Arlo rarely came to this coffee shop.
Most of his time was spent buried in the medical lab or tucked into a corner of the library, surrounded by journals and research printouts. But today, he needed to breathe. To get out. To be somewhere not surrounded by fluorescent lights and quiet stress.
A cup of espresso steamed gently in front of him, and a heavy anatomy textbook lay open on the table. He should've been enjoying the rare quiet. But someone had already pulled out the chair across from him and made themselves comfortable.
"Hey."
Arlo looked up, one brow slightly furrowed.
Nelson.
He recognized the guy immediately—Robin's close friend. The one he'd seen hanging around Lyra more and more often lately.
"You're… her friend, right?"
Arlo squinted, trying to read the angle. "Whose friend?"
Nelson leaned back casually. "Lyra. She's pretty close with my buddy Robin."
The name landed heavier than Arlo expected.
Of course, he'd noticed the two getting closer. He wasn't blind. But hearing it laid out by someone else—it hit different. Not painful, exactly. Just… off. Especially considering he hadn't heard any of it from Lyra herself.
He set his cup down. "Is there a reason you sat down just to talk about Lyra?"
Nelson shrugged. "I'm just curious. You and her were tight, right? Close friends?"
Arlo tensed. He didn't like where this was going. "We were."
"No 'were.' Still are, aren't you?"
"…Yeah," Arlo said, a bit too quickly.
Nelson stirred his coffee slowly, watching him with unreadable eyes. "Then how come you didn't know she's been spending more time with Robin lately?"
Arlo's jaw clenched. He wanted to deny it, to brush it off. But deep down, he knew. The truth was hard to ignore—he had drifted.
"So… are they dating?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Nelson chuckled, clearly amused by the reaction. "Not yet. But if you see the way they are now? It's only a matter of time."
Arlo bit the inside of his cheek. It wasn't jealousy. Not really. And it wasn't regret, either. Just a creeping discomfort. A question he'd been avoiding.
Had he failed?
Not as some almost-maybe—he'd let go of that a long time ago—but as a friend. As someone who was supposed to still be there.
Maybe Robin was that person now. Maybe Lyra had found someone new to lean on. And if Robin could make her happy—really happy—maybe that should be enough.
Nelson watched him for a beat, then said nothing. It was clear something had fractured between Arlo and Lyra. The silence said as much.
He cleared his throat, the playful glint gone from his eyes. "Look, I don't know what happened between you two. And honestly, I don't need to. But—"
He paused.
"Sometimes," he continued, his tone quieter, "saying sorry matters more than you think."
Arlo blinked.
Not because Nelson was accusing him of anything… but because he was right.
He'd never really said it. Never really apologized.
Even if things hadn't fallen apart because of him, even if it was complicated—he still carried guilt.
Nelson stood and gave Arlo a light pat on the shoulder. "I'm not here to lecture you. But if you still care about her—even just as someone who used to matter—don't wait too long."
There was a beat of silence, and then Arlo spoke—quieter than usual, his voice almost hesitant.
"Tell your friend… if he's serious about her, he should say it. Don't keep her waiting. She's been hurt enough already. I just… I want her to be happy."
Nelson didn't reply right away. He hadn't expected that.
But after a few moments, he smiled—small, genuine—and nodded. "Don't worry. Robin might be a bit of a pain in the ass, but once he finds the right person, he's all in. He's quiet, kinda stubborn, but he's good. Really good. I think he's the kind of guy who'll make sure she's okay."
Arlo let out a long breath and nodded.
For reasons he couldn't quite name, those words made him feel lighter.
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"Hey."
It had been a long time since Lyra last heard that voice. But the moment she did, something in her stilled. Familiar, steady, impossible to ignore.
She turned. Arlo was already there.
"Hey," she replied, barely above a whisper.
"Thanks for meeting me."He sat down across from her, careful not to crowd the space.
Lyra shook her head. "I wanted to."
