Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

10. Back To Rivals For Brew

(Ryan's Pov)

I noticed Sarah and Vicky deep in conversation. "What are you two chatting about?" I asked.

Sarah, looking a bit flustered, quickly replied, "Oh, nothing important. You guys keep talking, I need to check something at the counter." She excused herself and headed off.

Glancing at her phone, I saw the screen was still on, so I picked it up, tapping through the game she’d left unfinished. "So, what were you really talking about?" I asked Vicky, my eyes still on the screen.

"Nothing much," he shrugged, then added with a smirk, "Though, I’ve gotta admit, I thought she'd still be annoyed with you. Seeing her so calm and normal is a bit... surprising."

I nodded, a small smile creeping onto my face. "Yeah, even you’re surprised, huh? Honestly, I thought the same at first. I even asked her about it. But it looks like she’s let go of the past and moved on. It’s a relief, really. At least now you won’t keep reminding me how guilty I should feel."

Sarah returned and asked, "Has anyone seen my phone? I’m pretty sure I left it on my seat."

Without looking up from the game, I said, "Yeah, I’ve got it right here. By the way, what’s this game called? I’ve never played something like this before."

"Shot Puzz," she replied, sounding a bit amused. "Wait, Ryan! Are you serious? You’ve never played it before, and you’ve already cleared four levels? Do you even realize I’ve been playing this game since last year and its level 4,532?"

"Really," I said, feigning indifference.

Vicky laughed, chiming in, "Well, that’s no surprise. Ryan used to be the gaming champ back in school. He was unbeatable!"

In the middle of the buzz, Nitya suddenly walked over, gently pushing Sarah aside. “Ryan, could you make me a coffee, please? I’ve got a bit of a headache.”

Vicky, always quick with a joke, cut in. “Wait, why should Ryan make it when we’re literally in a café?”

Nitya shot back confidently, “Because he makes the best coffee, obviously. And he knows exactly how I like it.”

As Sarah started heading toward the kitchen, I called after her, “Where are you going?”

She turned, her face calm but her tone a bit sharp. “To the kitchen. I’ll set up everything you need to make coffee for your girl.”

Vicky couldn’t help but stir the pot. “Sarah, giving up that easily, huh?”

Sarah paused, narrowing her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Vicky smirked. “You just admitted that Ryan makes the best coffee.”

She rolled her eyes. “Did I say that? Please. Everyone knows I make the best coffee. But let’s face it, my coffee would never suit her tastes.”

Vicky, sensing an opportunity for some fun, grinned. “Alright then! Let’s make it official. Who’s ready to decide between Ryan’s coffee and Sarah’s?”

The room exploded in unison, “Yeah!”

Sarah led me to the kitchen, and as I walked in, I saw she had already set out everything I’d need. Before I could say anything, Vicky strolled in, grinning like a kid, and slapped down a timer on the counter.

I gave him a look. “Really? A timer? You’re taking this way too seriously.”

He just laughed, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, man! Let’s make this a real challenge -- let’s see who’s got the better brew!”

Without missing a beat, Sarah tied her hair into a bun, fastened her apron, and tossed me one too. I caught it and put it on, the competitive energy thick in the air.

We both started making our coffees, each focusing on our own creations. But as I worked, I found myself sneaking glances at her. She moved like a pro -- confident, precise, like she’d been making coffee her whole life. I don’t know why, but watching her work had me a little... distracted.

I glanced over, trying to break the heavy silence. “You’re really good at this.”

She barely acknowledged me, giving a quiet, “Hmm.”

It felt like a wall was still between us, so I pushed a little more. “You’ve been doing this for a while, haven’t you?”

“Yeah,” she paused, hesitating for a beat before finally looking up. There was a flicker of something in her eyes -- maybe discomfort, maybe something deeper.  She began, her voice softer now, almost unsure, “I’ve been making coffee for Shriya every time. That’s probably why I got good at it.”