AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
The bell above the cafe door rang as if nothing had ever happened. Morning light spilled across the tables. Customers chatted, Cups clinked. The world was… normal, too normal. Xavier leaned against the counter with that scripted half smile, flirting shamelessly with Wanessa like he was hitting dialogue prompts. Aiden scrolled through his phone, calm, composed, unreadable. Zavier sat in the corner, eyes on me, intense as ever but quieter, and Michael, Michael stood behind the espresso machine alone, moving on autopilot. Steam hissed, milk frothed. He didn't look up once.
"WARNING: POST-REBOOT STABILITY ACTIVE. DO NOT DISRUPT ESTABLISHED ROUTES."The system interface flickered faintly in my vision.
I ignored it.
"Large iced coffee." I told Michael casually.
"Of course, Bella."He nodded without meeting my eyes.