Arlo glanced down as the server placed a drink in front of him. Steam curled lazily from the surface."I've been thinking," he said after a pause. "About... everything. Last year. The silence. And maybe I haven't been much of a friend."
Lyra blinked, caught off guard. "Why would you say that?"
He didn't look up right away. "Because I let the distance grow. I kept telling myself time would fix it. But it didn't. Not really."
She didn't respond right away.Then: "I disappeared too. I should've talked to you. To everyone. But I didn't."
Silence.
Arlo tapped his thumb against the side of his cup. "Did you ever see them again? After the fight?"
Lyra exhaled, slow. "No. I thought I needed space. And then the silence turned into... this wall. I didn't know how to come back."
He nodded, like he understood. Because maybe he did."I saw them a few times. Kept it surface-level. I guess I wasn't ready either."
Another pause. Not awkward. Just... full.
Then he gave her a half-smile. "Anyway. It's a new year. Feels like a good time to start over."
She gave a faint smile back. "Yeah. Maybe it is."
He took a sip of coffee."So... you and Robin?"
Lyra looked down at her hands. She didn't answer right away. This was Arlo. If she couldn't be honest with him, then who?
"He told me how he feels."
Arlo raised an eyebrow. "And you?"
"I know how I feel too," she said quietly. "And I wanted to say yes. I really did. But... I don't know. I think part of me's still scared. Like I need one more push."
He nodded like he understood. "Robin's a good guy. I've seen how he looks at you. But more than that—you seem lighter around him. More yourself."
She didn't answer, but something flickered in her eyes.
"So what's holding you back?" he asked, gently.
She didn't know. Or maybe she did. She just didn't want to say it out loud.
"I just want you to be okay," Arlo said. "That's all I've ever wanted."
That made her laugh, soft and genuine. Something loosened inside her.
Then she glanced at him, teasing. "What about you? No girl in your life?"
He snorted. "Nah. Med school's already married to me. It's all textbooks and sleepless nights."
She grinned. "I get it. My major's tough too, but yours sounds brutal."
"I hope you meet someone good too," she said, and she meant it.
Arlo gave a small nod. "Thanks. I hope so too."
Lyra wrapped her hands around her mug, warm fingers against warm ceramic, and looked out the window. The sky was gray, but it didn't feel heavy.
Today felt different.
She was done hesitating.She knew what she wanted now.And it was time to tell him.
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Droplets of condensation had begun to gather on the car window, forming blurred, ghostly patterns against the glass. Outside, snow kept falling in slow motion, soft and quiet—like the world had agreed to pause, just for them.
Inside, the car was warm thanks to the heater humming low beneath the dashboard. But there was something else in the air. Not temperature. Something harder to name.
Robin glanced over.
Lyra sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, fingers twisting together—something she only did when her thoughts were louder than the room.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
She turned to him, caught a little off guard, then let out a slow breath."Yeah… I just—there's something I wanted to say before we get there."
Robin reached over and tapped the seat-warmer, just to make sure she was comfortable. Then, without rushing, he pulled the car gently to the side of the road, parking under the soft halo of a flickering streetlamp.He turned toward her fully."Okay," he said. "I'm listening."
Lyra hesitated, biting her lip, fingers now tracing invisible shapes over her jeans—a nervous habit she'd had for years.
"I've been thinking about what you said," she began, voice unsteady.
Robin's chest tightened a little. His pulse picked up.
Lyra kept going."I can't keep lying to myself."She drew in a breath, steadied her voice, then turned toward him—eyes meeting his with a quiet kind of courage."I feel the same way."
The moment held.
Robin stared at her, searching her eyes—and found it there. No hesitation. No confusion. Just honesty, wide open and real.
His smile broke slowly, the kind that couldn't be helped.
"I want to be with you," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper, but sure. "If you still want that too."
Robin swallowed, like he needed to ground himself in the moment."Of course I do," he said—like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And before Lyra could say anything else, he moved.
