Kaizer's POV
The apartment felt strangely quiet after everyone left.
I picked up the empty glasses from the table.
"..."
Before I could reach for another one, another hand picked up the remaining plates.
I looked up.
Iris.
"...I'll wash these."
She didn't look at me.
I simply nodded.
For a while...
only the sound of utensils filled the kitchen.
Then—
"Was your brother telling the truth?"
I looked up.
"...About what?"
She hesitated for a second.
"...Your childhood."
...
Oh.
I almost smiled.
So that was what had been bothering her.
I kept my face as calm as possible.
"That girl?"
She immediately looked away.
"I was just asking."
Liar.
"You were wondering."
I answered anyway.
"Yeah."
"There really was someone."
I saw her hand slow down.
She was listening very carefully.
"Actually..."
"She was my mother's best friend's daughter."
She nodded slowly.
"...Ah."
"So that's why."
"Were your families really that close?"
"They were."
"We spent more time at each other's house than our own."
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
She became quiet.
Probably imagining a little boy running around after some mysterious girl.
...
If only she knew.
Then...
an idea quietly crossed my mind.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
---
"Do you know..."
"She actually lived in this same house."
Her head immediately lifted.
"...What?"
I nodded.
"The house you lived in before shifting here."
For one second...
my heart actually hoped.
Maybe...
Maybe this would remind her.
Instead—
"How is that possible?"
"I don't remember changing houses."
She frowned to herself.
"...Though..."
"I don't remember much from before."
...
The hope quietly disappeared.
I smiled anyway.
"My mother also lived here when we were little."
"Then we shifted."
"And eventually came back."
"Oh..."
She accepted the explanation.
I quietly looked away.
Not remembering...
was probably easier for her.
---
Then...
another terrible idea appeared in my mind.
I really shouldn't.
...
I absolutely should.
"My mother..."
"And her mother..."
"Actually talked about marrying us one day."
The plate in her hand stopped.
She slowly turned toward me.
"...What?"
"Childhood engagement?"
I shrugged.
"They never actually did."
"But..."
"...she was my favourite senior."
...
Thunk.
The bowl landed on the table much louder than before.
"...Very good."
"She probably helped you learn alphabets."
I bit the inside of my cheek.
Don't laugh.
Not now.
---
She folded the cloth.
"Continue thinking about your favourite senior."
"I'm going to work."
She turned.
Walked away.
One.
Two.
Three steps.
I couldn't stop myself.
"Senior Iris."
No response.
"Senior."
Still nothing.
"...I don't think she'd like seeing you jealous."
She froze.
Completely.
Very...
Very slowly...
she turned her head.
"...Who said I was jealous?"
I blinked innocently.
"I didn't."
"You just did."
...
"..."
"I hate you."
"No."
"You don't."
She glared at me for another second before grabbing her bag.
"I'm getting late."
The door closed behind her.
Silence returned.
...
I stood there.
Staring at the closed door.
Then...
I laughed.
Not loudly.
Just enough for the empty apartment to hear.
"...Senior."
I shook my head.
"...You really got jealous..."
"...of yourself."
---
Iris's POV
The afternoon sun wasn't particularly harsh.
Yet...
I still felt irritated.
I walked along the familiar road toward the café, absent-mindedly kicking a tiny pebble.
"..."
Wasn't that smile a little too sweet...?
I frowned to myself.
Childhood sweethearts...
Family friends...
I wonder what that girl looked like...
...
Whatever.
She was just a child back then.
...
Wait...
Doesn't that mean she would be around my age now...?
I stopped walking for a second.
"..."
Why am I even thinking about this?
I resumed walking.
I shouldn't.
---
The café was already busy when I reached.
As expected.
The moment I tied my apron—
"Iris!"
I looked up.
Table seven.
"...Coming."
For almost two hours, I barely got a chance to breathe.
Orders.
Bills.
Coffee.
Desserts.
Again and again.
Then—
A customer slammed the menu onto the counter.
"This coffee is cold."
I politely smiled.
"I'll replace it for you, sir."
"It should've never reached me in the first place."
"I apologise."
He clicked his tongue.
"So this is the service now?"
I quietly took the cup.
"I'll make another one."
"You attendants don't even know how to do your jobs."
Something inside me finally snapped.
I looked up.
"...Sir."
"If you spent half the energy speaking respectfully..."
"...your coffee might taste better."
The entire café became silent.
...
The man stared at me.
"...What did you say?"
Before I could answer—
"Iris."
My manager's voice.
I slowly turned around.
She looked at me.
"...Inside."
...
Five minutes later...
I walked out of her office with my head lowered.
"I know..."
"I know..."
"I won't do it again."
She sighed.
"I know you won't."
"But customers are customers."
I nodded quietly.
"...Sorry."
She softened a little.
"Now go."
