As Adrian and Elaine walked away from the college, a strange sense of liberation filled the air. For the first ti, Elaine was skipping class—not out of rebellion, but out of necessity. She needed a break, a mont to breathe away from the suffocating whispers and judgntal stares.
Adrian glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She was quiet, her usual spark dimd by the weight of the morning's events. For the first ti since knowing her, he saw her without the forced smiles and playful banter. Beneath it all, there was pain—deep, relentless pain. And Adrian understood that burden all too well.
He knew what it was like to carry wounds that never fully healed, to wear a mask for the world while silently breaking inside. Maybe that's why he had defended her. Because in so way, Elaine's struggles mirrored his own way.
Elaine let out a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little as they walked further from the toxic environnt of the college. She had no idea where they were heading, but for now, she didn't care. All she knew was that, for the first ti in a long ti, she wasn't facing it alone.
---
As Adrian and Elaine walked further from the college, she started to wonder where exactly he was taking her. The streets beca narrower, and the surroundings changed from the polished grandeur of the city to a more modest, holy neighborhood. The houses were smaller, the roads quieter—an area that seed to belong to middle-class families.
A flicker of unease passed through Elaine. "Where exactly are we going?" she asked, her voice laced with caution.
Adrian, walking a step ahead, scratched the back of his head, suddenly looking a little awkward. "Relax," he muttered. "I'm not kidnapping you."
Elaine shot him a wary glance but said nothing.
Finally, Adrian stopped in front of a small, cozy café nestled between two bookshops. The warm scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, instantly soothing the tension in her shoulders. The café had an old charm to it, with a wooden sign above the door and flower pots by the windows.
Adrian turned to her, his expression oddly hesitant. "I work here as a part-ti," he admitted, looking almost embarrassed. "Their coffee is the best and i promise."
Elaine blinked, montarily surprised. She had never imagined Adrian Blackwood, the cold and distant basketball captain of college , working in a quaint little café. But instead of comnting, she simply smiled softly—her first genuine smile in what felt like ages.
Without another word, she stepped inside.
The interior was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the bitter cold of the outside world. Soft yellow lights illuminated the space, casting a golden glow over the lilac-colored walls. The furniture was wooden and slightly mismatched, adding to the charm. What caught Elaine's attention, however, was the left wall—covered entirely in Polaroid pictures.
Couples, families, groups of friends—all smiling, laughing, frozen in monts of happiness. Elaine found herself drawn to them, her fingers gently tracing over a photo of a young girl grinning with an elderly man.
She smiled, a real, unguarded smile.
Adrian, who had been watching her carefully, let out a small, relieved breath. For the first ti since this morning, she looked at peace.
---
Elaine continued to look around the café, taking in its cozy atmosphere, a few of Adrian's colleagues noticed them and couldn't resist teasing him.
"Well, well, Adrian, what's this? Bringing your girlfriend here?" one of them, a barista with a mischievous grin, remarked as he wiped down the counter.
Adrian scoffed, rolling his eyes. "She's not my girlfriend," he said flatly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "She's just a friend. A very good friend, to be exact."
The café staff exchanged surprised glances.
Adrian Blackwood—the lone wolf, the guy who always kept to himself, who barely spoke unless necessary—was calling soone a very good friend? And, more shockingly, they had just seen him smile.
One of the female employees, who had admired Adrian from afar, felt a pang of envy as she looked at Elaine. It wasn't just that Adrian was talking to a girl—many had tried to approach him before, only to be t with cold indifference. But this ti, his eyes held sothing softer, sothing... different.
anwhile, Elaine had settled into a quiet corner of the café, enjoying the peaceful ambiance. She barely noticed the envious stares directed her way, too lost in her thoughts.
Adrian turned to her. "Wait here," he said. "I'll make you coffee."
She raised an eyebrow. "You know how to make coffee?"
Adrian gave her an unimpressed look. "I work here, don't I?"
Elaine let out a small chuckle, resting her chin on her palm as she watched him walk behind the counter.
With practiced ease, Adrian began preparing the coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. His movents were precise and smooth, a stark contrast to the usual rough and distant persona he carried around campus.
When he was done, he carefully placed the two steaming mugs on a tray and carried them over to her table. Just as he was about to sit down, then soone suddenly hugged him from behind.
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