Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

The rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the glass windows of the café where Ethan sat, staring absentmindedly at his untouched cup of coffee. He wasn’t sure why he had agreed to meet his friend here. Maybe it was the need for distraction, or maybe it was just the comfort of familiarity. Either way, the soft hum of the café and the aroma of freshly brewed espresso did little to ease the weight pressing on his chest.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed when someone slid into the seat across from him. A soft chuckle pulled him from his daze, and he looked up to find himself staring into the most piercing blue eyes he had ever seen.

“You look like you just saw a ghost,” the stranger said, his voice smooth with a teasing lilt.

Ethan blinked, taken aback. “I—uh—sorry, do I know you?”

The stranger smirked, resting his chin on his hand. “No, but you were staring. I thought I should introduce myself. Noah.”

Ethan frowned slightly, confused by the sudden approach. He glanced around, searching for his friend, but there was no sign of them. “I wasn’t staring,” he muttered, looking back at his coffee.

Noah leaned back in his seat, unfazed. “Right. So, do you always sit alone in cafés looking like you’re contemplating the meaning of life?”

Ethan let out a sigh, feeling the smallest hint of amusement break through his gloom. “Bad day.”

Noah tilted his head, studying him. “Bad days are temporary. Coffee helps.”

Ethan finally gave him a proper look. Noah was effortlessly confident, dressed in a dark hoodie that contrasted with his fair skin. There was something about his presence that was both calming and electrifying.

“You always approach strangers like this?” Ethan asked.

Noah grinned. “Only the interesting ones.”

For a moment, Ethan forgot about the storm outside, about the thoughts that had weighed him down all day. Something about Noah’s easygoing nature was pulling him in.

Before he could respond, the door to the café burst open, letting in a gust of cold air and a figure wrapped in a drenched coat. The barista greeted the newcomer, but Ethan barely paid attention—his focus was on the way Noah’s expression shifted, the relaxed amusement in his eyes disappearing in an instant.

Noah tensed. His gaze flickered toward the entrance before returning to Ethan, now filled with something unreadable. “I should go,” he muttered, standing up abruptly.

Ethan frowned at the sudden change. “Wait—”

Noah hesitated, as if debating something, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small napkin. He scribbled something on it and slid it across the table. “In case you ever want to talk again.”

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the rain as quickly as he had appeared.

Ethan stared at the napkin, his heart pounding for reasons he couldn’t quite explain. Written in casual handwriting was a number, followed by two simple words:

see you

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