Crushed Underneath the Surface (Complete)

The Moment of Truth

Chapter 1
The Moment of Truth
June, Summer in Bozeman, Montana
Clearwater Community College

The campus café buzzed with energy—a constant hum of chatter, clinking cups, and laughter filling the air. It was a typical Bozeman summer afternoon, the warm breeze floating in through the open doors. Students drifted between tables, gossiping between classes, but in the far corner by the window, there was a peaceful pocket where Emilio "Milo" Candelario sat across from Nia Moreno.

Milo watched her with the kind of tenderness that had been growing for years, his heart as full now as it had been when they first became friends back in primary school. He remembered those early days—the way Nia had looked out for him, defended him against bullies. His feelings for her had blossomed slowly, but steadily, until they became something he couldn't suppress.

Sunlight poured through the window, casting soft shadows across Nia's face as she scrolled through her phone. Her laughter—soft and effortless—filled the space between them, bringing a familiar warmth to Milo's chest. Every time she laughed, it reminded him of when he'd first realized he loved her. It was about eight years ago; they were both in middle school. They sat in her backyard after a particularly bad day for Milo. He remembered her laughter that night, the way she'd cheered him up without even trying. That was the moment it hit him, he realized that he wanted to hear that laugh for the rest of his life no matter what.

Today, like most days, Nia looked effortlessly beautiful. Her dark, curly hair fell in soft waves, framing her smooth, deep brown skin. She wore a cropped tank top and high-waisted shorts that hugged her curves, casual yet stunning. Milo could only smile, though a nervous knot twisted in his stomach. He leaned forward, listening to her laughter fade, wondering if today would be the day he finally told her how he felt. As the silence between them stretched, Milo's thoughts grew louder. If I don't tell her now..., will I ever? How many times had he sat across from her, the words 'I love you' on the tip of his tongue, but swallowed them down, paralyzed by fear?

The moment was interrupted as Milo stood to grab their drinks from the counter. A familiar barista with short-cropped hair smiled knowingly at him as he reached for the cups. "You two together?" she asked, her voice light but curious and before Milo could muster up a response, Nia glanced up from her phone, surprised by the question. A small, bittersweet smile crossed her face. "Oh, no. He's family." Her words landed like a punch to Milo's gut, but he masked the hurt, giving the barista a polite nod. Milo returned to the table, none the wiser to Nia's earlier response.

"Here you go," he said, smiling as he handed her the cup, though his mind buzzed with what had been left unsaid. Family. That single word clung to him like a weight he couldn't shake off. "Thank you." She gives a soft smile as Milo tries to hide his feelings over the matter. Their conversation carried on as it always did, light and easy, but underneath the surface, Milo felt the tension growing. Should I just say it? The thought lingered as they wrapped up, heading out of the café and into the warm late-summer afternoon. The golden light bathed the campus in a soft glow, and as they parted ways since Nia had plans with some other friends, Milo couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.
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Later that evening, Milo found himself back at the dimly lit restaurant where he worked. The space, with its cozy atmosphere, was a stark contrast to the hot Montana summer outside. The soft glow from the overhead lamps bathed the room in warm hues, and the low hum of customers chatting created a soothing background noise. But for Milo, the real energy came from behind the scenes—the playful back-and-forth with his best friend since middle school, Daniel. Who also happens to be his boss since Daniel was passed his family's business after graduating high school, and it's been thriving more than ever.

Milo was wiping down tables when Daniel sauntered over, that familiar grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Daniel was a tall and broad-shouldered man, his blonde hair cut short, with a mischievous gleam in his bright blue eyes. He wore the black shirt and apron of the restaurant's staff, but somehow, Daniel always managed to make the uniform look like part of his effortless charm. "Hey, baby girl, how's your day been?" Daniel teased, throwing a towel over his shoulder, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. Milo rolled his eyes, unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. "I've been pretty great, mi amor. Thank you for asking."