Where Smiles Collide

After the mess of emotions from the night before,I made one silent vow as soon as I woke up: Avoid Ren at all costs.

Thankfully, luck was on my side.Today, I was starting my new job — at Idalia's cafe.A real job.Far away from him.

I rushed to get ready, barely sparing a glance at breakfast, and by the time I stepped inside the cafe, I completely forgot to breathe.

It was beautiful.

Of course, I should've expected it — Idalia's house was already jaw-droppingly elegant —but the cafe was something else.Warm lights, soft music, little flowers tucked into glass vases on every table...It was the kind of place that made you want to stay forever.

Even the work uniform was cute:a simple black skirt, a white frilly blouse, and a little coffee-brown apron tied around my waist.

I hesitated at first, pulling at the hem awkwardly.

The outfit clung a little too nicely to my thin frame — a reminder of all the times I was teased for looking like a "kid" back in school.

Idalia only laughed when she saw me pouting in the mirror."You look adorable. It suits you," she said, pushing me gently toward the counter.

And she was right.When the first customers arrived, everyone practically melted at the sight of me —pinching their fingers in the air, cooing like I was some kind of café mascot.It annoyed me more than I'd admit, but I kept my fake smile on like a champion.

Hours later, when the final customer left and I was wiping down tables,the door jingled again.

I turned, expecting another random visitor —but instead, I froze.

Luke.

He stood there, hands in his pockets, messy hair falling into his eyes, giving me that easy, boyish grin.

I rushed over without thinking.

"Luke!!" I cried, almost throwing myself at him.

The last time I saw him was at the hospital, back when everything was a blur of fear and sadness.Seeing him now felt like finally breathing again.

"I missed you, crybaby," I teased, jabbing him lightly in the side.

He laughed.

That familiar sound made my chest ache with relief.

We sat down at a corner table, and I spilled everything —the nightmare at my house, Idalia, the mansion, Ren...

When I mentioned Ren's name, Luke's easy smile slipped a little.

"If he's bothering you," Luke said firmly,"you can come stay at my place. You know that, right?"

I opened my mouth to reply —but before I could, the door chimed again.

And this time, I didn't even have to look.I felt it.

The air shifted.Warmed.

Crackled.

I turned my head —and there he was.

Ren.Standing there with that infuriatingly confident smile, one hand running through his dark hair like he had all the time in the world.

"Hello, cutie," he said casually, flashing me a wink.

I blinked.Cutie??

My face ignited, and I quickly ducked my head, pretending to focus very hard on cleaning my apron.

Meanwhile, Luke stood up slowly —and when he turned to face Ren, his expression hardened.

 A silent war broke out between their eyes.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

They just... stood there.Staring each other down like old enemies meeting on a battlefield.

"Are they... going to fight?" I thought, clutching the edge of the table nervously.

I didn't know what scared me more:the tension...or the strange, electric feeling sparking under my skin whenever Ren's eyes flickered toward me.