By the time she got back to her apartment, Noelle felt both longing and unease. She missed him, yes, but the image of Seraphina's teasing smile and the way she'd pressed for his attention replayed relentlessly in her mind.
Maybe he only looks at me this way when I'm around, she thought bitterly, shaking her head. Maybe… maybe I've been too confident all along.
And as she sank onto her couch, still in her school uniform, notebook forgotten at her side, the unease settled around her like a second skin. She wanted to call him, to demand reassurance but the thought of overreacting, of seeming insecure, held her back.
For the first time in a long while, Noelle realised that being with Ren, the man she had always believed was hers, wasn't just comforting. It was fragile, uncertain and required more trust than she had ever given anyone.
Ren leaned against the counter, wiping down a small spill, and let out a long breath. The café had quieted for a moment, giving him a brief reprieve but Seraphina was still there, hovering with that infuriating mix of mischief and flirtation.
"You're not answering me," she said, voice sweet but insistent, leaning just slightly forward as if she could draw him in. "Come on… you can't tell me you don't want a break. Just one night out with me."
Ren's jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair, forcing a patient smile. "Seraphina, we've talked about this. I don't go out with employees. And right now, I have work to do."
Her lips curved in a sly grin. "Work, work, work. Maybe you just need someone to… take care of you. Help you relax." She reached out, her hands brushing against his shoulders, trying to massage them, lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
Ren's eyes flicked toward the door almost reflexively, thinking of Noelle. She wouldn't like this. I don't even want her to see this. He straightened, placing both her hands firmly on the counter. "That's enough. Focus on your tasks."
Seraphina leaned back, still smirking but with a trace of mock indignation.
He didn't reply, already moving on to check the next order. Internally, he was calculating the logistics: how to manage Seraphina's presence without letting her antics disrupt anything, how to keep the café running smoothly and how to avoiding her until he leaves. Unlike casual flirtations from customers, she was constant and he couldn't just ignore her.
Once I transition to the restaurants, it'll be easier, he thought, recalling his call to his father earlier. I just need to hold the line until then.
He wiped his hands, glancing at the clock. Another busy shift, another round of errands afterward, then schoolwork. Yet even amid the chaos, his thoughts drifted to Noelle.
He realised she was in the café for just a fleeting moment, a flash of recognition in the corner of his eye and the next moment she was gone. His chest tightened as a wave of uncertainty hit him: had she seen him with Seraphina? He couldn't tell; her presence had been so brief, so sudden. What he didn't know was that Noelle had quietly fled the scene, her heart pounding, her mind reeling.
Seraphina, meanwhile, had caught sight of the girl too and raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she watched her slip out, unaware of the quiet storm she had just set in motion.
Ren frowned at the screen of his phone. A post on social media had gone viral. A blurry snapshot of him behind the counter at the café, his shirt rolled up at the sleeves, hair slightly tousled from the day's work. The caption was innocuous enough, praising the café but the comments…
"Is that the barista? 😍"
"Wow, look at that height and the shoulders? I'll order anything from him."
"I'm suddenly very thirsty and not because I need coffee!"
He scrolled through, jaw tight. He knew he was easy on the eyes and that women sometimes noticed but seeing the sheer volume of attention made his chest tighten. The café had always had customers, yes, but now there was a noticeable shift. Female patrons were coming in more frequently, some bold enough to flirt openly, laughing a little too long at his jokes, brushing past him deliberately, asking for extra attention or recommendations with that teasing glint in their eyes. He couldn't deny that the post helped the café's publicity, though he didn't like it.
Seraphina, of course, didn't miss an opportunity. She moved with exaggerated grace, leaning in as she served tables or restocked shelves, her every movement a subtle challenge. He kept his tone polite, his body language professional but inside, the constant attention grated on him.
At the same time, he couldn't stop thinking about Noelle.
She'd see this, wouldn't she? he thought, heart tightening. She'd wonder why I'm always not around, always working late…
The more he thought about it, the sharper the edge of worry grew. Noelle trusted him but she didn't see what he had to manage every day. She didn't know that every smile, every joke, every courteous response he gave to these women required conscious effort to draw the lines.
Meanwhile, Noelle had scrolled through her feed absently, expecting the usual quiet posts from friends and classmates. Then she stopped, her thumb hovering over the screen. A familiar face, Ren's, working behind the café counter had stared back at her from a post that had already racked up thousands of likes and dozens of comments.
Her stomach tightened. Why hadn't he told me about this? she wondered, scrolling further. The comments were flattering, bordering on bold:
"Too handsome to be real 🤤"
"I need my coffee from this barista!"
"How does someone look that good while working?!"
She blinked, feeling a prickling warmth in her chest and not entirely from pride. Something deeper stirred: unease. She had always assumed that Ren's attention, his heart and even his exhaustion, were for her alone. She'd taken comfort in the idea that no one else could compete, that she had his eyes, his focus, entirely.
But now… with the flood of comments, the influx of female customers and the teasing presence of Seraphina in his daily routine, doubts began to creep in, unbidden.
Does he even notice me the same way? she asked herself quietly. Or is this the side of him everyone else gets to see?
Her fingers tightened around her phone. She remembered the way Seraphina had leaned over him, the teasing tone in her voice, the little smirk that had said I know I have your attention. The image burned in her mind, no matter how hard she tried to dismiss it.
Noelle shook her head, trying to steady herself. I trust him. I know I do… but seeing it, knowing it, feeling it — I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one.
Ren's phone buzzed in his pocket during his last class. He glanced at the screen: Noelle. His thumb hovered over the reply, a quick, careful message forming.
Hey. Want to meet after school? I can walk with you home.
He hit send before overthinking it. He didn't want to seem desperate or flustered, just regaining some sanity.
By the time school let out, Noelle was already waiting at the usual spot, backpack slung casually over one shoulder. She looked up as he approached, forcing a light smile. "Hey," she said, trying to sound casual, even as her heart beat faster at the sight of him.
"Hey," Ren replied, his own smile warm, though there was a faint tension around his eyes that only she could notice. "You've had a long day?"
"No… just classes." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, shifting her weight slightly. "Listen… about that post on social media…" Her voice trailed, casual but curious.
Ren's jaw tightened just slightly. "Yeah?"
She tried to keep her tone neutral, brushing her concern lightly across the surface. "It… got a lot of attention. People are… talking about you. The café."