His hand reached up, fingers brushing gently against the side of her face—like he wasn't sure if this was allowed, or if she might disappear if he wasn't careful. Her eyes widened just slightly at the touch, but she didn't pull away. She leaned into it. Let it warm her more than the car ever could.
Then—slowly—he leaned in.
She closed her eyes just as their lips met, and the kiss was soft. Unrushed. Deep in its quiet. There was no urgency, no doubt. Just two hearts finally speaking the same language.
Outside, the snow kept falling, wrapping the night in stillness.And inside the parked car beneath a dim streetlamp, two people had finally found their way back to where they belonged.
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Lyra hadn't moved.
Her cheeks were burning—bright red, like a freshly boiled lobster. Her lips were parted slightly, like she was still trying to process what had just happened.
Across from her, Robin was grinning like he'd just won something.
He leaned forward, one elbow propped on the steering wheel, eyebrows raised with that infuriatingly smug expression."Your face is the color of a tomato."
She immediately ducked her head, burying her face in her hands like that might stop the heat from spreading even further. Why am I like this?!
But Robin wasn't done.
His hand reached over, brushing the edge of her scarf between his fingers."So… is this the heater, or is it me?" he teased.
Lyra lifted her head just enough to glare at him—but it wasn't particularly threatening, not with her face still glowing red."You—ugh!" She puffed her cheeks, fists clenched in her lap.
Her now-official boyfriend just chuckled, clearly pleased with himself, then leaned back into the seat with a satisfied sigh."I didn't think you'd actually say it today."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she muttered, still trying to get her heartbeat under control.
Robin glanced over, his expression softening."Just means… if I'd known, I would've come more prepared."
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Prepared for what?"
He smirked. "To kiss you longer."
She nearly choked on air.
Flailing slightly, she grabbed her bag and lightly smacked his arm with it."You're impossible!"
Robin just laughed, letting the hit land without even flinching. He glanced sideways at her again, watching her bury her face deeper into the scarf, clearly flustered but adorable in the way only she could be.
Then, gently, he reached out and took her hand—the one clutching the scarf a little too tightly.
"Hey."
That one word was softer now. Enough to make her look at him again.
Their eyes met—and this time, there was no teasing in his gaze. Just something warm. Steady.
"I meant it," he said, fingers closing around hers just a little tighter. "All of it. I'm not going anywhere."
Lyra's chest ached in that good kind of way. The kind that reminded her she was alive. She swallowed, emotions catching in her throat for a beat—then gave a small, certain nod.
"I know," she whispered, her smile shy but steady.
Outside, snow still drifted quietly through the air.
But inside the car, the warmth between them felt real. Felt earned.And for the first time in a long while, it felt like they were exactly where they were meant to be.
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Even after the chaos in the car, Robin wasn't done teasing her.
He kept sneaking glances her way, the corner of his mouth tugged into that smug little smile—like he still wasn't over how adorably flustered she'd been.
"After a love confession and a first kiss," he said, tone playful, "I think this calls for something special. How about food before I take you home?"
Lyra opened her mouth to protest—not because she didn't want to, but because her face was still too warm to act normal.Unfortunately, her stomach had other plans.
A soft growl echoed from her side of the car.
Robin burst out laughing. "Guess your body's more honest than your mouth."
She shot him a glare from behind her scarf. "This is so embarrassing."
Still grinning, he started the car again. "Come on. I know a place. No way I'm letting my cute girlfriend starve on our first date."
Her heart flipped at the word girlfriend, but she didn't say anything. She just sat there and let him drive.
They ended up at a small restaurant tucked into the quieter part of town. Warm yellow lights glowed through the windows, and the smell of something delicious drifted out as they stepped inside.
Robin pulled out a chair for her before sitting down across the table. "Welcome to our totally unplanned first date," he said with a wink.
Lyra gave a quiet huff and grabbed a menu, mostly to hide the lingering pink in her cheeks.
