TURN BACK THE TIME

Chap#18: Reflection II

Ray's smile quirked into something amused yet strangely bashful. "Yes, it's okay. Not even a scratch," he said, brushing the strings of his guitar with a tender touch, as though reassuring it. He then glanced back at New and added with a half-laugh, "So, you're here. You probably want to order something? I can take your order."

New shifted awkwardly, avoiding Ray's eyes. His voice was quieter, almost hesitant. "Uh... are you a part-timer or something?"

Ray blinked at the odd question but went along with it, finding New's demeanor more endearing than confusing. "Uh, yeah, actually. This is my friend's café, so... I help out sometimes." His explanation was casual, but he couldn't shake the slight unease New's lack of eye contact gave him.

New nodded slowly, still keeping his gaze elsewhere. "Oh. Okay. Then... I guess I'll have a latte, please?"

Ray straightened up, nodding firmly as he tried not to let New's peculiar vibe bother him. "Sure, sure. One latte coming right up

he headed straight for the back, where Kent was wiping down the counter.

Kent, ever the observant one, raised an eyebrow at Ray's approach. "What's with the face? Did you embarrass yourself again?"

Ray rolled his eyes, leaning against the counter. "Shut up and listen. Make your finest latte. Like, the best you've ever made, even if it's by a man. Got it?"

Kent smirked, catching on immediately. "Oh, so this is for him, huh?" He nudged Ray teasingly with his elbow. "You're really going all out for this guy."

Kent chuckled, throwing a towel over his shoulder as he got to work. "You're hopeless, Ray. But fine, one life-changing latte coming right up."

Ray leaned against the counter, watching New from a distance while pretending to busy himself with the napkins Kent had thrown at him earlier. His eyes darted back and forth between New and the steaming latte Kent was meticulously preparing.

As he glanced up again, the bell over the café door jingled, and a man walked in—a tall, sharply dressed guy with an air of overconfidence. He scanned the room briefly before heading straight to New's table. Ray's curiosity piqued, but he stayed in place, observing.

The man sat down across from New without so much as a greeting. From the moment their conversation began, it was clear there was tension. New's body language screamed discomfort: his arms were crossed, his gaze downcast, and his posture rigid. The stranger leaned in close, his movements over-familiar. Ray felt his stomach tighten but stayed put, knowing it wasn't his place to interfere.

The conversation between them grew more animated. Though Ray couldn't hear their words, the tone was unmistakable—an argument. The stranger's voice was firm, almost scolding, while New's responses were sharper, quicker, and laced with frustration. Suddenly, the man reached out, his hand gently caressing New's face, an intimate gesture that didn't match the heated exchange.

New's reaction was immediate. He slapped the man's hand away with enough force to make the sound audible even to Ray. His expression was a mix of anger and disgust

Kent noticed Ray's frozen stance and nudged him with his elbow. "What's up with you? You've been staring at that table like it owes you money."

Ray glanced at Kent, hesitating. "That guy... he's making New uncomfortable."

Kent followed Ray's gaze briefly, taking in the scene. "Yeah, it doesn't look great. But unless it gets worse, don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. New's a grown man; he can handle himself."

Ray nodded reluctantly, 

As the tension at the table seemed to reach a boiling point, New abruptly stood up. His frustration was evident in his sharp gestures and raised voice, though the exact words were muffled by the distance. He looked like he was trying to explain something, his tone annoyed yet pleading. The other man stood as well, leaning forward slightly, his expression unreadable but clearly charged.