Coffee, Confusion, and Another Surprise

Elara arrived at the café ten minutes early, hoping the fresh air and caffeine would help clear her mind. The confession from Theo still lingered in her thoughts, making her more restless than usual. She couldn't deny that she valued him as a friend—but did she like him back? The question kept circling her mind, refusing to settle.

As she stepped inside, the familiar aroma of roasted coffee beans and vanilla hit her. It was a cozy spot, not too crowded, with soft indie music playing in the background. She chose a table near the window, giving herself a view of the street as she waited for Adrian to arrive.

Her phone buzzed.

[Adrian]: Running a little late. Order for me? You know what I like.

Elara sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. Typical Adrian. She walked up to the counter and placed their orders—a caramel macchiato for herself and a strong black coffee for Adrian. As she waited, she tapped her fingers against the counter, lost in thought.

Recognize Your True Feelings—20% Complete.

The system's notification from last night still haunted her. What did 20% even mean? Was she beginning to understand her own emotions, or was it simply tracking every moment she overthought?

"Elara?"

A deep, smooth voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned and blinked in surprise. Damien was standing a few feet away, holding a takeaway cup. He looked effortlessly cool, dressed in a dark sweater and jeans, his sharp features relaxed but curious.

"Damien? What are you doing here?" she asked.

He lifted his coffee. "Same as you. Morning caffeine fix." He tilted his head slightly. "You okay? You look like you're lost in your own world."

She hesitated. Should she talk to him about it? No—she wasn't even sure how she felt yet. Instead, she forced a small laugh. "Just overthinking, as usual."

His lips quirked up in amusement. "Figures. You do have that 'stuck in your head' expression."

Before she could respond, Adrian burst through the door, slightly out of breath. His eyes immediately locked onto her, then flicked to Damien. He raised a brow. "Well, this is unexpected."

Damien gave a short nod. "Morning."

Adrian smirked as he walked up to them. "Morning to you too. Didn't expect to see Elara here getting cozy with another guy."

Elara rolled her eyes. "It's not like that."

Adrian leaned on the counter, grinning. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. But I am curious—since when did you and Damien start having deep morning conversations?"

Damien chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "We just ran into each other."

Elara sighed and grabbed the drinks as the barista placed them on the counter. "Can we sit down now?"

Adrian chuckled, throwing an arm around her shoulders as they walked to the table. "Yes, ma'am. Don't worry, I won't interrupt your morning not-a-date with Damien."

Damien raised a brow but said nothing, simply watching the interaction with amusement.

As they settled into their seats, Adrian stretched his arms above his head before leaning forward. "Alright, tell me—what's on your mind?"

Elara hesitated. "What makes you think something's on my mind?"

Adrian snorted. "Please. I've known you long enough to tell when something's bugging you."

She sighed, stirring her macchiato absentmindedly. "It's just… something someone said to me recently."

Adrian leaned in with interest. "Oh? Do tell."

Damien, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Let me guess. It's about love."

Elara nearly choked on her drink. She coughed, eyes wide. "W-What?"

Damien smirked slightly. "Just a guess."

Adrian's eyes narrowed playfully. "Wait… does this have anything to do with Theo?"

Elara stiffened. That reaction was all Adrian needed to confirm his suspicion.

He whistled lowly. "So, Theo finally confessed, huh?"

She groaned. "How do you even know about this? Did he tell you?"

Adrian smirked. "No, but I figured it was only a matter of time. That guy wears his heart on his sleeve."

Elara groaned, resting her head on the table. "This is so much more complicated than I thought."

Damien watched her carefully. "Do you like him?"

The question was so blunt that she didn't know how to answer. The truth was… she didn't know. She had spent so long suppressing these kinds of emotions that now, when they finally surfaced, they felt overwhelming.

"I… I'm not sure," she admitted quietly.

Adrian gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey, no rush. You don't have to figure it all out at once."

Damien nodded in agreement. "Just be honest with yourself."

Elara let out a deep breath. Maybe they were right. Maybe she needed to stop overanalyzing and just let herself feel.

But before she could process her thoughts further, the system chimed in.

New System Notification:

Task Progress: Recognize Your True Feelings - 35% Complete.

Her eyes widened slightly. Thirty-five percent? Just from admitting that she wasn't sure?

Adrian noticed her expression change. "Elara? You okay?"

She quickly masked her surprise and nodded. "Yeah, just… thinking."

Damien leaned back, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Well, whenever you figure it out, don't be afraid to go for what you want."

Something about the way he said it made her stomach flip.

She had spent her entire life running from her feelings. Maybe it was finally time to stop.