My Last And My Only

Chapter 153: The Things We Learn

The days after Aiah's interview felt strangely normal.

Which, somehow, made them easier.

There was no immediate answer yet.

No final announcement.

No reason to celebrate or worry.

Just waiting.

But this time, Aiah didn't feel trapped by it.

She still checked her email.

Of course she did.

Gwen caught her doing it one morning while they were eating breakfast.

"You checked it three times already."

Aiah looked up from her phone.

"I did not."

Gwen pointed at the screen.

"You literally have your inbox open."

"That doesn't mean I checked it three times."

"It means you checked it four times."

Aiah sighed.

"I hate that you're observant."

Gwen smiled proudly.

"It's one of my best qualities."

"It's one of your most annoying qualities."

"Same thing."

From the kitchen, Ivy laughed.

"I can't with you two."

Aiah smiled.

She liked mornings like this.

Simple.

Familiar.

The kind of moments that reminded her that even while she was waiting for the next chapter of her life to begin, she was still living the current one.

At Mezzo, Khae was learning something new every day.

And everyone noticed.

"You're making notes again."

Khae looked up from the small notebook beside the counter.

Lindtsey stood there with an amused expression.

"It's not a problem."

"I didn't say it was."

"You were thinking it."

"I was."

Khae closed the notebook.

"I just like remembering things."

Lindtsey leaned against the counter.

"You know most people work summer jobs and think about when their shift ends."

Khae smiled.

"I think about that too."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"When I'm tired."

Lindtsey laughed.

"Can't argue with that."

Khae glanced around the café.

The customers.

The staff.

The movement.

The little routines that made everything work.