It was one of those warm, cloudy afternoons where the sun seemed shy to show itself. The café was quiet but alive in its own way, like a lazy hum of comfort that Zeyon had grown to love. Across from him sat Allison, and beside her, Elisse was doing a little eye roll at Leo’s latest dramatic retelling of how a box of new cups nearly crushed his foot.
“I’m tellin’ you, the box was like... this big,” Leo said, stretching his arms wider than necessary.
“That’s a fridge, Leo,” Zeyon muttered, sipping his drink.
Elisse laughed. “It probably was just a tiny box and your toe just got a little love tap.”
Leo gasped like someone just insulted his entire lineage. “Excuse me, Miss Elisse, but I’ll have you know, it left a scratch. A real one. I could’ve died.”
“You’re so dramatic.” Allison smiled quietly, eyes on her cup as she stirred it slowly. She didn’t say much, but the way she smiled at their nonsense made something in Zeyon relax. Like she belonged here. Like this was just the beginning of something better.
Then—ding.
The doorbell above the café entrance sang its usual chime.
Zeyon didn’t even need to look. He already knew that step. Those high heels, that perfume that screamed I’m fabulous, and the tiny pause she made before every entrance like she was waiting for imaginary cameras.
Jessa.
“ZEY—AHHH!”
She tripped. Dramatically. Like a soap opera in slow motion. Her heel caught nothing but air, and she flung herself forward with arms flailing like a bird losing balance.
“Oh for the love of—” Zeyon was already halfway up when she landed in a very exaggerated sprawl right at the front mat.
Leo rushed with him. “Jess! You okay?!”
Jessa blinked, one hand on her head, the other clutching her handbag like it just betrayed her. “Oh no... I think... I think my ankle is broken.”
Zeyon shot Leo a side look. “She’s faking it.”
“I HEARD THAT,” she hissed, then winced like she was in pain. “My ankle is fragile, thank you. Like my heart.”
“You tripped over nothing but your own attitude.”
Leo chuckled. “Come on, you big drama. Let’s get you up.”
The two boys helped her up. Jessa leaned more on Zeyon than needed, even dragging her fingers along his arm a little longer than normal.
Elisse’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t say anything. She just scooted quietly beside Allison, leaving the seat next to Zeyon vacant. Jessa gladly flopped herself there with a small dramatic sigh.
Now it was Elisse and Allison on one side, Leo and Zeyon on the other, and Jessa right in front of them like a shiny thorn in the middle of soft roses.
Awkward.
Zeyon noticed it instantly.
Allison wasn’t looking at anyone now. She just stared at her coffee, her lips pressed tight. That softness from earlier? Gone. She seemed... somewhere else. Maybe uncomfortable.
“So,” Jessa said, flipping her hair like she was on a shampoo commercial, “who’s your new friend?” She nodded toward Allison but said it like she already didn’t like her.
Leo blinked. “Oh, this is Allison. She’s—uh—Zeyon’s... friend.”
Allison looked up, smiled a little, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Hi.”
“Cute name,” Jessa replied, dragging the word a little too long. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
Zeyon didn’t even try to hide his sigh. “Jessa.”
“What?” she said innocently, twirling a strand of hair. “I’m just being friendly.”
Elisse cleared her throat. “So... Jessa, how’s your modeling thing going?”
Jessa brightened. “Oh! Well, I’ve been so busy, like you wouldn’t believe. Shoot here, runway there. It’s exhausting being beautiful and booked.”
Leo gave a tiny cough that suspiciously sounded like a laugh. “Yeah. Totally.”
Zeyon rolled his eyes. Allison still wasn’t saying much.
“So, Zeyon,” Jessa continued, sliding closer to his side, “you never called me back last week. I thought we were gonna grab lunch?”
“Was I?” he replied dryly. “Must’ve slipped my mind.”
“Slipped or ignored?”
Elisse stared at her, then looked at Allison, who was still silent. Elisse leaned in a little closer, speaking low. “You okay?”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. Just tired.”
But Zeyon could see it. She wasn’t tired. She was shutting down.
He hated it.
“So how did you and Leo meet?” Jessa asked Elisse, clearly trying to change the subject but also maybe hoping to shift attention back to herself.
Leo grinned. “It was love at first donut.”
Elisse rolled her eyes. “He dropped powdered sugar on my sketchbook and cried like a baby.”
“I did not cry. That was allergy tears.”
“Oh please,” she laughed. “You begged me not to hate you.”
“I’m sensitive!”
The table laughed—except Jessa, who fake-laughed a beat later, clearly not amused. Allison chuckled quietly but still avoided eye contact.
Zeyon leaned in toward her a little. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
But the way her voice sounded? It was a lie.
And Zeyon hated lies. Especially the ones that sounded like hurt.
Elisse tried to lighten the mood. “Wanna go get cake after this? There’s this place I’ve been wanting to try. I’ll pay.”
“Oooh, bribe me with sugar? I’m in,” Leo said, raising his hand.
“I’m down,” Zeyon added, then looked at Allison. “You?”
She hesitated.
Jessa smiled sweetly. “You should come, Allison. It’ll be fun.”
But somehow it sounded like a dare, not an invitation.
Allison just smiled, quietly. “Maybe.”
And Zeyon knew. This day just turned sideways.