The city breathed easier after the storm.
For the first time in days, Maya laughed without fear sitting heavy on her chest. She, Emila, and Lila walked through the campus café, trays in hand, sunlight spilling through the windows like a quiet promise.
"You know," Emila said casually, stirring her drink, "life almost feels… normal."
Maya smiled. "Don't jinx it."
Lila's phone buzzed on the table. Then Emila's. Then Maya's.
Three notifications. Same sender.
Lila read aloud, eyebrows lifting.
"Girls' night. Café downtown. No boyfriends. No drama. Surprise guests."
Emila's lips curved into a mischievous grin.
"Surprise guests sounds dangerous."
Maya hesitated. Her eyes flicked instinctively to her phone—no message from Adrian yet.
"Just coffee," Lila added lightly. "We deserve that."
Maya nodded slowly.
"Okay. Just coffee."
None of them noticed the timing.
Or how carefully the invitation had been sent.Elsewhere — Seeds of Jealousy
Alex sat with Adrian and Max at the campus lawn, phones in hand.
Max frowned at his screen.
"Lila's going out tonight."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Same with Emila."
Adrian looked down at his phone. No message. No heads-up.
"Coffee," Adrian said, reading Maya's status update.
His jaw tightened.
Max leaned back. "Why does 'just coffee' sound like a trap?"
Alex smirked. "Because it always is."
None of them said it out loud—but the same image flashed through all their minds.
Unknown faces.
Laughing girls.
Eyes watching.
Adrian stood.
"I trust her," he said.
But his voice wasn't fully convinced.The Café — First Cracks
The downtown café glowed warm and inviting, music low and lights soft.
Maya relaxed a little. Emila was already laughing with a friend. Lila ordered drinks confidently.
Then the "surprise guests" arrived.
Two men. Well-dressed. Charming. Strangers.
Introductions were polite. Harmless.
At least, they looked harmless.
One of them leaned slightly closer to Emila, smiling.
"So… are you always this hard to ignore?"
Emila laughed awkwardly. "I'm not usually noticed."
Across the table, Maya felt it—the shift. The subtle tension.
Lila caught Maya's eye.
This might have been a bad idea.
Photos Travel Faster Than Trust
A phone camera clicked.
A candid photo.
Three girls.
New company.
It took less than a minute.
Adrian's phone vibrated.
Max's jaw clenched.
Alex muttered, "You've got to be kidding me."
Adrian stared at the image longer than he should have.
Maya was smiling—but it wasn't his moment.
Not like this.Just coffee," Alex repeated dryly.
Silence fell between them.
Then Max spoke quietly.
"I'm going."
Alex stood immediately.
"Same."
Adrian hesitated for half a second.
Then he grabbed his jacket.
Unaware — For Now
Back at the café, Maya felt a strange unease settle in her chest.
She checked her phone.
Still nothing.
"Relax," Emila whispered. "We're doing nothing wrong."
Maya nodded—but her eyes drifted to the door.
Somewhere deep down, she felt it.
The calm was temporary.
And jealousy—
was already on its way.Three girls walked into a café expecting peace.
Three men followed carrying doubt.
And none of them knew—
Tonight wasn't about coffee at all.
It was about trust.