"And don't scare away the next customer."
"...Yes."
---
I entered the kitchen.
"..."
What a day.
"Iris!"
One of the helpers called.
"Chocolate shake."
"I'll make it."
I tied my hair again before standing in front of the counter.
My body honestly didn't want to move anymore.
Without even looking beside me—
"Chocolate syrup."
A bottle was quietly placed beside my hand.
"...Thanks."
"Milk."
Again.
Someone handed it over.
"Cocoa."
"..."
"Whipped cream."
Everything appeared in my hands before I even searched for it.
How helpful today...
I thought absent-mindedly.
The shake was almost ready.
"Can you pass me the sugar?"
A container was immediately placed into my palm.
I opened it.
"..."
Salt.
A laugh escaped me.
I turned around.
"This is salt, why would you—"
The words stopped.
"..."
Kaizer.
He stood there.
Looking just as calm as ever.
"..."
I instinctively stepped backwards.
"What are yo—"
My heel slipped.
"Ah—!"
Before I could lose my balance—
A firm hand caught my wrist.
Another arm supported my back.
"Iris."
"Careful."
For one suspended moment...
Neither of us moved.
I could only look at him.
He was looking at me too.
"..."
The kitchen suddenly felt...
very quiet.
Then both of us realised how close we were.
Almost simultaneously—
We stepped away.
I awkwardly cleared my throat.
"...W-What are you doing here?"
He answered as though it was the most obvious thing.
"Our conversation wasn't complete."
...
From somewhere behind—
One of the helpers sighed dramatically.
"Iris."
"Your boyfriend came all the way to see you."
"How romantic."
Another one immediately joined in.
"I know right?"
I could feel my face becoming warmer.
"C-Can you all please do your own work?"
"He's not my—"
Before I could finish—
Kaizer quietly interrupted.
"...Are you free?"
Someone whispered just loudly enough—
"If he isn't..."
"...he definitely wants to be."
A few muffled laughs followed.
I covered my face for a second.
"..."
"Let's..."
"...talk outside."
At that exact moment—
One of my colleagues held out a glass.
"Iris."
"The chocolate shake."
"He ordered it."
I looked toward the entrance.
Kaizer had already turned around.
He quietly walked outside the café without another word.
I took the glass.
"..."
Then...
without even thinking...
I followed him.
---
The evening breeze carried the faint smell of coffee out of the café.
Kaizer stopped beneath the small shed outside the entrance.
Only then did he turn around.
I slowed to a stop a few steps away.
The chocolate shake was still in my hands.
"..."
For some reason...
I suddenly found the cup far more interesting than looking at him.
"What did you want to talk about?"
I asked quietly.
"We could've talked at home."
"...People inside might get the wrong idea."
Kaizer looked at me for a moment.
Then smiled.
"I actually came to tell you..."
"...that she really was my favourite back then."
"...Oh."
I nodded.
Silence settled again.
Then he spoke once more.
"...But preferences can change."
"...Hmm."
"My favourite senior changed too."
I bit the inside of my cheek.
"So?"
He looked at me with a smile that was far too calm.
"My favourite senior now..."
"...is someone else."
"...Really?"
I finally looked at him.
"That's good then."
"Who is she?"
I already knew.
Or...
at least I thought I did.
But I still wanted to hear him say it.
Instead...
he looked at the cup in my hands.
"The one I ordered this shake for."
"..."
I looked down at the glass.
Then silently held it out toward him.
"Then..."
"You should give it to her."
He looked at the shake.
Then...
very slowly...
raised his hand.
I thought he was going to take it.
Instead...
his fingers rested over mine where I was holding the cup.
Warm.
For one tiny second...
neither of us moved.
My heartbeat quietly lost its rhythm.
I looked up.
He was already looking at me.
Without breaking eye contact...
he gently pushed the cup back toward me.
"Then..."
"You should have it."
I blinked.
"...Wasn't it for—"
"Don't you like chocolate?"
...
I couldn't stop the smile that escaped.
"...I do."
His own smile deepened ever so slightly.
Satisfied.
He took a small step back.
"Then I'll go."
He turned.
"Kaizer."
He stopped.
Then looked back.
"Hm?"
I hesitated.
Then asked the question that had somehow been bothering me ever since morning.
"...What if..."
"...your preference changes again someday?"
For the first time...
his smile disappeared.
He looked at me quietly.
As though he had never expected that question.
"...Actually..."
He paused.
He smiled again.
This time...
much softer than before.
"...Some things..."
"...don't change as easily as people think."
I frowned slightly.
"...What does that mean?"
He shook his head.
"You'll understand..."
"...one day."
Before I could ask another question...
he turned around again.
And quietly walked away.
I stood there.
Chocolate shake in my hands.
Watching his back disappear into the evening crowd.
"..."
"What was that supposed to mean?"
---