The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the small town bathed in the soft glow of streetlights and the faint twinkle of early stars. Aeri walked along the quiet pathway, her white heeled shoes clicking softly against the pavement, her bag bouncing lightly against her hip. A small grocery bag swung in her hand, filled with essentials for dinner—some fresh vegetables, a loaf of bread, and a carton of milk. The evening air was cool and cozy, carrying the faint hum of distant conversations as people strolled by, wrapped in their own lives, their laughter and chatter blending into the gentle rhythm of the night.
"Sighh," Aeri exhaled, her breath visible in the crisp air as she adjusted the grocery bag. "Finally, at least I'm done with the groceries," she muttered to herself, her voice soft but tinged with relief.
The task had given her a small sense of accomplishment, a distraction from the unease that had been gnawing at her since she woke from her nap to find Ezra still gone. Get full chapters from 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩
She glanced at her wristwatch, the small face glowing faintly under the streetlight—7:30 p.m. Her brow furrowed as she reached into her bag, pulling out her phone, the screen lighting up with a soft blue glow. No missed calls. No messages from Ezra. Her heart sank, her lips pressing into a thin line as a flicker of sadness crossed her face. "Should I call him and ask where he is?" she thought, her thumb hovering over his name in her contacts. He didn't say anything this morning… and that guy he left with… who even was that? And she sighed, slipping the phone back into her bag, undecided.
"Hey, people!" a cheerful voice broke through her thoughts, making Aeri pause mid-step, her heels clicking to a stop. A young woman in a green apron stood outside a cozy café just ahead, her smile bright as she waved at passersby. "It's our anniversary today! Would you like to try our coffee? Or the special brownie? We've got some special offers as well!" The café's warm lights spilled onto the sidewalk.
Aeri's lips twitched into a small smile, her stomach stirring at the mention of sweets. "I'm craving something sweet," she thought.
She adjusted her bag and walked toward the café, the inviting aroma of roasted coffee and baked goods drawing her in.
"Welcome, ma'am, welcome!" the girl in the apron said, her voice bubbly as she held the door open. "Go inside and enjoy your time!"
Aeri nodded, her expression shy but warm. "Thanks," she said softly, stepping into the café.
The interior was warm and inviting, with wooden tables, soft jazz playing in the background, and a display case packed with pastries. A large sign above the counter advertised the anniversary specials, including a towering chocolate brownie drizzled with caramel. Aeri approached the counter, her eyes lighting up as she pointed to the sign. "That one," she said, gesturing to the brownie with a childlike enthusiasm, her voice soft but eager.
A group of boys at a nearby table glanced her way, chuckling softly at her cute gesture, their whispers carrying across the room. Aeri's cheeks flushed pink, and she pouted, tucking a strand of her long, dark hair behind her ear as she turned back to the barista. "And a cappuccino, please," she added, her voice quieter now, her embarrassment tempered by a small, defiant smile.
The barista, a young man with a friendly grin, nodded. "Got it! One cappuccino and a special chocolate brownie, coming right up," he said, ringing up her order. "You're gonna love the brownie—it's our best seller today."
"Thanks," Aeri said, her blush fading as she paid and stepped aside, her grocery bag resting against her leg. A few minutes later, her order arrived—a steaming cappuccino in a white ceramic cup, its frothy surface dusted with cocoa, and a thick, fudgy brownie on a small plate, its caramel drizzle glistening under the café's warm lights.
Aeri carried her treats to a small table by the window, settling into a cushioned chair with a soft sigh. She set her grocery bag on the floor and took a sip of the hot coffee, the rich, creamy flavor warming her throat as she gazed out at the street.
People passed by in pairs and groups, their silhouettes softened by the streetlights, their laughter and chatter a quiet hum against the jazz playing inside. She broke off a piece of the brownie, popping it into her mouth, the chocolate melting on her tongue, sweet and indulgent.
Aeri sighed, her breath fogging the edge of her coffee cup.
"It feels refreshing," she murmured to herself, her voice soft as she took another sip, the creamy cappuccino warming her throat. Her eyes drifted to the window, watching a couple laugh as they passed by, their hands linked. "Wish Ezra was here with me," she said quietly, her lips curving into a wistful smile. "He'd love this coffee. Probably make some goofy comment about the foam."
