Richard was a writer, and Richard discovered that Maggie was a graphic designer. Their talks felt effortless, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Days passed, and their little routine at the café became more meaningful. It wasn’t just about the cake or the coffee anymore it was about seeing someone who made the day feel lighter.

One rainy afternoon, Richard brought something for Maggie a small box with a blue ribbon.

“This is for you,” he said, handing it over.

Inside was a slice of black forest cake, with a message written in chocolate on top:

Would you like to have dinner with me?

Maggie’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling. “Of course,” she replied without hesitation.

From that night on, their bond blossomed into something more. The black forest cake, once just their favorite dessert, had become a symbol of the beginning of their love story.

Whenever they visited the café, they still ordered a slice of black forest but now, they shared it.

For Maggie and Richard, a slice of black forest was no longer just a cake, it was a memory of a simple encounter that brought love into their lives.