Reize was still peeking out from behind the bar, his eyes fixed on the young man with a smile that clearly spelled trouble.
— Really? — Reize asked with a mischievous grin—. So, how about if I take his order and you take the girl's?
Arika looked at her suspiciously and refused immediately. She already knew that attitude. It wasn't the first time she had taken too much interest in a customer. In fact, a few weeks ago, a very attractive boy had come to the cafeteria, and she, with her obvious enthusiasm, had made him so uncomfortable that he never came back.
— No way—said Arika, crossing her arms.
—Please! —Reize insisted with a dramatic expression—. What if this is the beginning of my great love story? Have pity on me, I'm still single. I promise I'll be discreet this time.
—Yes, of course—Arika replied sarcastically.
Reize looked at her with pleading eyes, but Arika was not going to give in. With a victorious smile, she held out the glass of ice cream.
— Here, take it to the girl.
eize snorted in defeat, but took the ice cream with the tea and headed for the little girl's table. Arika, for her part, finished preparing the customer's order, although she could still feel Reize's gaze on her, probably plotting another one of his witticisms.
Reize handed the ice cream to the little girl and congratulated her on her birthday. The little girl smiled and thanked him enthusiastically.
Suddenly, the sound of a notification interrupted the moment. The mother pulled out her phone and, as she read the message, her expression changed. The little girl noticed her reaction and, with some trepidation, asked:
— Isn't Dad coming?
Her mother sighed and gave her a rueful smile.
— Honey, he has an important meeting and he won't be able to come.
The excitement in the girl's eyes faded instantly. She looked down and fiddled with the spoon in her ice cream, visibly discouraged.
Reize, noticing her sadness, knelt down beside her and gently ruffled her hair.
—Don't be sad, okay? It's your birthday, and on birthdays you have to smile. I promise, if you do, I'll give you a surprise.
The girl blinked and, though her eyes were still glassy, she wiped her tears with the sleeve of her sweater and nodded.
With a smile, Reize pulled something out of her pocket: a delicate bracelet with small butterflies adorning the chain.
—Look, this bracelet is magic—she said in a mysterious tone—. It glows in the dark. And since today is your special day, I want you to have it.
Carefully, he placed it on the girl's wrist, who watched in amazement. Her little eyes lit up again and, without a second thought, she hugged Reize tightly.
—Thank you, I'll take good care of her!
Reize nodded with a smile and curiously asked the little girl.
—By the way, what's your name?
The little girl looked at her with her big bright eyes and answered sweetly.
—Althea.
For a moment, Reize seemed to be in thought. That name... it sounded strangely familiar. But she decided not to think about it too much and simply smiled.
— It's a very pretty name— she said, gently ruffling Althea's hair.
Just then, a sudden noise was heard from another table. We both turned immediately, alerted by the unexpected sound.
Reize stood up, leaving the little girl and her mother to enjoy their meal. Without a second thought, she quickly made her way to the other table, feeling a slight foreboding that made her hurry her pace.
— What was that noise? — she murmured, her eyes fixed in the direction from which the sound had come.
Before she arrived, a tense voice echoed in the air.
— Are you crazy?
Reize frowned and hurried even faster. When he arrived, he was met with a scene he hadn't expected: the young clerk was seated, his shirt completely soaked with coffee, while Arika held the empty glass tightly, her fingers twitching around the glass.
The man blinked several times in surprise as he tried to blot the stain with a napkin, but only succeeded in spreading more of the liquid on the cloth.
—What's going on here? —Reize asked, his gaze alternating between the two.
Arika's expression was still tense, her lips slightly pursed. You could tell she was trying to contain herself, but her eyes reflected a mixture of confusion and discomfort.
—I'm sorry, I dropped my coffee by accident—Arika replied in a neutral voice, avoiding looking at the young man directly.
Reize arched an eyebrow. He knew her too well to accept that explanation at face value.
—An accident? —she repeated softly, cocking her head slightly to one side. Her tone was soft, but the distrust was evident.
The young man shook his head with a forced smile.
—Yes, but it's all right —he replied, though his tone made it clear that he didn't quite believe his own words.
