Reunion at Simulatte: Nelly and Joe’s Masterclass Marathon
The warm glow of the Simulatte café was a welcome refuge from the city’s bustling streets. Joe was already seated at their favorite corner booth, his leather jacket slung over the back of his chair. A laptop sat open on the table, paused on the MasterClass homepage. He glanced up as Nelly walked in, her energy unmistakable even before she reached him.
“Long time no see,” she said, sliding into the seat across from him.
Joe smiled. “Thought you might’ve forgotten about me.”
“Not a chance,” Nelly replied with a grin. “I’ve been… recalibrating.”
“Recalibrating?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” she said, pulling out a small notebook from her bag. “Turns out, probiotics and a ketogenic diet are game-changers. My ADHD? Practically non-existent now. I’ve been focused, productive—like a whole new me.”
Joe leaned back, impressed. “That’s incredible. So, what’s the plan for today?”
Nelly gestured to the laptop. “I figured we could binge-watch some MasterClasses. You know, soak up wisdom from the greats. Cooking, filmmaking, even astrophysics—let’s learn it all.”
Joe chuckled. “I like the sound of that. Any preferences on where to start?”
“Let’s kick it off with Werner Herzog’s class on filmmaking,” Nelly suggested. “I’ve always been curious about how he sees the world.”
Joe nodded, clicking on the class. “Herzog it is. But after that, we’re doing Gordon Ramsay’s cooking lessons. If we’re going to be this productive, we might as well eat like pros.”
As the first video began to play, Nelly leaned forward, her attention fully on the screen. For the first time in a long while, she felt completely present. The fog of distraction that had once clouded her mind was gone, replaced by a sharp clarity.
Joe noticed the change, too. “You’re different,” he said, glancing at her during a pause in the video.
“Different how?”
“More… grounded,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s like you’re here, completely. No distractions, no second-guessing.”
Nelly smiled, a mix of pride and gratitude. “It’s amazing what a little balance can do. I feel like I can actually enjoy things now—like this, sitting here with you, learning something new.”
They spent the afternoon diving into a variety of topics, pausing only to grab coffee refills or laugh at a particularly insightful or absurd moment in the videos. By the time they finished their third class, the café’s neon lights had begun to glow against the encroaching twilight.
Joe stretched, closing the laptop. “I’d say we’ve officially leveled up today.”
“Agreed,” Nelly said, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s make this a regular thing. We could even try out what we learn—cook a meal, shoot a short film, maybe even build something crazy.”
Joe grinned. “Deal. But only if you promise to bring more of that newfound focus. It’s kind of inspiring.”
Nelly laughed, leaning back in her chair. “You’ve got it. Just don’t be surprised when I outshine you in Ramsay’s kitchen.”
“Challenge accepted,” Joe replied, raising his coffee cup in a toast.
As the evening settled in, the two friends sat back, their minds buzzing with new ideas and a shared sense of excitement for what lay ahead. For Nelly, this was more than just a productive day—it was a reminder that with the right tools, she could conquer anything. And for Joe, it was a chance to reconnect with someone who never failed to surprise him. Together, they were unstoppable.