In Love, Against All Odds

Beneath the Café Lights

Sunday had all the makings of a lazy, uneventful day. No big plans, just the comforting thought of staying in and maybe tackling some assignments I'd been avoiding. But life had other plans.

Mid-morning, Adri texted me:

"Hey, want to hang out? I'm bored, and Netflix isn't doing it for me."

I grinned at my screen. After how great yesterday was, I couldn't wait to chill with her again. But before I could reply, another notification lit up my phone—Patrick.

"Hey Kat, got plans today? Thinking of checking out this café downtown. Wanna come?"

I blinked, caught off guard. Patrick, again? Yesterday's bus ride replayed in my mind, and a warm flush crept over my cheeks. Part of me wanted to say yes immediately, but another part hesitated. It felt... sudden.

I replied to Adri first:

"Might hang out with Patrick today. He asked me to join him at a café. Let's meet later if you're free?"

Her response came fast:

"OMG, Patrick? Go for it, girl. Spill all the tea later!"

Typical Adri. Rolling my eyes, I texted Patrick back:

"Sure. What time?"

"2 PM," he replied. "You'll love this place, promise."

The rest of my morning was a chaotic debate over what to wear. It wasn't a date—at least, I didn't think it was—but I still wanted to look decent. I settled on a casual-but-cute outfit, grabbed my bag, and headed out.

The café was downtown, tucked between a bookstore which was Adri's favourite one, and a flower shop. As I approached, I spotted Patrick leaning casually against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets. That grin of his? Still as infuriatingly charming as ever.

"Hey," he greeted, pushing off the wall. "Ready to check this place out?"

"Yeah," I said, smiling despite the butterflies in my stomach.

The café was cozy, with dim lighting, indie music humming in the background, and the faint aroma of cinnamon and coffee beans in the air. Patrick ordered iced lattes for both of us, and we grabbed a table by the window. We'd both brought our notebooks, but it was clear neither of us planned to study much.

"So," he began, leaning back in his chair, "what's the latest dream for after graduation?"

I hesitated, not sure how much to share. But Patrick had this way of listening that made you feel like every word mattered. "I've been thinking about joining Arymeline Fashion with Adri. It's one of the best brands out there, and their focus on sustainability really clicks with me." I paused. "Adri's beyond excited about it. She's already planning our first day there."

Patrick nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Makes sense. You've got the drive for it. I can totally see you killing it there."

His encouragement caught me off guard, but I couldn't help smiling. "What about you? Any big plans?"

He shrugged, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Honestly? I'm torn. My dad owns a textile business, and part of me feels like I should take over someday. But I've also been thinking about working somewhere for a few months, just to see what else is out there before diving in."

"That's not a bad idea," I said. "Sometimes it takes stepping away to see the bigger picture."

"Exactly," he said, meeting my gaze with a soft smile.

We talked about everything after that—our families, classes, and even random childhood memories. The conversation flowed so effortlessly like we'd known each other forever. For the first time in a while, I felt completely at ease, like the stress of the past few weeks didn't exist.

After a couple of hours, we packed up and headed out. Patrick offered to walk me home, and though I hesitated, I eventually said yes. The streets were quiet as the sun dipped lower, casting a warm orange glow over the sidewalks.

As we neared my house, he glanced at me with a grin. "Thanks for coming today. It was nice."

"It was," I agreed, smiling.

For a moment, he lingered, like he wanted to say more. But instead, he just gave a casual wave. "See you around, Kat."

"See you," I replied, watching him walk away.

Once inside, I leaned against the door, exhaling deeply. Something about today felt different—like the start of a new chapter I hadn't been expecting. Adri was going to freak out when I told her, but for now, I just wanted to hold onto the memory of Patrick's easy smile and the warmth in his voice.

Maybe it was nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the beginning of something more.

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