The café was quieter than most places in the city.
Soft music played in the background, cups clinked gently, and sunlight spilled through large glass windows like warm honey.
Talia had arrived early.
Too early.
She kept glancing at the door every few seconds, fingers wrapped around a half-finished cup of coffee she barely tasted.
Why did I agree to this?
That question kept looping in her mind.
Maya wasn't just an ex-friend.
She wasn't just someone from high school.
She was a problem Talia didn't understand yet.
And somehow—She had said yes anyway.
The bell above the café door rang.
Talia looked up.
Maya walked in.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Just like yesterday.
Just like the restaurant.
Just like before everything went wrong.
Maya spotted her and walked over slowly, sliding into the seat opposite her.
No hesitation this time.
Just tired eyes and a quiet expression.
"You came," Maya said.
"You asked," Talia replied simply.
Silence settled between them.
Different from before.
Less sharp.
More fragile.
Maya glanced around the café before speaking.
"This place is… calmer than I expected."
"That's the point,"
Talia said. "Talk or don't talk. Just don't waste my time."
Maya gave a small, almost sad smile.
"Still the same."
Talia leaned back slightly.
"You said your mom is missing."
Maya nodded.
"Yeah."
"Start from there."
Maya took a slow breath.
"She works in research. Biological stuff. Private lab contracts, government connections…"
Talia's expression tightened.
That already sounded heavy.
"A few weeks ago," Maya continued, "she started acting weird. Jumping calls. Locking her office. Saying names I'd never heard before."
She paused.
"Then one night, she told me to stay away from you."
Talia frowned.
"Me?"
Maya nodded again.
"She didn't explain why. Just said you were… connected to something dangerous."
Talia shook her head slightly.
"That makes no sense. I'm a student. I work part-time. That's it."
Maya studied her carefully.
"That's what I thought too."
Silence again.
But this time, it felt heavier.
Like something underneath them was slowly shifting.
Maya lowered her voice.
"After that, she changed. She started… threatening me. Not directly. But enough."
Talia's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What kind of threats?"
Maya hesitated.
Just long enough for it to feel real.
"That if I didn't keep you away from her… something would happen to me."
Talia didn't speak.
Her grip tightened slightly on her cup.
"So you started acting like you hated me," Talia said quietly.
Maya looked down.
"I had to."
A long pause followed.
The café noise faded into the background.
For the first time, it wasn't about anger between them.
It was about fear.
Talia leaned forward slightly.
"Why me though? Why involve me at all?"
Maya shook her head.
"I don't know. But I think your mom knows mine. Or knew her."
That hit differently.
Talia's voice dropped.
"My mom's not around."
Maya looked up quickly.
"What do you mean?"
Talia hesitated.
"She left. Years ago. My dad raised me."
Maya blinked.
That wasn't what she expected.
For a moment, both of them just sat there.
Trying to connect pieces that didn't fit.
Finally, Maya spoke again.
"Then maybe she didn't leave. Maybe she… disappeared for a reason."
Talia's stomach tightened.
Outside the café window, the city moved like nothing was wrong.
Cars. People. Noise.
Normal life.
But inside that small table—Nothing felt normal anymore.
Maya stood up slowly.
"I shouldn't stay too long."
Talia looked up.
"You're just going to leave it like this?"
Maya hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"No."
She pulled something from her pocket — a small folded note.
"This was in my mom's office. I don't know what it means. But it has your mother's name on it."
She placed it on the table.
Talia didn't touch it yet.
She just stared.
Maya turned to leave.
But before she reached the door—She stopped.
"Talia?"
"Yeah?"
Maya didn't look back.
"Whatever this is… I don't think we're supposed to be separate from it."
Then she walked out.
Talia sat there.
Staring at the note.
Heart slow.
Thoughts loud.
And for the first time—She realized this wasn't just her past catching up.
It was something that had been waiting for her all along.