After ordering, Robin was still flipping through the dessert section when he smiled to himself and held it out to her."What about this?" he asked casually, pointing at a photo. "Seems fitting for someone as sweet as you."
She nearly choked on her water.
It was the third or fourth time today he'd managed to catch her off guard, and she was starting to lose count."I wasn't expecting this side of you to come out after we started dating. You're kind of... cheesy."
Robin chuckled, not even trying to deny it."I only get like this when it's someone I really care about."
Her breath caught. She hadn't expected that either. The shift in energy was so subtle but strong. The rules had changed—and now she couldn't meet his eyes for too long without something fluttering in her chest.
They fell into a quiet stretch, the kind that wasn't awkward, just... full.
Robin leaned forward a little, his hand reaching up, fingers gently brushing away a loose strand of hair that had fallen across her face.
"You always hide your face when you're embarrassed," he murmured, eyes soft as silk.
Lyra froze under his touch. She could still feel the warmth of his fingers on her skin, the way he moved like she was something fragile, something worth being careful with.
"And I think I like you this way even more." His smile was small, but his gaze didn't waver.
"You really don't know how to stop making me blush, do you?" she whispered, half annoyed, half enchanted.
Robin didn't answer. He just smiled and let his thumb brush gently across her cheek before pulling his hand back. Lyra let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
Their food arrived not long after, and Lyra dug in, grateful for the distraction. She was halfway through a bite when she noticed a soft click.
She looked up sharply. "Robin. Did you just take a picture of me?"
The guilty party was grinning, zero remorse on his face. "Of course I did. First date memories—I need proof."
"Delete it."
"Nope." He leaned back, admiring his screen like he'd just captured a masterpiece. "Look at this. It's perfect. You, mid-bite, looking ridiculously happy."
"I'm not happy—I'm hungry!"
She reached for his phone, but Robin easily lifted it out of reach, laughing as she tried to grab it.
Then he lowered his hand, and the laughter in his eyes softened into something more tender.
"But you look happy," he said quietly. "And I want to keep seeing you like that."
Lyra stilled.
Robin reached across the table again, this time palm-up—waiting. Inviting.
She hesitated only a second before placing her hand in his.
His fingers curled around hers, warm and steady. The restaurant might've been heated, but nothing matched the warmth of that simple touch.
"I mean it, Lyra," he said, voice low, meant only for her. "I want to make you happy."
She smiled, heart skipping all over again, and gave his hand a gentle squeeze."You already do."
And that night, with snow still falling outside and fingers laced across the table, it didn't feel like just a date.
It felt like a beginning.
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Robin pulled up in front of Lyra's apartment, easing the car into park. For a second, he didn't move. Then, as if deciding something last minute, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small black box.
"Before I go," he said, holding it out to her, "this is for you."
Lyra blinked, surprised, then took it gently from his hand. She opened the lid—and inside was a tiny keychain in the shape of a camera.
She lifted it out carefully, turning it under the soft light of the car's overhead lamp."A camera?" she asked, her voice light with curiosity.
Robin leaned back against the headrest, smiling faintly."Because I want you to capture all the moments that matter. And today… is one of them."
She didn't answer right away.
Her fingers brushed over the surface of the keychain, and her heart ached in the sweetest way. It wasn't flashy, or expensive. But with Robin, nothing was ever just a gift—it always meant something.
She bit her lip, trying not to smile too wide.
Then, in one quick movement, she leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered, before slipping out of the car in a blur of scarf and coat.
Robin didn't move. He didn't even breathe.
He just sat there, stunned, staring at the spot she'd occupied only seconds ago.
By the time Lyra disappeared behind the apartment door, he finally moved—lifting a hand to the cheek she'd kissed, as if to check if it really happened.
And then he smiled.
Slow. Wide. Disbelieving.
Tonight had been something else entirely.
Tonight had been perfect.
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*** TO BE CONTINUE ***