She set her cup down and reached into her crossbody bag, pulling out her phone, the screen glowing as she opened Ezra's call log. Her thumb hovered over his name, her heart racing as she stared at the call button.
"Come on, Aeri, just do it," she whispered, her voice trembling with determination. She closed her eyes, her thumb fumbling as she tried to summon the courage to press it, her breath catching in her throat. But the weight of their earlier argument, her sharp words pushing him away, held her back. Slowly, she lowered the phone to the table, her shoulders slumping.
"Ahh… huff… huff…" she gasped, catching her breath as she dropped her head onto her folded arms on the table, the cool wood pressing against her forehead.
"It's too hard," she muttered, her voice muffled against her arms. "I lack the strength to do this. I need to train more." She spoke as if facing an enemy, her tone half-joking, half-serious, as if the act of calling Ezra was a battle she wasn't ready to fight. Her fingers tightened around her phone, her heart heavy with frustration and longing.
"Hey, miss, is everything alright?" a man's voice broke through her thoughts, warm and concerned, coming from the table beside her.
Aeri's head stayed down, her voice slipping out before she could stop it.
"Na, nothing's okay," she muttered, her words barely audible, meant only for herself. But then it hit her—she'd answered someone in real life. "Huhh!?" she gasped, her head snapping up, her eyes wide with surprise as she turned to face the voice.
A tall man stood there, handsome with a kind smile, his dark hair neatly combed, a few streaks of gray suggesting he was older than Ezra, maybe in his early thirties.
He wore a casual long black shirt over a white t-shirt, his hands tucked into his pockets as he looked at her with gentle curiosity.
"Hehe, I see," he said, his smile widening, his tone light but genuine. "What happened? You look like you're fighting a war over there."
Aeri's cheeks flushed pink, her hands waving frantically as she tried to backtrack, her voice stumbling.
"Ugh… I mean… everything's okay! I'm sorry!" she said, her blush deepening as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes darting to her coffee cup to avoid his gaze. "I was just… thinking out loud. Didn't mean to say that."
"It's okay, I understand," He said, his voice warm and reassuring, his hands resting loosely on the table. "Sorry if I disturbed you, but you looked so cute earlier, I couldn't help but come over and talk."
Aeri's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing pink as she tilted her head, confused. "Earlier!?" she asked, her voice a mix of awkwardness and curiosity.
He chuckled and pointed toward the large brownie advertisement above the counter, where Aeri had eagerly gestured minutes ago.
"Yeah, when you pointed at that sign like a kid picking out candy," he said, his tone teasing but gentle. "It was pretty adorable."
"Oh no! Please…" Aeri groaned, her voice softening as she dropped her head into her hands, her face burning with embarrassment. "That was so embarrassing," she mumbled, her words muffled against her palms, her shoulders hunching as if she could hide from the memory.
He laughed, a warm, easy sound that filled the space between them.
"Hehehe, it was really cute," he said, leaning forward slightly, his smile wide and genuine. "No shame in loving a good brownie."
"Shut up… stop teasing me…" Aeri said in a low tone, sighing as she peeked up at him through her fingers, her pout half-serious, half-playful.
"Sorry, sorry," He said, raising his hands in mock surrender, his grin unapologetic. "No more teasing, promise." He paused, his expression softening as he gestured to the empty chair again. "If it's okay, can I sit with you? I mean, unless you're waiting for someone."
Aeri hesitated for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup, but his kindness was disarming. "Sure, go ahead," she said, sitting up straighter and taking a sip of her cappuccino.
He settled into the chair and Aeri's eyes flicked to his order, noticing the coincidence that he also had ordered the same cappuccino and brownie just like hers and when she looked up, their gazes met. His eyes were warm, a deep brown that caught the café's light, and she felt a soft flush creep up her cheeks again. He's really hot, she thought, her heart giving a little flutter.
"Umm!?" He expressed, his voice tinged with confusion as he tilted his head, an awkward smile spreading across his face. "Is there something on my face?" He brushed a hand over his cheek, his brow furrowing as he tried to read her expression.
"N-no, no, it's nothing!" Aeri blurted, her blush deepening as she coughed, grabbing the glass of water on her table and taking a quick sip to cover her fluster.
He smile widened and he laughed again at her.