In Love: Against All Odds

Just Coffee... Right?

Glue Song – Beabadoobee 🌼
"I've never known someone like you
Tangled in love, stuck by you
From the glue"

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The next week was a whirlwind. Classes, assignments, and the usual uni chaos had me drowning in work, but no matter how busy I got, my mind kept drifting back to that vending machine moment with Patrick. 

Every time I spotted him in the hallways or caught a glimpse of his ridiculously smug grin during lectures, my stomach did this weird fluttery thing. And the worst part? I wasn't even mad about it.

By Wednesday, I was desperate for a change of scenery. Crescent Brews was calling my name, and I needed caffeine immediately. 

I tucked myself into a cozy corner, cracked open my laptop, and attempted—keyword: attempted—to get some work done.

And then, as if the universe had a sense of humor, Patrick walked in.

He looked effortlessly cool, rocking his usual laid-back tee and jeans combo, hair a perfect mess like he didn't even try. His eyes scanned the café, and when they landed on me, his lips curled into a grin.

"Yo, Kat. Mind if I crash your table?" he asked, already pulling out a chair before I could respond.

"Not at all," I said, sliding my stuff over. "Though I was attempting to be productive."

"Attempting? Sounds like you need caffeine," he smirked before heading to the counter. A few minutes later, he returned, setting a Caramel Macchiato in front of me.

I blinked. Wait.

"You ordered my favorite?"

Patrick shrugged, like it was no big deal. "I've noticed you always get this. Figured I'd save you the trouble."

My brain short-circuited. It was such a small thing, but the fact that he noticed? Yeah, I was not prepared for that.

We settled into an effortlessly chill rhythm—exchanging small smiles, pretending to study, but mostly just sneaking glances at each other like we weren't fooling anyone. 

Eventually, I decided to break the silence before the whole thing turned into an awkward staring contest.

"Alright," I said, smirking. "How about we turn this fake study session into something fun?"

Patrick leaned forward, intrigued. "Fake study session?"

"Admit it, neither of us is getting anything done."

He laughed. "Fair point. What do you suggest?"

"Embarrassing ex stories. Let's go."

His entire face lit up. "Oh, you so don't want to challenge me on this. Fine, I'll go first. So, I dated this girl named Evelyn. Super smart, architect major, looked like she stepped out of a Pinterest mood board."

I gasped. "Wait. Evelyn? As in that Evelyn?"

Patrick sighed dramatically. "The one and only."

"No way. What happened?"

He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "We were cool for a while, but then—boom. She ghosted me. One day we were vibing, the next, she straight-up vanished. Turns out, she was already seeing someone else."