Reize narrowed his eyes, not looking away from either of them.
—But it's okay? It's not burned? —she asked, turning his attention to the young man with a concern that contrasted with the caution in his gaze.
—I'm fine... don't worry. It wasn't that hot — he repeated, in a kindly but strained voice, as if the words cost him more than he would admit.
The silence that followed was thick. The atmosphere had become thick, uncomfortable, as if something unspoken hovered between them.
—I'm going to get a towel —Reize murmured, after a brief pause, still watching Arika with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
—No need, I can handle it—the young man tried to say, with a quick, almost anxious gesture.
—I insist —Reize replied softly, but with an edge in his voice that brooked no reply.
He turned and walked calmly away. As he searched for a towel to clean up the mess, he couldn't help but keep his mind coming back to the same question over and over again: What had really happened between them?
He had known Arika for a long time, and if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was that she didn't make those kinds of mistakes. Not accidentally. Her dexterity, her control... she had always been impeccable, almost meticulous. To spill coffee like that, so clumsily and at such an opportune moment, did not fit the Arika he knew.
This was no mere carelessness, he thought, frowning slightly. There was something else. Something she didn't want to tell him.
When Reize disappeared from view, the young man clicked his tongue and looked down at his soaked shirt. In an irritation-laden whisper, he muttered.
—Accident? Don't make me laugh. You spilled coffee on me with every intention.
Arika didn't even blink. Her cold, steady gaze contrasted with the slight smile she gave.
—You deserved it.
The young man narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed.
— What did you say?
— You heard right. — Arika tilted her head slightly, as if analyzing his reaction—. You think you can come here, act like you're superior and look down on other people's work. If you don't like what we offer, you could have left quietly instead of belittling it.
The young man let out a dry laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
— You've got guts, I'll give you that. But you think you're too brave for someone who only serves coffee.
He saw Reize approaching quickly out of the corner of his eye, so he grabbed some napkins and wiped his shirt. Before leaving, he leaned slightly towards Arika and whispered:
— I'll let you off this time... but next time, try to control your temper. It could get you into trouble.
Then, he stood up, turned casually and raised a hand in a gesture of farewell.
— Anyway, I'm leaving. I have no interest in continuing this spectacle.
He left the cafeteria with quiet steps, without looking back.
Reize arrived just at that moment, looking at the scene strangely.
— What about the guy
Arika, with an impassive expression, answered without further ado.
— He said he was in a hurry and left.
Reize looked at her suspiciously, as if he knew something else had happened, but seeing the serenity on her face, he decided not to ask.
Arika took advantage of the moment to return to the counter and continue her work. Then, she noticed the lady and the little girl standing up.
— Goodbye! — said Althea with a beaming smile, waving her little hand—. Thank you!!
Arika smiled back and waved her hand in response.
— See you later, come back soon — Reize added enthusiastically.
Althea nodded excitedly before leaving with her mother. Arika couldn't help but smile at seeing Reize so animated, but that warmth quickly disappeared. But the stranger's words kept echoing in Arika's mind, like a nagging echo that she couldn't shake off, remembering the incident.
Minutes earlier, Arika had brought the cup of coffee and the apple pie to the young man's table, maintaining the same courtesy as always. As she set down the order, her gaze slid fleetingly over him, almost unintentionally. He was a tall young man, with a slender, elegant figure, straight shoulders and a relaxed but neat posture. His hair, dark brown, was perfectly groomed, combed back with impeccable precision. Her light green eyes, cold and penetrating, contrasted with her indifferent expression. His skin was white and smooth, with refined and symmetrical features, typical of a model. He wore a tight black suit, white shirt and a gray tie that completed his sophisticated appearance. A silver watch adorned his wrist, and every detail of his attire and demeanor made it clear that this was someone who was used to attracting looks, definitely someone very attractive.
—Here you go, your coffee and apple pie. Enjoy —said Arika neutrally, carefully placing the cup and saucer on the table.
Without further ado, she turned on her heel and began to walk away. She had barely taken a few steps when she heard the young man's voice at her back, laden with disdain.
