Bound By Fate

Chapter 6: Coffee Convos

The next day, the thought of meeting Kai after school stuck with me. I wasn’t sure why I kept calling it a “date” in my head—Kai had never said it was. But still, something about his invitation had felt different. More intentional.

As the final bell rang, I grabbed my bag and made my way toward the main entrance, where Kai said he’d meet me. I spotted him leaning against the railing, casually scrolling through his phone.

“Hey,” I called out as I approached.

He looked up and smiled, slipping his phone into his pocket. “Ready for our coffee break?”

“Yeah,” I replied, my nerves fluttering in a way that felt new. “Lead the way.”

We walked together down the street, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the buildings. The café Kai had chosen was a small, cozy spot tucked away from the busier parts of town. It had a relaxed vibe, the kind of place where you could sit for hours and not be bothered.

After ordering, we found a seat by the window, the soft hum of chatter around us filling the space. Kai sipped his drink, watching me over the rim of his cup.

“So,” he started, setting his cup down. “How’s everything going with you? You’ve been pretty quiet today.”

I shrugged, feeling a little awkward. “I’m fine. Just thinking about the project, I guess.”

Kai raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Really? Because I don’t think it’s just the project that’s on your mind.”

I frowned, unsure of how to respond. He had a way of cutting through the surface and seeing straight to the heart of things, which was both comforting and terrifying.

“It’s nothing,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “Just a lot going on, I guess.”

Kai didn’t push, which I appreciated. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening. “You know, you don’t always have to carry everything by yourself, Lina. I get it if you don’t want to talk, but… you can if you ever need to.”

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Thanks, Kai.”

For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the weight of unspoken things hanging between us. I could feel the closeness, the quiet understanding that had grown between us over the past few weeks. It wasn’t like I had with anyone else. With Kai, things felt… safe.

“So,” he said, breaking the tension, “enough about that. What do you do for fun? When you’re not stuck in school projects with me.”

I laughed, grateful for the change in subject. “Honestly? Not much. I read sometimes. Watch movies. But nothing too exciting.”

“Come on,” he teased. “There’s got to be more to you than that.”

I smirked, leaning forward. “And what about you, Mr. Excitement? What’s your idea of fun?”

Kai grinned. “Well, when I’m not dazzling people with my charm and wit, I play guitar. Sometimes I go hiking. Just trying to enjoy life, you know?”

“Guitar, huh?” I said, intrigued. “You’re a musician?”

He shrugged, a little bashful. “I play around. Nothing serious.”

“Well, now I have to hear you play,” I teased, feeling the conversation shift into easier territory.

Kai leaned forward, a playful glint in his eyes. “Maybe I’ll show you sometime.”

The light banter carried us through the rest of the conversation, the weight of earlier forgotten. By the time we left the café, the sun had dipped below the horizon, the cool evening air making me shiver slightly.

“Cold?” Kai asked, noticing.

I nodded, rubbing my arms. “A little.”

Without a word, Kai shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Better?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the gesture. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He smiled, and we continued walking in comfortable silence, the streetlights flickering on as we passed. As we neared my place, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment settling in.

“This was nice,” I said, glancing up at him.

Kai nodded, his eyes soft in the dim light. “Yeah, it was. We should do it again sometime.”

I smiled, my heart beating just a little faster. “I’d like that.”

As we stood under the streetlight, a slight breeze picked up, making me pull his jacket tighter around my shoulders. I had almost forgotten I was still wearing it. The warmth of it, mixed with the lingering scent of him, made me feel like I didn’t want to take it off just yet.

We exchanged a few more words, the conversation winding down, and I finally turned to head back inside. But after a few steps, I stopped, realizing I still had his jacket.

I spun around, ready to give it back. “Oh, hey, your—”

But Kai was already gone, his figure fading into the distance. I stood there for a moment, holding the jacket in my hands, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers. I couldn’t help but smile.