The café was bustling with its usual morning crowd, the air filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversations. Despite the lively atmosphere, Jonah sat alone at a corner table, sipping on a steaming cup of espresso, his eyes lazily scanning the room. He’d come here so often that the barista knew his order by heart, greeting him with a cheerful “The usual?” before he even reached the counter.
He was halfway through his drink when the bell above the door chimed, and a familiar figure walked in. Rhea, dressed in her usual chic style, with a sleek black coat and knee-high boots, scanned the room briefly before her gaze settled on him. A small smile tugged at her lips as she made her way over.
“Jonah,” she greeted, slipping into the seat across from him. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Rhea, hey!” Jonah grinned, setting his cup down. “What are you doing in this part of town? Thought you hated these pretentious little cafés.”
“Not all of them.” Rhea’s smile widened as she glanced around, taking in the modern décor and cozy atmosphere. “Some have their… perks.”
“Right, right,” Jonah chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Let me guess—you’re here to lecture me on my caffeine addiction?”
“Actually,” Rhea arched an eyebrow, “I’m here to catch up with an old friend. It’s been a while, Jonah.”
“Yeah, it has.” He nodded, his smile softening. “What have you been up to lately?”
“Oh, you know, the usual.” Rhea waved a hand dismissively. “Work’s been crazy, and I’ve been dealing with… some personal stuff.”
“Personal stuff?” Jonah tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
Rhea shrugged, her expression carefully neutral. “Just trying to sort out a mess. A friend of mine got involved with someone who’s… not exactly good for him. I’ve been trying to talk him out of it, but he’s stubborn as hell.”
Jonah’s eyebrows shot up in amusement. “You? Playing matchmaker? Now that’s something I never thought I’d hear.”
“Not matchmaking,” Rhea corrected, a wry smile on her lips. “More like damage control. He doesn’t see it, but this person is going to ruin him. I just want to help him see that before it’s too late.”
Jonah hummed thoughtfully, sipping his coffee. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”
“You have no idea,” Rhea sighed, shaking her head. “He used to be so focused, so… driven. But ever since he started seeing this person, it’s like he’s lost sight of everything that matters.”
“Love makes people do crazy things.” Jonah’s tone was light, but his eyes were sharp as he watched her. “Believe me, I know.”
“Do you?” Rhea leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. “You make it sound like you’ve been through this kind of situation yourself.”
“Sort of,” Jonah admitted with a sheepish smile. “But I was on the opposite side. I actually managed to get two people together. And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy.”
“Really?” Rhea’s interest seemed to spark at his words. “You? Putting people together?”
Jonah shrugged, a proud grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, and they’re actually doing great. Didn’t think it would work out at first, but they’re a perfect match.”
Rhea blinked, surprise flickering across her face. “Huh. I didn’t peg you as the matchmaking type.”
“I’m full of surprises,” Jonah teased, wagging a finger at her. “But seriously, I’m just glad I could help. One of them is a good friend of mine, and he deserved a bit of happiness.”
“Hmm.” Rhea’s gaze turned contemplative as she studied him. “So… what made you decide to play Cupid?”
“It wasn’t intentional.” Jonah shrugged. “I just saw that they had a connection. My friend, he’d been through a lot, and I could tell he needed someone who understood him, you know? Someone who’d stick by him, no matter what.”
“Yeah…” Rhea murmured, her mind drifting to Zane. It was almost eerie how Jonah’s words mirrored her own worries. “It’s hard to find that kind of person.”
“Tell me about it,” Jonah said with a dry laugh. “But I’m sure your friend will come around eventually. Sometimes it just takes time to see what’s right in front of them.”
“I hope so.” Rhea’s smile was faint, almost wistful. “I just want him to be happy. Even if it’s not with someone I would have chosen.”
“Wow, look at you, being all selfless.” Jonah grinned, his voice teasing. “Who knew you had a soft spot?”
“Don’t get used to it,” Rhea shot back, but there was a hint of genuine warmth in her eyes. “Anyway, enough about my woes. What about you? How’s life been treating you?”
“Can’t complain,” Jonah said breezily. “Been busy, but I’ve got good people around me. Keeps me grounded.”
“Good people, huh?” Rhea tilted her head, a curious gleam in her eye. “Anyone special?”
“Maybe.” Jonah’s smile turned secretive. “But that’s a story for another time.”
“Keeping secrets now, are we?” Rhea narrowed her eyes playfully. “I thought we were friends, Jonah.”
“We are, Rhea,” he assured her, his smile widening. “But some things… some things are better left unsaid.”
“Touché.” She nodded, accepting his answer for now. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t get too wrapped up in other people’s lives,” she said softly, her gaze meeting his. “Sometimes, when you try to help, you end up getting caught in the crossfire.”
Jonah blinked, surprised by the intensity in her tone. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” Rhea leaned back, her smile returning. “Now, why don’t you tell me more about these two lovebirds you helped get together?”
Jonah chuckled, a spark of excitement lighting up his face. “Oh, trust me, it’s quite the story. So, there’s this guy, right? Super stubborn, always putting up walls. But then, out of nowhere, he starts opening up to this other guy…”
As Jonah launched into the tale, Rhea listened with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. Little did they know, each of them was harboring secrets that, if revealed, would turn this seemingly innocent conversation on its head.
But for now, they were just two old friends, sharing stories and pretending that their worlds weren’t destined to collide in ways neither of them could foresee.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Shadows
Teen Fiction"Chasing Shadows" is a tale of darkness, obsession, and unexpected desire. Zane, a calculating villain with a vendetta against the city's beloved hero, Asher, finds his meticulously crafted world disrupted by an unexpected presence-Ethan, the hero's...
