Zeyon's POV
Elisse was chewing her straw like it owed her money. Her eyes sparkled like she’s got a mischief in mind, and honestly, it kinda scared me a bit. She leaned forward over the café table, that playful grin spreading across her lips as she suddenly burst out with, “Okay, but hear me out…”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “Oh no.”
Allison giggled beside me. “Why do I feel like this is gonna be trouble already?”
“I haven’t even said anything yet!” Elisse laughed, poking her drink with the straw like she was stirring up chaos in a teacup. “But okay, okay, seriously now. What if… and just what if… all of us hang out downtown tomorrow?”
“Downtown?” I blinked, already feeling the tightness in my chest. “Like… where downtown?”
“You know!” Elisse clapped her hands. “Arcade, sports race viewing at the plaza, maybe a little picnic near the riverside? I heard there’s a new food stall line-up too. Everyone’s talking about it!”
Leo leaned back in his chair. “That actually sounds dope.”
“Yeah, it’s been ages since we all did something fun outside,” Elisse added, her eyes quickly darting toward Jessa.
“Wait,” I said slowly, heart already doing a mini marathon, “tomorrow? But my bakeshop—”
“Oh c’mon, you bake bread everyday, one day off won’t make it explode,” Leo chuckled.
“But the deliveries, the orders—”
Then it happened. Allison turned to me, her soft eyes lighting up in that way that made everything else go quiet. She didn’t say anything, didn’t even smile, but she just looked at me with those bright eyes like they were saying, You should come.
And just like that, all my reasons disappeared.
“…Okay,” I said, trying not to smile like a fool. “Fine. I’ll come.”
Allison clapped quietly, whispering, “Yay!” under her breath.
But of course, Elisse being Elisse, couldn’t let the moment pass without a little jab.
“Jessa can take care of the shop, right?” she said with the fakest innocence ever. “She seems like she’s good at… standing around and looking pretty.”
Leo nearly choked on his drink. Allison’s eyes widened, trying to hold her laughter. I felt the tension hit the table like a dropped cake.
Jessa blinked at Elisse, a slow, sugar-sweet smile crawling on her lips. “How dare you,” she said dramatically, placing a hand on her chest like she’s been insulted on live TV.
“I’m just saying!” Elisse shrugged, but her eyes were sparkling like she knew exactly what she was doing. “Zeyon needs someone trustworthy. You… kinda look like a background extra from a fashion commercial. So standing in one place all day should be your thing, right?”
Leo was dying at this point, holding his stomach from laughing too hard. “Oh man, she’s gonna kill you.”
“I am,” Jessa said calmly, picking up a spoon. “With this. Slowly.”
“You gonna scoop me to death?” Elisse replied, barely holding her own laugh.
Even Allison, who had been quiet since the teasing started, finally laughed, covering her mouth and shaking her head. I couldn’t stop smiling either. It was chaos. But it was the good kind.
“You guys are actual children,” I muttered.
“We are your children,” Leo said proudly, slapping me on the back.
“And tomorrow, you’re going out with us,” Elisse smirked.
Jessa pouted, flipping her hair. “Well fine. I’ll consider calling someone to watching over your boring little bakery, cousin.”
I nearly spat my coffee. “Hey—”
Allison tilted her head. “Cousin?”
Jessa froze.
Leo blinked. “Uh…”
I panicked. “Cousin of a… family friend. Cousin by, like, third degree. Something like that.”
“Oh,” Allison said, nodding slowly, obviously not buying it but choosing to let it go.
“Anyway!” Elisse clapped again, changing the topic like a pro. “So it’s a date. I mean—not like a date date. I mean—wait, or is it?”
She wiggled her eyebrows at Leo. He just grinned, and Jessa rolled her eyes so hard I thought they’d fall out.
“You wish,” Jessa muttered.
“I do,” Elisse replied dramatically, “I wish someone would gift me peace from your nonsense.”
“Wow,” Leo muttered, holding an invisible microphone. “And the award for Best Sarcasm goes to…”
They kept going on and on, like kids fighting over the last cookie. It was insane, loud, and a bit too much. But it made my heart feel warm. Like for the first time in a while, things were kinda… light.
As we stood up to leave, Elisse grabbed my arm. “Hey. I’m glad you’re coming.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Me too.”
Then I glanced at Allison who was standing next to Leo, smiling at something dumb he said. Her eyes met mine for a second.
And again, no words. Just that same look from earlier.
You should come.
Yeah. I’m glad I said yes.