—Wow, I thought they'd at least know how to make decent coffee.
Arika stopped in her tracks. Her brow furrowed slowly. She turned and, with firm steps, walked back to stand at the young man's table.
—What did he just say? —she asked in a low, curt voice, her gaze fixed on him.
The young man looked up at her with a cocked, arrogant smile.
—Knowing that the café is this awful, I wouldn't have come. At least the coffee across the street is much better —he repeated reluctantly, moving the cup with his fingers as if it were an ordinary object.
Arika clenched her jaw.
— Why doesn't he go there, then, instead of being here? — she snapped coldly, not bothering to hide the edge in her voice.
The young man shrugged, dropping his body back against the chair with total disinterest.
— I would... but it's closed today. My bad luck — he said, as if with each word he found it harder to pay attention to the conversation.
Arika narrowed her eyes, taking a step back, already intending to walk away again, but his voice pinned her to the spot again.
— I guess you can't expect much more from a place like this — he commented dismissively, his gaze slowly sweeping over the place before settling back on her —. Everything is mediocre. The food, the atmosphere... the service.
Arika felt a slight tug at the corner of her lips, holding back.
— Is there anything else I can help you with? — she asked with a sharp coldness.
The young man cocked his head to one side, as if thinking about it for a moment, and then smiled, but this time there was nothing friendly about the smile.
— Perhaps they could start by hiring more competent staff. Like that scandalous girl just now — he added mockingly, clearly referring to Reize—. You can tell she's not very professional. She talks too much, makes noise... I'm sure she's only here because she couldn't get something better.
Arika felt a violent throbbing in her chest. Her breathing became heavier without her being able to help it.
— Be careful what you say — she warned in a serious tone.
The young man did not flinch. He leaned forward on the table, propping himself up on one elbow, smiling even wider, as if enjoying the effect of his words.
— Oh, am I offending you? I'm just telling the truth. There are places for certain kinds of people... and she wouldn't fit in a decent place. Much less if she continues to behave like a spoiled brat. It's annoying to have to put up with people who don't know when to shut their mouths.
Arika narrowed her eyes and pounded her fist on the table.
—That girl you speak of works here because she has earned it. She's more competent and valuable than many I've met. You have no right to speak of her like that.
The young man let out a low, mocking laugh.
— Please... don't get sentimental. After all, you are only waitresses. How much value can a girl who only waits tables have. Let's not exaggerate.
Arika's chest burned. Without a word, with a quick, deliberate movement, she picked up the coffee cup and, with a steady hand, tipped the contents forward, dropping the rest of the coffee directly onto the young man's suit. The dark liquid slid down the black fabric, spreading across the white shirt and soaking the tie with brown stains.
The young man froze, the smile wiped from his face. His green eyes, previously relaxed, were as if taken aback.
— Are you crazy? — he blurted out, his voice strained, looking at the stains on his clothes with revulsion.
Arika didn't move. She looked him straight in the eyes, with a tense calm that only hid the trembling of her breathing.
—I'm sorry— she said with an icy neutrality that didn't sound at all apologetic—. I guess you can't expect much more from a place like this, can you?
The young man gritted his teeth, his jaw set, but said nothing more. That was when Reize arrived.
Returning from her thoughts, Arika let out a sigh. Perhaps she had overreacted. She knew she shouldn't lose her composure so easily, but hearing someone speak ill of Reize had infuriated her more than she imagined. Still, she couldn't allow herself to react that way again.
Then, she remembered something the young man had said before he left:
"I only came here because the coffee shop, I go to is always closed. The one across the street is much better."
Her eyes instinctively darted to the window. Sure enough, the coffee shop across the street was closed. That was... unusual. That place never closed, much less on a workday, when the clientele was steady.
He frowned and scanned the place with his eyes. It was then that he noticed another disturbing detail: not a single customer had arrived since the lady and the girl had left. He looked at the clock. Noon. The time when normally the tables would be full with employees looking for a coffee or a quick lunch.
But now, the place was eerily silent.
Arika felt a slight chill.
Something was definitely not right.