Morning light spilled softly through the café windows, dust motes dancing in the golden glow as Kayla pushed the door open. The familiar scent of coffee beans and warm wood greeted her like an old friend.
She had barely stepped inside when she noticed two figures waiting nearby.
Lukas and Arthur.
A smile immediately found its way onto her lips.
"Oh hey, boys! Perfect timing—I was just opening the store," Kayla greeted, her voice warm and lively.
"We'll help you, ma'am," Lukas replied without hesitation.
Kayla paused, then turned to them with a playful frown.
"Stop calling me *ma'am*," she said, placing a hand on her hip. "You two can call me Miss Kayla—or just Kayla."
There was a teasing edge to her tone, but her eyes sparkled.
"It makes me look older," she added, glancing at her reflection in the café mirror. She adjusted her hair and struck a few playful poses, as if convincing herself.
Lukas and Arthur burst into laughter—and soon, Kayla joined them, the quiet café filling with their easy warmth.
"Sure, Kayla!" they said together.
And just like that, the day began.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks slipped quietly into months.
Before any of them realized it, time had carried them forward—they now stood just one week away from becoming second-year college students.
Yet somehow, the café remained the same.
Or maybe… it was the only place that still felt the same.
The bell above the café door chimed softly as Lukas stepped inside, the familiar sound easing something in his chest.
"Good morning, Lukas," Kayla greeted, already behind the counter, her smile as bright as ever.
"Arthur messaged me—he said he'll be late," she added, wiping her hands on her apron. Then she looked at Lukas, her expression shifting into something… persuasive.
"Can you handle the cashier and be a server today?" she asked, her eyes widening into an unmistakable puppy-eyed look.
Lukas froze for a second.
"Su-sure…" he answered, though uncertainty lingered in his voice.
What if I messed up?
What if—
"No need to worry," Kayla cut in gently, as if reading his thoughts. "I'll pay you extra."
She gave him a thumbs up, her smile unwavering.
"And it's okay to make mistakes."
Something about the way she said it—so certain, so reassuring—made Lukas pause.
For a moment, she didn't look like just his manager.
She looked like someone… dependable. Almost unreal.
Like a god that had suddenly appeared just to support him.
"Okay, ma'am," Lukas said, straightening instinctively, like a soldier ready for duty.
The café slowly filled with the quiet rhythm of the morning.
Orders. Footsteps. The soft hum of conversation.
Lukas found himself adjusting, step by step.
Until the bell chimed again.
And someone walked in.
Black hair. Pale skin. Quiet presence.
The kind of person that didn't need to try to stand out—yet did.
Lukas glanced up briefly.
Then did a double take.
Dang… he's handsome.
"What's your order, sir?" Lukas asked, quickly recovering.
The man didn't answer.
He just… stood there.
Still.
Frozen.
Lukas frowned slightly, eyes returning to the screen.
"Sir?"
A pause.
Then—
"Oh—uh… one Spanish latte."
"Iced or hot?"
"Iced."
"Size?"
"Grande."
"Name?"
The man hesitated.
"…Heath."
The name lingered in the air.
Heath…?
It sounded familiar—but Lukas couldn't place it.
He pushed the thought aside.
"Alright, that'll be ** dollars."
As Heath handed over the money, his fingers brushed lightly against the counter.
Then—
"May I ask your name?" Heath asked.
Lukas' brain short-circuited.
Why is someone this handsome asking for my name?!
AHHHHH—
Calm down. Calm down.
I need to be his friend…!
(His true intention: ask him about his skincare routine.)
He forced himself to act natural, pointing at his name tag.
"It's Lukas. You can call me Luke."
A small, controlled smile.
Cool. Casual.
Heath's eyes widened—just slightly.
"A-ah… okay."
Then, almost too quickly, he turned away, heading for an empty seat as if escaping something.
Lukas blinked.
What was that about…?
The café returned to its rhythm.
Until—
"Ahhh!"
Lukas nearly dropped the drink in his hand as arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.
"Miss me, Luke?" Arthur's voice came with a grin he didn't need to see.
"Dude! I almost spilled everything!" Lukas snapped, heart still racing.
"Sorry, Dada Lukas~" Arthur said, leaning into him with exaggerated cuteness, eyes wide like a child asking for forgiveness.
Lukas let out a tired sigh—but a smile still slipped through.
"Just go change. It's hectic with just me and Kayla."
Arthur laughed softly. "Okay, Sir Lukas."
"Grr…" Lukas muttered.
But then—
A feeling.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Like eyes pressing into his back.
Lukas turned slightly.
And found Heath.
Watching.
Not just looking—
Watching.
There was something in his gaze. Something intense. Unreadable.
Almost—
No.
Lukas quickly looked away.
I'm just imagining things.
"Lukas, bring this to customer Heath."
Right.
The handsome guy.
"Sure, Kayla!"
When Lukas approached, Heath looked up immediately.
"Here's your order," Lukas said, offering a smile.
"Thank yo—"
"You're new here?" Lukas interrupted, curiosity slipping out before he could stop it.
"Yea—"
"Your face is new, so I guessed you're new. When did you move here?"
The words came too fast.
Too much.
Lukas froze.
Oh no.
"Oh—sorry," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was just curious…"
For a second, silence hung between them.
Then—
Heath smiled.
Just a little.
And somehow… it changed everything.
Damn… that face should be locked away somewhere.
"Yes," Heath said softly. "I'm new. I just moved nearby."
"Oh… nice to meet you."
Lukas reached out his hand.
Heath took it.
Firm.
Warm.
"Nice to meet you too…" Heath leaned in slightly.
"…Lukie."
The word barely reached Lukas' ears.
Soft. Almost secret.
Lukie…?
Did he imagine that?
Before he could think further—
A hand landed on his head.
Ruffling his hair.
"Luke. We're at work," Arthur said, smiling—but his eyes flickered briefly toward Heath.
"Oh—I didn't realize I sat down," Lukas said with a small laugh.
"Don't disturb the customers," Arthur added, his gaze lingering this time.
Heath didn't look away.
Their eyes met.
And something unspoken passed between them.
Something tense.
Something sharp.
Like two people silently drawing a line.
Arthur felt it.
He didn't understand it.
But he felt it.
"Let's go back to the counter, Luke."
"Bye, Heath! See you again!" Lukas waved, unaware of the shift in the air.
As they walked away, Arthur casually draped an arm over Lukas' back, leaning in.
"Who was that?" he asked quietly.
"Oh, Heath? He's new. Just moved into that apartment over there."
Arthur's expression shifted—just slightly.
"And you're already calling him by his name?" he muttered. "It took you weeks to call me by mine."
Lukas blinked.
"Well… you kept ignoring me. I *tried* talking to you on my first day."
Arthur froze.
"…U-uh…"
He remembered.
He just didn't want to admit it.
"I-it's different!" he protested, voice rising slightly like a stubborn child.
Lukas laughed softly.
"Let's go. Kayla's probably busy."
Behind them—
Heath sat still.
Watching.
His fingers curled slightly around his cup.
His gaze darkened as he looked at Arthur's arm still resting so naturally on Lukas.
Too close.
Too familiar.
Too comfortable.
Something tightened in his chest.
A quiet, unfamiliar feeling.
One he didn't like.
But couldn't ignore.