HARI'S POV:
I walked into the café, my eyes instantly scanning the place, searching for her.
Maybe she's just late today.
I tried to focus on work, but my gaze kept drifting to the clock… and then to the door. Every time a customer entered, I looked up, hoping it would be her.
4 PM…
5 PM…
6 PM…
She still didn't show up.
I was sitting at the counter, staring at the clock again when Liam noticed. He walked over with a smirk.
"Waiting for someone?"
My cheeks flushed instantly. I straightened up and forced myself to look busy.
"W-What? N-No… why would I wait for anyone?" I pretended to write something in the register.
"Of course for Ciara," he said, clearly amused. "You two seem pretty close these past few days."
"It's not like that," I replied quickly. "She's new. I'm just guiding her with work. And she's a student, so she needs help with school stuff too. I'm just helping her, that's all."
"Ohhh… okayyy," he dragged the word, obviously not believing me. Then his expression shifted slightly. "Well, she's not coming today."
My heart skipped a beat.
"W-What? I mean… why? Not that I care," I added quickly, pretending to focus on the counter again.
He shook his head. "I don't know. She messaged the manager asking for leave. Said there was some family emergency."
Family emergency?
I tried not to overthink it, but a strange feeling tightened in my chest. My mind started creating endless possibilities, none of them good.
I pulled out my phone to text her…
But froze.
Why am I doing this? We're not even that close. We're not friends. I have no right to ask.
Still… the worry wouldn't go away.
After a moment, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and took a deep breath.
"This isn't you, Hari," I muttered to myself. "You don't care about anyone. You're here to focus on your goals. Don't get distracted."
I buried myself in work, but no matter how busy I got, thoughts of her kept creeping back into my mind.
Later that night, while closing the café, I couldn't fight it anymore. I pulled out my phone and typed a message. I knew it was late… but I needed to know she was okay.
Hari: Are you okay?
I stared at the screen, anxiously biting my fingernail.
No reply.
Just when I was about to put my phone away, it buzzed.
My heart jumped as I opened the message.
Ciara: Yeah, I'm fine.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
Hari: I asked because you didn't come today. Liam said you had a family emergency.
Ciara: Yeah, I did. But everything's fine now. Don't worry about it.
Don't worry about it.
As if it were that easy.
I stared at her message for a long moment, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
Maybe I shouldn't care.
But I do.