Chapter 2
Kael lowered the fork mid-air.
"…Did you see that?" he said.
Alya blinked. "See what?"
He nodded slightly toward the window. "Someone was standing there."
"Where?"
"Across the street."
Alya turned, leaning to check. "I don't see anyone."
"They were there a second ago."
"Well, they're not now."
Kael kept looking for a moment longer.
Then leaned back.
"…Probably nothing."
Alya stared at him. "You don't say 'probably.'"
"I just did."
"That's suspicious."
"It's not."
"You literally paused mid-bite."
"I was thinking."
"You don't think while eating cake."
"…I do now."
Alya narrowed her eyes—then suddenly stood up.
"Come on."
Kael sighed. "Where are we going?"
"Outside."
"For what?"
"To check."
"It's nothing."
"Then you won't mind proving it."
She was already walking.
Kael stood up slowly. "…If there's no one there, you're buying the next coffee."
Alya smirked. "Deal."
"And dessert."
"You're already eating dessert."
"That's because you forced me."
"And you're not complaining."
"I am."
"You're not."
Outside—
The air was cooler.
Alya scanned the street again. "Okay, where?"
Kael stepped beside her. "There."
A few steps ahead—
near the bookstore—
someone stood still.
Alya squinted.
"…Wait."
Kael didn't say anything.
He already knew.
"Elara?" Alya called.
Elara froze.
So he noticed.
She turned, adjusting her grip on her bag.
"…Hey."
Alya smiled immediately. "It really is you! I thought I saw you earlier."
Elara nodded. "Yeah… I was there."
Kael added, "For five seconds?"
Elara raised a brow. "More than that."
"Could've fooled me."
"You weren't looking."
"I was."
"You weren't."
Alya looked between them. "…Do you two always argue like this?"
"Not always," Kael said.
"Just when he starts it," Elara added.
"I didn't start anything."
"You did."
Alya laughed softly. "Okay, this is interesting."
"So why did you leave?" Alya asked.
Elara shrugged. "Crowds."
"Still don't like them?"
"No."
Kael nodded slightly. "That checks out."
Alya crossed her arms. "You could've at least said hi."
Elara glanced at Kael—just briefly.
"…You both looked busy."
Kael tilted his head slightly. "We were sitting."
"That counts as busy for you."
"It does."
"You haven't changed."
"Neither have you."
A small pause.
But this time—
it wasn't heavy.
Just… familiar.
"So what are you doing here now?" Alya asked.
"Nothing. Just passing by."
"You've been passing by for a while," Kael said.
Elara looked at him. "You noticed?"
"You were standing there."
"You were staring."
"I wasn't staring."
"You were."
Alya raised a brow. "Okay, I'm starting to think I should just leave you two to this."
"Don't," Kael said.
"Yeah, don't," Elara added.
Alya smirked. "Now you agree."
"Rare moment," Kael said.
"Very rare," Elara replied.
Alya laughed. "I like this version of you, Kael."
"Which one?"
"The one that actually talks."
"I always talk."
"No, you respond. That's different."
"…That's fair."
Elara almost smiled again.
Almost.
"You should come visit sometime," Alya said.
Elara hesitated. "I don't want to interrupt—"
"You won't," Alya said quickly. "Right, Kael?"
Kael nodded. "Yeah. You won't."
Then, after a second, he added lightly—
"Unless you disappear again."
Elara looked at him.
"…I didn't disappear."
"You did."
"I left."
"Same thing."
"Not the same."
"Feels the same."
Alya shook her head, smiling. "You two are unbelievable."
Elara shifted slightly. "I should go."
"So soon?" Alya asked.
"Yeah."
Kael said, "Try staying at least ten minutes next time."
Elara raised a brow. "Is that an invitation?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"If you actually show up."
Alya blinked, then laughed. "Okay, that sounded like a challenge."
"It wasn't," Kael said.
"It was," Elara replied.
"…Maybe a little."
A small silence.
Then—
"…Congratulations," Elara said quietly.
Alya smiled warmly. "Thank you."
Kael nodded. "Thanks."
Elara turned.
Took a few steps—
He's still the same.
Calm.
Steady.
A little difficult.
She stopped for just a second—
then kept walking.
Behind her—
Alya nudged Kael lightly. "You were flirting."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You challenged her."
"That's not flirting."
"That's exactly flirting."
"…That's not my intention."
Alya smiled. "Sure."
They started walking back.
"She's nice," Alya said.
"Yeah."
"You didn't ask how she's been."
"She didn't ask either."
"You're both bad at this."
"At what?"
"Talking like normal people."
"We are normal."
"No, you're not."
"…Fair."
They reached the café.
Alya paused. "…You really saw her earlier?"
Kael looked at her. "…Yeah."
"And you didn't say anything."
"I wasn't sure."
"And now?"
"I am."
She studied him for a moment—
then smiled slightly.
"…You're weird."
"You're late."
"That again?"
"Always."
She opened the door. "Come on."
Inside—
everything felt the same again.
Alya pushed the cake toward him. "Finish it."
"I knew this was coming."
"You agreed."
"I didn't."
"You walked outside with me. That counts."
"That's not how deals work."
"It is now."
She handed him the fork.
"Eat."
"…You're persistent."
"And you're still listening."
Kael took the fork.
"…Only because you won't stop."
Alya smiled. "Exactly."
Outside—
the crowd moved.
Unaware.
And somewhere within it—
Elara kept walking.
"…That's enough," she whispered.
This time—
she didn't look back.
End of Chapter 2