The Coincidences Begin

As the days passed, Sam found himself at the café more and more often, and each time, Mahiru seemed to be there too. At first, their encounters felt purely coincidental, but soon it became clear that their paths were crossing with purpose. They would meet at the same time, in the same corner of the café, and their conversations began to feel like an ongoing series of comfortable exchanges.

Sam started to look forward to these moments, savoring the way Mahiru's smile seemed to light up the space between them. She had a way of making everything feel natural—like they were picking up where they left off, even if it was only the second or third time they'd talked.

One evening, Sam arrived to find Mahiru already at their usual table, but this time, she wasn't absorbed in her book. Instead, she was glancing up at the door every few seconds, as if she were waiting for someone.

He smiled, walking over to her. "Waiting for someone?" he teased, sitting down across from her.

Mahiru's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. But she quickly regained her composure and closed the book with a nonchalant shrug. "Nope. Just happened to be here."

Sam raised an eyebrow, playing along. "What a coincidence then."

She shot him a playful smile, her voice teasing. "I guess I'm just lucky like that."

The banter was easy, and for a moment, Sam felt like they had been friends for much longer than just a few casual meetings. There was something effortlessly fun about being with Mahiru. Her quick wit, the way she made every little interaction feel special—it was unlike anything he'd experienced before.

After their coffee, they decided to go for a walk, letting the evening air cool the warmth of their conversation. The streets were quieter now, the city's hum muffled by the late hour. The streetlights flickered softly as they walked side by side, the only sounds being their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

As they strolled, Mahiru began talking about her dreams, the things she hoped to do in the future—like traveling to new places and experiencing the world in ways she'd only read about in books. Sam listened intently, captivated by the way her eyes sparkled as she spoke about her passions.

"I want to see everything," she said, her voice filled with a quiet determination. "The world is so much bigger than what we see every day."

Sam smiled, but a part of him felt a twinge of doubt. He'd always been a planner, someone who had to have a roadmap for everything. He liked the security of knowing what was coming next, but Mahiru's words made him wonder if he was missing out on something.

"That sounds amazing," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I guess I've never really thought about it like that. I always have to know what comes next. It's like I can't let go of control."

Mahiru glanced at him, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "You're an overthinker, huh?"

Sam chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

She kicked a small rock on the ground, sending it skidding across the pavement. "Well, sometimes not everything needs to be planned. Some things just happen, and that's okay."

Sam mulled over her words. It was strange to hear someone say that—he'd spent so much of his life carefully mapping everything out. But in the moment, with the soft glow of the streetlights and Mahiru's presence beside him, he felt a shift in his perspective. Maybe there was something to what she was saying.

"Maybe you're right," he said softly, more to himself than to her.

They continued walking in silence, but it was the kind of silence that felt comfortable. The kind of silence that made Sam realize how easy it was to be around her, how effortlessly she made him feel at peace.