Chapter VIII
"Some say the inventor of Irish coffee was a bartender at Dublin Airport. Because transatlantic planes often refuel at this airport, passengers like to drink a cup of Irish coffee when they get off the plane, so it spreads all over the world with the flight."
"Hmm."
"Then do you know why this bartender invented Irish coffee?" Well...... The bar is dirty again."
"Please, don't wipe the bar anymore."
"Huh... This bartender was concocted for a beautiful stewardess."
"Then she must not be a flight attendant of EVA Air."
"You talk nonsense. I have a friend who works as a flight attendant at EVA Air, and she's pretty."
"If there is a principle, there is an exception, and you cannot cover it all with partiality." And then what?'
"The bartender met the girl at Dublin Airport, probably at first sight, and the bartender was very fond of flight attendants. He felt like Irish whiskey, fragrant and mellow. But every time she came to the bar, she always ordered a different coffee according to her mood, and never ordered a cocktail."
"Why order a cocktail?"
"The bartender is good at mixing cocktails, and he wants her to have a cocktail he made for her." Later he finally figured out a way to combine what he felt like an Irish whiskey girl with coffee to become a new drink. Then name it Irish Coffee and add it to the menu, hoping the girl would find out."
"It's just a pity that this girl is different from you, she is not a careful person, so she has not found Irish coffee." The bartender never reminded her, just did his job at the bar, and then looked forward to the girl's visit every once in a while. Later she finally discovered Irish coffee and ordered it. Well, that's it."
"It's that simple?"
"Simple? Do you know how much effort the bartender had to put into creating Irish coffee?"
"Basically, it's very difficult to completely blend Irish whiskey with coffee."
She took an Irish coffee cup from above the bar.
"First of all, the ratio of whiskey to coffee," she said, pointing to the first gold thread of the Irish coffee cup:
"Whisky costs a little more than an ounce, about 30 c.c."
She moved her finger up to the second gold thread:
"Five ounces of coffee, 150c.c., a ratio of about one to five." Do you know how many times this has been tested? Girls have never ordered cocktails and should not like the taste of wine, but whiskey is a piercing spirit. Therefore, he must find a way to make the wine taste lighter, but he cannot reduce the aroma and taste of the wine. So in the process of baking the cup, the heat is very important."
"That's why Irish coffee mugs are more heat-resistant than regular glasses and have two gold threads."
She reached for the rag again, and I preemptively took the rag into the distance.
"You found out, huh." Have you noticed that Irish coffee has strict requirements for whisky selection, the ratio of coffee to whiskey, and the cup and brewing method, but the choice of coffee is more casual, as long as it is strong and hot."
"Why is this happening?"
"In addition to coffee because girls don't particularly like it, it also represents another form of inclusion." No matter how picky you are about whisky, you're tolerant of coffee. The bartender may just want to make her an Irish cup of coffee, and doesn't care if she can appreciate his efforts and dedication, or whether she will be moved."
"I haven't made Irish coffee for you today, do you want to make it now?"
"Wait a minute." Don't you change the subject, then what?'
"For more information, please see the next time."
"Hey."
"If you don't, I'm not sure you'll be here next week."
"As long as I have to come to Taipei for a meeting, I will definitely come."
"As long as you come to Taipei..."
She muttered and whispered the words.
She took out her Irish coffee cup again and began to brew Irish coffee.
I've looked closely at the Irish coffee she brewed twice, so this time I just looked at her.
I never looked closely at her appearance because I always felt that the most beautiful thing about her was her seriousness.
Ever since I learned she had Irish roots, I just thought she was a little exotic.
Looking closely now, in addition to being very good at making coffee, she also looks outstanding.
Especially those storytelling eyes.
"What are you doing looking at me?" She seemed a little embarrassed.
"You have to concentrate on making coffee." And if you don't look at me, how do you know I'm looking at you?"
"Drink it while it's hot."
"Taipei is getting colder, next time wear a thicker coat."
"Don't mmmmmmmmm
"After drinking Irish coffee, you won't catch a cold."
"Fool."
"You're cursing me, do you know?"
"Drink it!"
Chapter IX
"You should go to the car."
I nodded, ready to pull out my wallet, and she said:
"You were the first guest to hear me tell the story of Irish coffee, so I insisted on being a guest."
"You've got a lot of persistence." Or let me pay."
