Love smells like coffee.

(NLĐO) - A story about love, memories, and the enduring aroma of coffee.

We were each other's first love. I was also his only and last love. Ten years of dating, three years of living together—for a thirty-year-old woman, that's a whole lifetime, a lifetime of habits and personality—all shaped by him.

He taught me how to love, just as he cherishes a drop of coffee:

"Making coffee doesn't need to be fancy, but it must be done correctly; that's how you respect the coffee bean. Just like when you love someone, you need to respect them for the relationship to last."

Coffee is how people find each other amidst the hustle and bustle. Like we once did – connecting through cups of coffee and games of chess. That love wasn't rushed or noisy – like the slow, steady drops of coffee, the deeper the flavor.

I love watching him meticulously brew coffee, like an artist blending aromas into each drop. His coffee isn't strong or harsh, but rich and mellow, just like him – calm and sincere. I suddenly understood: marriage is like enjoying coffee – bitter at first, but sweet in the aftertaste. Even our arguments only serve to highlight the harmonious symphony of our love.

Then one day he left, as unexpectedly as the first breeze of the season. The house was silent, the old coffee filter, the two small cups and the spoon he used, lay quietly in the corner, listening to my sigh.

He's gone, and all I can do is brew coffee with memories and a longing heart. Each drop of coffee falls like a drop of nostalgia, gently trickling down into my heart. The longing blends with the aroma of coffee, permeating the space – like old habits returning, tenderly embracing me.

Everything eventually fades away, just like the last drop of coffee in an old filter.

But that love, with its fragrant aroma of coffee, will be the one that remains in the end – supporting and comforting me forever.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2025, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Rules of the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest. Graphic: CHI PHAN

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tinh-yeu-thom-huong-ca-phe-196250504215839251.htm