It was just another busy Monday at the café where I worked as a barista. The morning rush was in full swing, and I was juggling orders when I saw him: my ex, Nick, strutting in like he owned the place. My heart sank. Nick and I had ended things messily a few months ago, and seeing him here was the last thing I needed.
“Hey, Lily,” he said with a smirk. “Miss me?”
I ignored him and focused on the line of customers. But Nick wasn’t here for coffee—he was here to stir trouble. He started chatting loudly with the customers, throwing in little jabs about our breakup.
“She’s great at making coffee,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “but commitment? Not so much.”
I could feel my cheeks burning, but I refused to let him get to me. Still, he wasn’t done. He decided to take it a step further by pretending to “review” the café, loudly criticizing everything from the decor to the pastries I’d baked that morning.
“Wow, dry muffins, Lily? Guess some things never change!”
The customers glanced at me sympathetically, and my manager raised an eyebrow. I knew I had to act fast before this turned into a full-blown disaster.
Then it hit me—a brilliant idea for revenge.
As Nick stood at the counter, waiting for a reaction, I flashed him my most professional smile. “Nick, how nice of you to visit,” I said sweetly. “The first coffee’s on the house—for old times’ sake.”
I prepared his drink carefully, choosing the most bitter, unsweetened espresso shot we had. But the real twist? I handed it to him with his name written incorrectly on the cup: “Rick.”
He frowned at the cup, and I leaned in with a polite smile. “Oh, sorry about the name. I must’ve forgotten—kind of like you forgot how to act like a decent human being.”
The café erupted in laughter. Nick’s face turned crimson as he realized the joke was on him. He stammered, grabbed his cup, and walked out, muttering under his breath.
That day, I learned something important: you can serve karma piping hot, even at a coffee shop. And the best part? My customers tipped extra for the entertainment.
