Alex sat at a small wooden table, waiting for his order. The bakery was quaint, with only a few tables scattered around for customers. His gaze wandered around the room, searching for someone.

  "Are you looking for someone, sir?"

  A man dressed in black slacks, a black vest over a crisp white shirt, stood beside him—most likely a waiter.

  "Is there a young girl working here?" Alex asked.

  The waiter gave him a curious glance. "Yes, sir, but why do you ask?"

  "Because I’m her friend," Alex replied.

  The waiter raised an eyebrow before smiling politely. Then, turning his head, he called out, "Aylin, since when did you start making friends?"

  A young girl emerged from the kitchen, still wearing her gloves. "And here I thought I was the only friend you had," the waiter teased before walking away.

  Alex studied her carefully. "You know him?"

  She nodded. "Yes, I've known him for ten years."

  "That's a long time," Alex said, forcing a smile. He found it hard to believe that an older guy like that could be her friend.

  Aylin's gaze remained locked on him, an unreadable expression in her eyes. He could feel the weight of her stare, but he didn’t dare to meet it.

  "He’s my friend," she finally said, her voice quiet but firm.

  The words seemed to echo between them, surprising both Alex and the waiter.

  "What?" the waiter asked in disbelief before pulling Aylin into the kitchen.

  Alex sat there, bewildered. Why had she called him her friend? What had just happened?

  After a while, Aylin returned and took a seat across from him, keeping her eyes fixed on the table as if she had disconnected from the world.

  "Hi," she said at last, lifting her head slightly.

  Alex smiled, his dimples deepening. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his white hair.

  "I didn’t expect you to be here," she murmured.

  "Really?" she added after a pause, her voice laced with curiosity—almost as if she was testing him, trying to figure out if he was being honest.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  "I came for you," Alex admitted.

  She studied him carefully before replying, "I never knew people made friends after just one meeting."

  "I didn’t either," he mumbled.

  The waiter returned, setting two cups of coffee in front of them. He gave Aylin a warm smile, but when his gaze shifted to Alex, his expression hardened. Alex offered a polite smile, but it quickly faded when the waiter walked away without a word.

  "So," Alex said, breaking the silence, "you’re the first girl I’ve ever found interesting."

  Aylin hesitated before responding, her voice calm yet distant. "People usually find things interesting when they don't understand them. Sometimes, they find them threatening. Or just... weird."

  She wasn’t wrong. After their first meeting, Alex had searched for her online—typing in vague descriptions like "girl with moonlight-colored, aqua jewel eyes"—but found nothing. It was as if she didn’t exist.

  "You’re right," he admitted. "And I want to know more about you."

  For a brief moment, her eyes lit up, but she quickly averted her gaze as if refusing to let herself hope. Slowly, she stood up.

  "Can I at least get your name?" Alex asked.

  Before she could answer, the waiter—James—slammed a small piece of paper onto the table. A number was scrawled on it.

  "She doesn’t have a phone," James said curtly. "That’s my number."

  Alex hesitated before taking the paper. "James, huh?"

  James crossed his arms. "Yeah. And you can leave now."

  Alex smirked, standing up. Before walking out, he turned back one last time. His eyes met Aylin’s, but she quickly looked away.

  Still, as he stepped outside, a strange feeling welled up inside him—a mix of happiness, excitement, and something else he couldn’t quite define. Whatever it was, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

  "You know, she’s really beautiful. Her eyes shine like jewels, like moonlight—she’s just too cute, you know?"

  Leon, who was sitting at his study table, let out a sigh before casually grabbing a piece of bread and stuffing it into Alex’s mouth. "Eat this and stop talking nonsense," he muttered, flipping open his laptop.

  Alex quickly chewed and swallowed before glaring at him. "You’re ignoring me."

  "No, I’m listening very carefully," Leon replied, not even glancing up from his screen. "I’m also trying to figure out when you started daydreaming."

  "Daydreaming?" Alex scoffed, dragging a chair beside him and sitting down.

  "Yes, daydreaming," Leon repeated, typing something on his laptop. "The way you’re describing her, she sounds like some kind of fictional character."

  Alex looked downright offended. "Are you... stupid?"

  Leon finally looked up. "What? Where did that come from?" He shook his head, smirking. "Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Every lovesick fool thinks of his beloved as a goddess."

  "Yes," Alex answered without hesitation.

  Leon nearly choked on his drink. "Are you kidding me?" He narrowed his eyes at him. "You’re serious, aren’t you?"

  Alex lowered his gaze, suddenly unsure. "...You’re mean."

  Leon exhaled through his nose and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, tell me this, Romeo. Where are her parents? Where does she live? And if she’s an extreme introvert, how does she even know that guy?" He resumed typing, waiting for Alex’s response.

  Alex frowned. "What are you writing?"

  "A story," Leon replied without looking up.

  Alex leaned in, trying to peek at the screen. "What about?"

  Leon smirked. "You."

  "What?"

  "Yes, you. You and your ridiculous daydreaming."

  Alex scowled and smacked Leon on the back before standing up.

  "Ow! What the hell was that for?" Leon shouted, rubbing his back.

  "That was for being annoying," Alex huffed before walking away, leaving Leon laughing at his expense.