The answer came without hesitation.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The noise from the café continued around them, cups clinking, quiet conversations, the hum of the air conditioner but it all felt strangely distant.
Ayisha stared at him.
Her mind replayed the last few months.
The extra help during busy hours.
The way he always volunteered to carry heavy trays.
The way he somehow appeared whenever she needed something from the kitchen.
The invitation.
The nervousness.
Slowly, the pieces began falling into place.
"Oh."
That was all she managed to say.
Josh laughed softly.
"Yeah."
"You..."
Ayisha rubbed her forehead.
"You actually like me?"
His smile turned sheepish.
"I thought that part was obvious."
"It wasn't."
Josh looked genuinely surprised.
"It wasn't?"
"No."
Ayisha pointed at him.
"You literally never said anything."
"I thought I was making it obvious."
"You weren't."
A laugh escaped her despite the awkwardness.
Josh laughed too.
The tension eased slightly.
Slightly.
Then silence settled between them again.
Ayisha looked down at her drink.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
Josh leaned back in his chair.
"Honestly, I already knew the answer."
Her brows furrowed.
"Then why tell me?"
He stared at his cup for a moment before answering.
"Because keeping it to myself was getting tiring."
His voice was calm.
Not bitter.
Not angry.
Just honest.
"I wasn't expecting anything."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I just wanted you to know."
Ayisha looked at him carefully.
"Josh..."
"I'm serious."
He raised both hands.
"You don't have to reject me."
That earned him a look.
"I'm pretty sure that's exactly what this is."
He laughed.
"Okay, fair."
Ayisha sighed.
"I really am sorry."
"Don't be."
Josh shook his head.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
She still felt guilty.
Not because she disliked him.
But because she genuinely hadn't noticed.
Josh was a good person.
Kind.
Hardworking.
Funny in his own awkward way.
Just...
Not the person her heart kept looking for.
"I hope this doesn't make things weird at work."
"It won't."
Josh answered immediately.
Then he paused.
"Well..."
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"It'll probably be weird for like three days."
Ayisha laughed.
"Only three?"
"Maybe a week."
"There it is."
The heaviness between them lightened a little.
A little easier to breathe.
Josh glanced out the window.
Then back at her.
"Can I ask one thing?"
"Hm?"
"Are you happy?"
The question caught her off guard.
"With what?"
He shrugged.
"Life. Your family. The person you're always texting."
Ayisha opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
For some reason, Simon's face immediately appeared in her mind.
The way he checked on her.
The way he listened.
The way he always seemed to show up whenever things got difficult.
She looked down at her drink.
"...I don't know."
A short laugh escaped her, but there was no humor in it.
"We're not even together."
Her fingers fidgeted around the cup.
"And how am I supposed to be happy knowing my mother could..." Her voice faltered. "Could die at any time?"
The words hung heavily between them.
Ayisha stared at the table.
"I don't really know what to do anymore."
Her eyes burned.
She blinked quickly, but tears still gathered at the corners.
Josh immediately grabbed a napkin and slid it across the table.
"Sorry."
His expression tightened.
"I didn't mean to make you cry."
Ayisha took the napkin and pressed it against her eyes.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not."
Josh looked genuinely guilty.
"I was trying to cheer you up, not make things worse."
A shaky laugh escaped her.
"Congratulations. You failed."
That finally earned a small smile from him.
"Yeah. Looks like it."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Josh leaned back in his chair.
"You know..."
Ayisha looked up.
"I think you're carrying too much by yourself."
She stared at him.
"I don't really have a choice."
"Maybe not."
Josh shrugged.
"But you don't have to carry it alone."
Ayisha didn't answer.
Because the truth was, she wasn't alone.
For months now, there had always been someone quietly standing beside her.
Whether she asked for it or not.