story time: starbucks guy
I donāt know much about Starbucks Guy. I think his name is Ahmad, but my phone knows him as Starbucks Guy. We met because he was the Store Manager at the Starbucks near my work. Whenever I would come in, he would seem starbucks struck. His eyes might as well have been heartshaped. When I ordered, he would not let me pay for it, and I got food for free I didnāt order, too.
One time, he asked if I would wanna go out some time. I said it depends on your intentions - as friends, itās okay, but not more, because I am gay. He said he was okay with whatever and I get to decide. So we exchanged numbers. And oh man, this guy frequently called and sent heart emojisā¦
Anyway, we met up one time and we got tea somewhere. We start to talk about the usual get-to-know-each-other things. Thatās when an interesting shift happened: Before he found out where I work and what I study on the side, he was all sweet and relatively normal, and very positive about his employees. He was giving sweet, soft, empathetic, nice guy.
But when he found out, he suddenly felt the need to shift into what Iām assuming was supposed to come off as very masculine and impressive. He started talking about being stern and not so forgiving with his employees, how heās stingy with granting them time off, how heās not afraid to kick people out of the storeā¦ it basically came out of nowhere, just because he felt intimidated and needlessly inferior as ājustā a coffee shop man. Of course I was put off by this behavior, but these are the moments Iām switching into observer mode, subtly enjoying some dude embarrassing himself in front of me and losing my approval the more he talks and sticking around to see how bad it gets. It continued with how because of his success, theyāre giving him a second store to manage, yada yada. More bragging. Even bragging about store upgrades that were not even real. But I digressā¦
Later on, the inevitable starts. Heās allegedly a ladyās man and in so many friendships with benefits. But heās also digging - am I sure I am gay? Can I make an exception? I say no, and that if he has such a huge number of women available to him, heāll be just fine without me.
Itās always the same: When some guy talks about his choices, he doesnāt have a single one and is desperate, and I caught him in it. He goes on to say that he lowkey hates my girlfriend (now fiancĆ©e) for having me. I chuckle and internally think wow, banger thing to tell the Discord later.
You might be wondering why Iām still hanging with that guy and not making a scene, and itās because this is like the trillionth experience with people like this, so I am unbothered and just gathering entertainment material. Nothing I could say would change this type of man, so Iām listening and acting mostly unimpressed. This usually gets them going to try harder because I have a resting bitch face and they try to make me laugh or look impressed. Of course he pays for our tea and I let him.
After this one, whenever I went into or even by the store (itās on my way to work) and he was there too, he insists on hugging me. Instead of getting in and out with a drink or food, he insists I stay and spend time with him. He also asks when we can hang out again. Of course I keep it vague - say he can message me and weāll see. Since the first meeting, he now always has to act like leading the store is immensely stressful - constant calls, constant meetings. It wasnāt like that before. He even asks me to join him to meet some work higher ups and I decline. Itās all a show to make up for our job difference and his insecurities. Jokes on him, in an ideal world Iād run a coffee shop too.
One time, my train was delayed, so I was agreeing to stay for a bit. But he acted so busy that he didnāt come to the table once. When I finally needed to leave to catch my train, he came over and begged I stay - I guess to watch him work and be impressed. I have better things to do with my time, so I insisted I had to leave now. Thatās when he tried to snatch my phone from the table. I was able to get it first, though. He knew I probably wouldnāt leave without it, so he saw it as his chance to get me to stay. Glad I got it; I immediately left.
Next time - not a big fan of letting some dumbassā presence dictate where I can go - my now-fiancĆ©e actually accompanied me to get a drink too. It wasnāt intended as a power move, it was a coincidence, but he totally understood it as one. He was sooo ashamed and shy. Asked āWas I so bad last time?ā in relation to me bringing her along. I just sternly said āItās okā, we got our stuff and left.
After that, I was very sick with my Crohnās disease and had to avoid all kinds of beverages and sweetener and was mostly bedbound, so I didnāt see him for months.
When I returned, he seemed stressed and moody. He said he would be moved away from the store and manage another one.
Since then, he was never there anymore, and the store has a much better vibe. It was like a heavy fog lifted, and the employees all seem happier and friendlier. I think working with him must have been awful.
And that concludes the story of Starbucks Guy. May he never be seen again.
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