Saturday mornings were supposed to feel different.
Quieter. Kinder. Less judgmental.
Theo Valtez lay half-awake on his bed, one arm dangling off the side, staring at the cracked ceiling of his apartment like it might suddenly confess the meaning of life. It didn't. It never did.
He rolled over with a groan and shoved his hand into his pants pocket.
His fingers froze.
He sat up.
Pulled it out.
Five dollars.
Theo stared at the crumpled bill like it was a divine miracle.
"…Huh," he muttered. "Look at that. I'm rich."
His stomach growled immediately, like it had been waiting for permission.
He checked the time on his phone. 11:34 AM.
The meet-up time with Isabella Valdes was 13:00.
Plenty of time.
He dragged himself up, threw on a loose hoodie, and stepped outside. The city didn't care that it was Saturday. Cars still screamed past. People still walked like they were late to something important. Theo shoved his hands into his pockets and walked with no destination in mind—just hunger.
That's when he saw it.
McDonald's.
Golden arches shining like a cruel joke.
Theo stepped inside and stared up at the menu. His eyes scanned burgers, fries, combos, desserts. Numbers next to everything. Numbers bigger than five.
"…Damn," he whispered. "Inflation really woke up and chose violence."
He did the math in his head. Failed. Did it again. Failed harder.
He sighed and stepped back.
"Yeah, no. I'll just… get bread. Like a responsible adult."
He turned—
—and nearly walked straight into someone.
"Whoa—"
The person gasped too.
Theo looked up.
Isabella Valdes.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
She wasn't dressed like she was at school. No polished blazer. No effortless elegance. She wore a plain uniform shirt with the restaurant logo stitched on it, her hair tied back messily. She looked… normal.
Human.
Theo blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Isabella's face flushed instantly. "I— I work here."
Theo glanced at the uniform. Then back at her. Then around the restaurant.
"…Aren't you rich?"
She crossed her arms. "I am. This is my mom's idea. 'Work experience.' She says it builds character. I hate it." She stopped herself. "And I hate my fam—"
She froze. "…I think I said too much."
Theo tilted his head. "Nah. Oversharing builds character too."
She groaned.
At that moment, Isabella fumbled her phone while trying to adjust her apron. It slipped—clattering to the floor.
"Oh—!"
Theo knelt and picked it up before she could. Their hands almost touched.
He handed it back, then smirked. "Careful. That thing costs more than my weekly budget."
She rolled her eyes—but then looked at him properly.
Really looked.
The hoodie. The worn sneakers. The way he stood like he didn't belong anywhere and didn't care.
"…Did you eat?" she asked.
Theo hesitated for half a second. "Yeah. Totally. Gourmet meal. Tasted like dog food but with ambition."
She stared at him.
Then sighed. "Sit."
"What?"
"Sit," she repeated, already walking toward the counter. "I'm buying you food."
Theo frowned. "I can't—"
"Too late."
A few minutes later, Theo sat at a table with a tray full of food. Fries. A burger. A drink. The smell alone made his stomach forget its dignity.
He stared at it like it might disappear.
"I'll pay you back," he said automatically.
They both knew that was a lie.
Isabella shrugged. "Whatever."
Theo picked up a fry. Paused. Looked at her. "Just so you know… this is the most romantic thing anyone's done for me."
"Don't make it weird."
He grinned and ate like he hadn't seen food in days.
Because he hadn't.
Isabella sat across from him, arms folded, watching him demolish the burger like it owed him money.
"…You eat like a pig," she said.
Theo swallowed. "And you watch people eat like it's a documentary."
She looked away, embarrassed.
Neither of them noticed the figure near the window.
Ash.
He leaned against the glass, mask of casual boredom perfectly in place. His eyes locked onto Theo—laughing, eating, sitting with Isabella.
Ash's jaw tightened.
He lifted his phone.
Click.
The photo captured everything: Theo mid-bite, Isabella watching him.
Perfect.
After they finished, Isabella checked the time. "We should start."
Theo wiped his hands and stood. "Then in that case—now that I'm full—we should go get inspiration."
She blinked. "How?"
"I don't know," he said, already walking. "Take a walk. Look at clouds. People-watch. Just… look."
She followed, confused. "That sounds like a date."
Theo glanced back with a casual smile. "Oh no. Trust me. I would never go out with you."
She stopped walking.
Never… go out with me?
Her chest tightened for reasons she didn't like.
Is he saying I'm not good enough?
Theo didn't notice. He kept walking.
"C'mon," he called. "We gotta find something."
Isabella clenched her fists… then followed.
And neither of them noticed the storm quietly building around them.