Espresso in The Rain

It was almost closing time at The Roasted Heaven when Noah found himself still sitting at his usual corner table, staring at his laptop screen but not actually reading the words in front of him.

Santa had already left an hour ago, after throwing him a knowing look and whispering, "Try not to drool over Elias too much." Noah had rolled his eyes, but now, as he sat alone in the quiet café, he felt restless.

Elias was wiping down the counter, sleeves rolled up, exposing the veins in his forearms. His hair was slightly messy, probably from running his hands through it all night.

Noah hated how easily his attention was drawn to him.

He checked the time on his phone—11:43 PM. Way past his usual hours.

Elias must have noticed because, without looking up, he asked, "Planning on spending the night here?"

Noah huffed. "Maybe. The coffee's better than what I have at home."

Elias smirked, setting down his rag. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Noah glanced around. "Where's Perth?"

"Left early," Elias said, stretching his arms over his head. "It's just us now."

Just us.

Noah cleared his throat. "You should've kicked me out earlier."

Elias leaned against the counter, watching him with amusement. "Why? I don't mind the company."

Noah hesitated, fingers tapping lightly against his cup. "You close at midnight, right?"

Elias nodded. "Yeah, but I can stay longer if I want. Perks of being the owner."

Noah exhaled. "Must be nice."

Elias studied him for a moment. "You okay, Kim?"

Noah tensed. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Elias shrugged. "You've been coming here every day for weeks now. But today, you're lingering."

Noah scowled. "You make me sound desperate."

Elias smirked. "If the shoe fits."

Noah groaned, rubbing his temples. "Forget it."

Elias chuckled, then walked around the counter, pulling out the chair across from Noah and sitting down.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The café was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fridge and the soft jazz playing in the background.

Then Elias broke the silence.

"Tell me something about yourself."

Noah frowned. "What?"

Elias leaned back. "I know you're an engineering student. I know you take your coffee ridiculously sweet. And I know you pretend to hate my teasing even though you secretly like it."

Noah narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?"

Elias smirked. "But beyond that? I don't know much about you."

Noah hesitated. "There's not much to know."

Elias tilted his head. "I doubt that."

Noah exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

Elias thought for a moment. Then, "Why engineering?"

Noah blinked.

That… wasn't the question he expected.

He shifted in his seat. "My mom wanted me to go into business. Take over the family company someday. But I wanted something different."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "She wasn't happy about that, huh?"

Noah let out a dry laugh. "Nope."

Elias watched him carefully. "But you still chose engineering."

Noah met his gaze. "Yeah. I did."

Something flickered in Elias' expression, something almost… impressed.

Noah looked away first.

Elias hummed, stretching his arms behind his head. "Well, guess I should share something too, huh?"

Noah raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to."

Elias grinned. "What, scared you'll like me more if you get to know me?"

Noah scowled. "You're the one who started this conversation."

Elias chuckled. "Fair."

Then, after a pause, he said, "I used to hate coffee."

Noah stared at him. "Bullshit."

Elias laughed. "I'm serious."

Noah shook his head. "You run a coffee shop."

Elias smirked. "Yeah. Funny how life works, huh?"

Noah leaned forward. "Okay, why did you hate it?"

Elias exhaled, resting his chin on his palm. "My parents ran a coffee shop when I was a kid. I spent most of my childhood there, constantly surrounded by the smell of coffee, the sound of machines, customers coming and going. I got sick of it."

Noah blinked. He hadn't expected that.

"So… what changed?"

Elias smiled, but there was something softer about it now. "I realized that it wasn't the coffee I hated. It was the pressure. The expectation that I'd take over someday."

Noah stilled.

That… sounded familiar.

Elias leaned back. "When I finally took a step back and did it on my terms, I found out that I actually love it. The process. The atmosphere. Making something people enjoy."

Noah's fingers curled around his cup.

He understood that feeling all too well.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Elias smirked. "Damn. This got deep."

Noah rolled his eyes. "You started it."

Elias chuckled. "Guess I did."

Noah glanced at the clock—11:58 PM.

Closing time.

Elias stretched, standing up. "Come on, Kim. I'll walk you home."

Noah hesitated. "You don't have to."

Elias gave him a lazy grin. "I know. But I want to."

Noah's heart did something annoying.

He sighed, grabbing his bag. "Fine."

Elias laughed, flipping the café sign to closed.

And as they stepped out into the cool Bangkok night, Noah had a feeling that avoiding Elias from now on would be completely impossible.