The cafe was quiet that evening, the kind of quiet that made the sound of coffee machines and faint conversations feel louder than they actually were.
The faint aroma of roasted beans and cinnamon filled the air.
People came and went, some laughing, some lost in their own worlds.
But Siara sat alone by the window, stirring her coffee absentmindedly.
She wasn’t really drinking it she just needed something to hold, something to do with her hands.
She stared at the streetlights outside, her eyes tired and distant.
Her life felt heavy lately. The bills, the constant pressure at work, and the loneliness were catching up to her. She had moved to the city for a fresh start, but it only felt like she was drowning in responsibilities.
The coffee shop had become her escape, a place where she could sit and breathe, away from the noise of the world.
But today, she wasn’t alone.
From across the café, Aarvith watched her. He had been sitting a few tables away, pretending to read a book.
But his eyes kept drifting to her, the way she twirled the spoon in her coffee, the way she rested her cheek against her palm, lost in thought.
She looked fragile. Soft, delicate... a little sad.
And for some reason, he found it impossible to look away.
After watching her for a while, Aarvith finally got up. He wasn’t the kind of man who hesitated. With long, confident strides, he walked right over to her table.
“Mind if I sit here?” he asked, flashing a casual smile.
Siara blinked, startled. She looked around quickly, wondering if he was talking to someone else. But when her eyes met his, she saw nothing but directness.
“Um… I-I’m actually…” she started to stammer, but he had already pulled out the chair and sat down.
“Great. Thanks.” He smirked, making himself comfortable.
Siara’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his boldness. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand.
“You looked like you needed company.” His voice was smooth, low but warm, making her heart skip slightly.
“Or at least someone to stop you from murdering that coffee with your spoon.”
She glanced down at her cup, realizing she had been stirring it for far too long.
Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.
“Oh… I wasn’t… I didn’t…” she stuttered, flustered.
He chuckled softly. “Hey, no judgment. I just thought it was a crime to let such a beautiful woman sit here all alone.”
She blinked at him. Beautiful?
Her lips parted slightly, but she was too stunned to speak.
“You’re not used to compliments, huh?” he teased, leaning forward slightly.
Siara shook her head, flustered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
For the next hour, they talked. Well, he talked mostly. Aarvith was charming, funny, and confident.
He made casual jokes, asked her simple questions, and somehow made her forget about her problems for a while.
She was shy at first, her voice soft and unsure, but he was patient. He kept teasing her lightly, making her smile.
