Seize A Lost Identity

Chapter 8: Part 3

The school day ended, and Nadia, as usual, clung to Xio's side as they exited the gates. "Alright, new guy," she began, twirling her bag. "Now that you're officially part of my posse, we're going to celebrate. Let's hit a café."

Xio glanced at her, his usual blank stare firmly in place. "A café?"
"Yes, a café. You know, a place with food, drinks, and a vibe?" Nadia teased. "Come on, Xio. Even silent brooding types need sugar in their system."

Before Xio could protest, Igor and a couple of other classmates joined them. "Nadia, you dragging the poor guy around again?" Igor asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Dragging? He's totally into this," Nadia replied, gesturing at Xio's blank face. "See? Excitement written all over him."

The group laughed, and despite his silence, Xio allowed himself to be led along.

They arrived at Jules Haven, a cozy café tucked away on a quiet street. The warm lighting and soft music made it an inviting spot. Jules, busy behind the counter, looked up and froze for a moment as Xio walked in.

For a split second, she felt her heart skip. That same strange pull she had felt when she first saw him returned, stronger this time. "Focus, Jules," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. "It's just a coincidence. He's just a kid."

"Whoa, this place is nice!" Nadia said, looking around. "Do they sell actual heaven here?"
"They sell overpriced lattes," Igor quipped, earning a playful shove from Nadia.

The group grabbed a corner table, and Jules approached to take their order. Her smile was polite, but her eyes kept darting to Xio, who sat silently, seemingly uninterested in the world around him.

"Hi, what can I get for you guys?" Jules asked, pulling out a notepad.

Nadia leaned forward dramatically. "First, Jules—can I call you Jules?—what's the most sugary, artery-clogging thing you have?"
"That would be our triple chocolate sundae with caramel drizzle and marshmallows," Jules replied, amused.
"Perfect. One of those, please!"

As the others placed their orders, Jules finally turned to Xio. "And for you?"
"Black coffee," he said simply.

Nadia groaned. "Xio! Black coffee? Are you a middle-aged businessman now? Live a little!"
"I like coffee," Xio replied, unbothered.
"Add a cookie with that," Nadia interjected. "Trust me, Jules. He needs it."

Jules smiled faintly as she scribbled down the order and walked away, still feeling an odd sense of familiarity from Xio.

As the group waited for their food, they broke into lively conversation. Igor recounted a story about his failed attempt to skateboard down a hill.

"And then—boom! Straight into the trash cans. The janitor thought I was trying to recycle myself!" Igor said, earning loud laughs from everyone except Xio, who sat quietly.

"Come on, Xio," Nadia teased. "Tell us something about yourself. What's the weirdest thing you've ever done?"
Xio paused, his expression unreadable. "...I don't remember."
The group laughed, assuming he was joking, but Nadia gave him a curious look. "Really? Nothing? No weird quirks?"

"I don't think so," Xio replied, his tone flat but not dismissive.
Nadia smirked. "Well, stick with me, and I'll fix that."

Jules returned with their orders, and as she placed Xio's coffee and cookie in front of him, she hesitated. "Enjoy," she said softly, her eyes lingering on him for a moment too long before she walked away.

The café buzzed with chatter, laughter, and clinking cups. Nadia, true to her promise, forced Xio to try a bite of her sundae. "Come on, just one bite. You won't regret it."

Reluctantly, Xio took a small spoonful, and Nadia watched eagerly.
"Well?" she asked, grinning.
"...It's sweet," Xio said after a long pause.
"Sweet? That's all you have to say? Xio, you're impossible," Nadia groaned, but she couldn't stop smiling.

As they left the café, Xio glanced back briefly. Jules was cleaning a table, but for a split second, their eyes met. There was a flicker of something—recognition, maybe? But before Xio could process it, Nadia pulled him away, dragging him back into the world of lighthearted banter and teenage chaos.

For now, the strange pull between the café owner and the quiet new boy remained unspoken, lingering in the air like a secret waiting to be uncovered.