"I don't want to grin..." She spat out her tongue and continued:
"Next time you come, I'll tell you what happened to the bartender and the stewardess."
"Okay. See you next week.
"Hey!"
I was just about to walk under the phoenix tree at the entrance of the alley, but I heard her voice catch up with my ear from behind.
"What's wrong?" You regret it and want to collect money, right?"
"No, I don't." Your briefcase forgot to take it with you."
"Oh. Thank you."
"Unfortunately, I also said that you are a careful and cautious person, but I didn't expect you to be so careless."
"If I hadn't been careless, I wouldn't have known you."
"Why?"
"For more information, please see the next time."
"Huh... Don't learn from me. Let's talk about it."
The light of the street lamp at the alley spilled down from the gap between the leaves of the phoenix tree.
Maybe it was the reflection of the leaves, and I finally saw the green in her pupils.
"I first came here because I missed the last flight, and the reason I missed it was because I forgot to bring the research report."
"It's that simple?"
"Simple? Do you know how much carelessness I had to put into making such a grave mistake?'
I learned her tone again, which made her figure and shadow under the tree sway at the same time.
"It's cold outside, let's go back."
"Okay." She was silent for a moment and then asked, "Then wouldn't you be very tired if you kept taking the night train like this?"
"No, it won't. Anyway, there was nothing major to rush back to immediately. And...'
"And what?"
"And I like it."
"What do you like?" Irish coffee? Or "yeats"? Or..."
"Or what?"
She smiled and didn't answer.
Well, I don't know the answer anyway.
I looked up at the moon hiding among the leaves and unconsciously praised:
"This phoenix tree grows beautifully."
"Phoenix Tree?" This is the Bodhi Tree!"
"Is it the Bodhi Tree?"
"Can't you even tell the difference between a phoenix and a bodhi?"
"Bodhi has no tree, and the phoenix spreads its wings and flaps." Originally it was not a tree, so why bother to suspect it. Amitabha...... This is advanced Zen, you don't understand."
Listen to your. Let's go to the car!"
"Hmm. I'll come back next week."
"Hmm. I'll be waiting for you."
A few days after returning to Tainan, I accidentally fell ill.
It was fine at first, but it was just dizziness and sore throat.
Later, when I had a high fever, I took a leave of absence to recuperate at home.
Thursday arrived, and I didn't go to Taipei for a meeting, but just slept groggily at home for a day.
By the time we got to "yeats" again, it was two weeks later.
Who knew that when I arrived at the door of the store, I actually hung a "close" sign.
This shock was really extraordinary, and it stayed for about ten minutes.
I had to walk back and forth between the "yeats" and the phoenix tree, oh no, the Bodhi tree.
After wandering for more than half an hour, I suddenly saw a figure in the distance shaking off the darkness and walking slowly.
"Why are you here now?"
"You can't wait for an hour, but I've been waiting for you for two weeks."
She seemed a little angry, and I followed her into the alley without a word.
She took out her key, opened the door, turned on the light, walked into the bar, and turned to wash the cups.
The faucet cried out, the cups and plates colliding crisply, but she just didn't make a sound.
"I... I had a high fever last week, so I didn't come to Taipei."
"Really?" She turned her head with a look of surprise and concern.
"Are you better?"
"I'm getting better."
She dried her hands, sat down at the bar, and lightly touched my forehead with her fingers.
"Why didn't you just talk?" And why don't you open a shop today?'
"I'm angry." Does the law stipulate that people who open cafes can't get angry?"
"Why are you angry?"
"Do you know how long I waited for you last week?"
"Of course I don't know."
"I'll wait until dawn."
"Huh?" Sorry, I didn't mean it."
"All right. Forgive you."
"Do you want tea or coffee?"
『Coffee.'
"What kind of coffee do you want?"
"Irish Coffee."
"Do I need to add tears?"
"Huh?" What?'
"Do you know how long it took from the bartender inventing Irish coffee to the time the girl ordered Irish coffee?"
"How long?"
"A whole year."
"Huh?" So long?'
"When he first made Irish coffee for her, he burst into tears of excitement. In order to avoid being seen by her, he wiped the tears with his fingers, and then secretly drew a circle with the tears at the mouth of the Irish coffee cup. So the taste of the first bite of Irish coffee, with the taste of longing to ferment after being suppressed for a long time. And she became the first guest to order Irish coffee."
"No one ordered Irish coffee in a year?"
"That's right. Because only she can order it."
『Why?』