Coffee and conversations

Chapter 3: Coffee and Conversations

By the beginning of October, spending time with Maya had become part of Ethan’s daily routine.

Not because they planned it.

It just happened.

If Ethan arrived early for class, Maya would somehow appear a few minutes later.

If Maya went to the library, Ethan would end up there too.

If either of them stopped at the campus café, the other would mysteriously show up before long.

It became so common that even their friends started teasing them.

“Where’s Maya?” Ryan asked one morning.

Ethan looked up from his phone.

“How should I know?”

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“You usually do.”

Before Ethan could answer, a familiar voice interrupted.

“There you are.”

Ethan turned.

Maya stood behind him holding two cups of coffee.

Ryan immediately grinned.

“There she is.”

Maya handed one of the coffees to Ethan.

“I remembered your order.”

Ethan stared at the cup.

“You bought this for me?”

“You helped me with my assignment yesterday.”

“So?”

“So this is your reward.”

Ryan looked between them.

Then slowly stood up.

“You know what?”

“What?” Ethan asked.

“I suddenly remembered I have somewhere else to be.”

“You don’t.”

“I absolutely do.”

“You literally just sat down.”

Ryan pointed at Maya.

“Enjoy your date.”

“It’s not a date!” both Ethan and Maya said at the same time.

Ryan laughed as he walked away.

Maya groaned.

“He is impossible.”

“Tell me about it.”

They sat together beneath a large tree near the campus courtyard.

Students walked past in every direction.

Some hurried to class.

Others relaxed on benches.

Yet neither Ethan nor Maya paid much attention.

Their conversations always seemed to pull them into their own little world.

“What’s your dream job?” Maya suddenly asked.

Ethan thought for a moment.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

She looked horrified.

“Everyone has a dream.”

“I have goals.”

“That’s different.”

“Not really.”

“It is.”

Ethan smiled.

“Okay then. What’s yours?”

Maya leaned back.

A thoughtful expression crossed her face.

“I want to travel.”

“Travel?”

She nodded.

“Everywhere.”

“That’s ambitious.”

“I’m serious.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“I want to see different countries. Different cultures. Different people.”

Ethan found himself smiling.

Not because of what she was saying.

But because of how happy she looked while saying it.

Maya always seemed most beautiful when she talked about things she loved.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“No reason.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“You do that a lot.”

“Do what?”

“Smile for no reason.”

Ethan looked away.

If only she knew the reason.

⸻

The following week brought midterm exams.

The entire campus transformed overnight.

Students walked around looking exhausted.

The library became overcrowded.

Coffee sales doubled.

And panic filled the air.

Maya was no exception.

“Ethan, I’m going to fail.”

“You said that yesterday.”

“I meant it yesterday too.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“What if I forget everything?”

“You won’t.”

“What if my mind goes blank?”

“It won’t.”

“What if—”

“Maya.”

She stopped.

“You’ve studied for three weeks.”

“Four weeks.”

“Exactly.”

“You remembered.”

“Because you’ve complained about it every day.”

She laughed despite herself.

The sound immediately eased the tension between them.

That evening they studied together in the library until closing time.

Around midnight, Maya rested her head on the table dramatically.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Maya lifted her head.

“You know what’s annoying?”

“What?”

“You’re always calm.”

“I’m not always calm.”

“You are.”

Ethan shrugged.

“Panicking doesn’t help.”

Maya pointed at him.

“See? That’s exactly the kind of thing a calm person says.”

Ethan laughed.

For a moment, neither of them thought about exams.

Or deadlines.

Or stress.

It was just them.

Talking.

Laughing.

Enjoying each other’s company.

And somehow, that was enough.

⸻

A few days later, the exams were finally over.

Students celebrated as though they had survived a war.

Maya was particularly dramatic.

The moment she left her final exam hall, she threw her hands into the air.

“Freedom!”

Several students stared.

She didn’t care.

Ethan laughed.

“You do realize people are watching?”

“Let them.”

“You look insane.”

“I feel insane.”

She grabbed his arm.

“Come on.”

“Where?”

“We’re celebrating.”

“How?”

“Food.”

Ethan should have known.

Food was always involved whenever Maya made plans.

They ended up at their favorite café.

By now, the staff already recognized them.

The waitress smiled knowingly as they entered.

“The usual table?”

Maya blinked.

“We have a usual table?”

“You sit there every time.”

Maya looked at Ethan.

“We do?”

Ethan laughed.

Apparently neither of them had noticed.

Yet somehow they always ended up in the same corner by the window.

The realization made both of them smile.

As they sat down, Maya rested her chin on her hand.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What’s the happiest memory from your childhood?”

Ethan thought for a moment.

Then another.

The question wasn’t easy.

Finally, he answered.

“Summer vacations.”

“That’s your answer?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

He smiled softly.

“My family used to spend every summer together.”

Maya listened carefully.

Ethan found himself sharing stories he rarely told anyone.

Family trips.

Funny moments.

Old memories.

Somehow talking to Maya felt easy.

Comfortable.

Safe.

When he finished, Maya smiled.

“You talk differently when you’re happy.”

“I do?”

She nodded.

“You smile more.”

Ethan laughed.

“So do you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

For some reason, neither of them looked away.

The moment lingered.

Quiet.

Comfortable.

Neither wanting it to end.

Then Maya suddenly glanced out the window.

“It’s raining.”

Ethan looked outside.

She was right.

A soft rain had begun falling.

The sight instantly reminded him of the day they met.

The bus stop.

The storm.

Her smile.

The beginning of everything.

“You know,” Maya said softly.

“What?”

“I’m glad we became friends.”

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat.

“Me too.”

And he meant it.

More than she would ever know.

⸻

That night, Ethan couldn’t stop thinking about her words.

I’m glad we became friends.

Friends.

The word should have made him happy.

Instead, it left a strange ache in his chest.

Because friendship wasn’t what he felt anymore.

Not even close.

Somewhere along the way, things had changed.

Every smile mattered.

Every conversation mattered.

Every message she sent brightened his day.

And every goodbye left him wishing for more time.

He wasn’t just looking forward to seeing Maya anymore.

He was looking for her in every crowd.

Thinking about her before sleeping.

Wondering how her day had gone.

Missing her when she wasn’t around.

And the truth was becoming impossible to ignore.

He wasn’t simply attracted to her.

He wasn’t just interested in her.

He was falling in love.

Slowly.

Completely.

And far deeper than he had ever imagined.

The only problem?

Maya still had no idea.

To Be Continued

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