Adrian had just leaned in close to Maya… so close that he could feel her breath on his skin. The moment was soft, slow, almost dangerous in its warmth.
But suddenly—
his phone rang.
Loud. Sharp. Cutting right through the moment.
Adrian glanced at the screen, then at Maya.
A thousand questions flashed in his eyes—
Should I stay? Should I go? What do I choose?
"I have to take this," he said quietly.
He stepped back, the distance sudden and cold, and walked out of the room with the phone pressed to his ear.
And just like that…
Maya felt as though her happiness had shut with that closing door.
She didn't understand.
What was about to happen? Why was Adrian so disturbed?
And this feeling inside her… what was it?Next Morning — Café Scene
Maya and Emila were sitting in a small café, but Maya wasn't really there.
Her body was present, but her mind was still stuck in last evening—
in that unfinished moment with Adrian.
"Maya… Maya?"
Emila waved her hand.
"Huh? What?"
Maya blinked, coming back to reality.
"You're lost somewhere else. Everything okay?"
Before Maya could explain, Emila smirked mischievously and said—
"Adrian, what are you doing here?"
Maya instantly turned around—
but there was no one behind her.
Emila burst into laughter.
"Ohooo… look how fast you turned! Something is going on!"
Maya blushed lightly.
"N–Nothing, Emila. It's nothing."
But her face said everything.
---and then — Alex & Adrian Arrive
Just then, the café door chimed.
Maya and Emila looked up—
Adrian and Alex walked inside.
All four of their eyes met at the same time.
Alex grinned.
"So, what serious conversation was happening here?"
Emila answered immediately,
"Nothing serious. Someone just wasn't paying attention."
She glanced at Maya and winked.
Adrian's eyes searched for Maya the moment he stepped in.
And Maya—
the moment she saw Adrian
—everything else muted.
All sounds faded.
All thoughts stopped.
Adrian sat in the seat next to them, but his gaze never left Maya.
Maya tried to look away,
but every few seconds her eyes returned to him—
as if pulled by an invisible thread.
Alex and Emila kept talking,
but Maya and Adrian…
they were lost again.
In each other's eyes.
In the moment that still felt unfinished.
---Adrian Finally Asks…
Adrian leaned a little closer and whispered—
"Maya… are you thinking about last night?"
Maya's heart thudded loudly.
She lowered her gaze.
"…Yes."
Just that one word.
A small, soft smile touched Adrian's lips.
He was about to say something—
But then—
his phone rang again.
The entire table fell silent.
The smile vanished from Adrian's face.
The tension returned instantly.
Alex looked at him seriously.
"Same number?"
Adrian nodded.
A cold shiver ran through Maya's heart.
Adrian stood up.
"I'll be back."
As he walked away, Maya felt it clearly—
This wasn't just a call.Something big was hiding behind it.Something Adrian wanted to tell her… but couldn't.Or was too scared to.