The Thirteen Shadows / SEVENTEEN FF

Chapter 7: The Cafe

'A friend who understands your tears is much more valuable than a lot of friends who only know your smile.'

- Unknown

Maya could hardly believe she was finally going back to work. After everything that had happened in the mansion, the idea of returning to the familiar environment of the café brought her a sense of relief. Yet, Seungcheol's words echoed in her mind: one of his men would be watching her at all times. It was no other than Mingyu, and the thought made her heart race with anxiety.

The drive to the café was filled with a tense silence. Mingyu, ever the quiet observer, said nothing as he navigated through the city streets. Maya could feel his gaze on her, catching seductive glances in the rearview mirror. Each look was brief but enough to send a shiver down her spine. She kept her eyes outside the window, trying to ignore the heat that crept up her neck, and focused on the familiar sights of the city instead.

When they finally arrived at the café, Maya couldn't get out of the car fast enough. 

She practically bolted inside, her eyes scanning the room for Aera, her only friend and the one piece of normalcy she clung to. As she spotted Aera behind the counter, she made a beeline for her, her heart pounding in her chest.

Maya's POV

Aera's face lit up as she saw Maya approach. "Maya! You're back!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine excitement. "I was so worried about you."

"Yeah, I'm better now," she said, her voice a little too bright. "I just needed some time to recover-"

Aera's eyes flicked past me, focusing on the tall figure who had entered the café behind her. "And who's that?" she asked, her tone teasing. 

"He's not your usual type, Maya. You didn't tell me you were bringing a tall, handsome man with you today."

Panic flared as I quickly shook my head. 

"Oh, Mingyu? I don't really know him... I mean, he's just...someone... from work." The lie stumbled awkwardly and I mentally kicked myself for being so flustered.

Aera raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Uh-huh. Just someone from work? I do not remember a Mingyu ever working here." she repeated, the obvious lie evident in her voice. 

But instead of pressing further, Aera's interest shifted to Mingyu, who had taken a seat at a corner table, quietly observing the interaction between the two women.

Aera's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Well, whoever he is, he's definitely got that brooding, mysterious vibe going on. And since you're acting all weird, I guess it's up to me to get the scoop." A playful grin spread across her face as she grabbed a notepad and headed towards Mingyu's table.

My heart sank as I watched Aera approach Mingyu. I really wanted to keep Aera out of this—out of the strange, dangerous world I had been sucked into—but now it seemed inevitable.

I quickly put on my apron and start booking myself in on the register.

Author POV 

Aera sauntered over to Mingyu's table, her usual confidence on full display. "Hi there," she greeted him with a friendly smile. "I'll be your server today. Can I get you anything to start with?"

Mingyu looked up from the menu, his dark eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made Aera's heart skip a beat. "Just coffee, black," he replied, his voice smooth and deep.

Aera scribbled down his order, unable to resist the urge to engage him in conversation. "So, what brings you to our little café today? You're new around here, right?"

Mingyu leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking briefly to Maya before returning to Aera. "Just accompanying a friend," he said, his tone deliberately vague. But his gaze lingered on Maya, who was doing her best to keep herself busy behind the counter.

Aera followed his gaze, her curiosity piqued even further. "I see," she said with a knowing smile. "Well, if you need anything else, just let me know. We don't get too many new faces around here, so it's always nice to meet someone new."

Mingyu nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks Aera." he replied, eyes flickering from her name tag, his tone polite but distant.

As Aera walked back to the counter with wide eyes to prepare his coffee, Maya's anxiety grew. She could feel the tension building, knowing that Mingyu was here to watch her, to make sure she didn't step out of line. But Aera's innocent curiosity could easily lead to trouble if she wasn't careful.

"So, what's the real deal with handsome over there? He's got that whole silent and mysterious thing going on, and he said you're just a friend..."

Maya forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "Honestly, Aera, I really don't know him that well. He's just... a friend I met not too long ago. Don't read too much into it."

Aera didn't look convinced, but she decided to let it go for now. "Alright, if you say so. But if you're not interested, I might just have to swoop in. You know I'm single and ready to mingle."

Maya managed a genuine smile at that, grateful for the brief moment of normalcy. "Just be careful—he might be more trouble than he's worth." 

'If I act too defendant she will definitely pick up on something.' Maya thought to herself.

Aera laughed, giving Maya a wink. "Trouble's my middle name, remember? But seriously, he's eye candy and I want diabetes." 

Maya laughed and nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and dread. She was thankful for Aera's support, but she knew she had to be careful. The more Aera got involved, the more danger she would be in. And with Mingyu watching her every move, Maya couldn't afford to slip up.

As she continued her shift, Maya kept one eye on Mingyu, who remained seated at his table, his gaze occasionally drifting to her. The tension in the air was palpable, but Maya did her best to stay focused, knowing that she had to keep up the act if she wanted to protect herself—and now Aera.

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Word Count: 1009