Espresso in The Rain

Noah did not return to The Roasted Heaven the next day.

Or the day after that.

In fact, he actively avoided it, throwing himself into his coursework with an intensity that left even his professors raising their eyebrows.

"Dude, you're acting like a fugitive," Santa pointed out as they sat in the university's outdoor study area. "Are you seriously going to avoid the café forever?"

Noah didn't look up from his notes. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Santa rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Noah. You've been acting weird ever since Elias put you on the spot the other night."

Noah tensed at the mere mention of his name. "I'm not acting weird."

Santa snorted. "You're literally hiding from your favorite café because you have a crush on the owner."

Noah's pen slipped, leaving a jagged mark across his notes. "I do not have a crush."

Santa gave him a flat look. "Sure. And I don't breathe oxygen."

Noah exhaled through his nose, pressing his fingers against his temple. "This conversation is pointless."

Santa smirked. "Is it? Because I have a bet going with Perth about how long you can keep this up before Elias drags you back."

Noah scowled. "What the hell, Santa?"

"I had to make things interesting," Santa said with an innocent shrug. "You're so predictable. I bet you'll crack within a week."

Noah ignored him, focusing back on his work.

Because there was no way in hell he was going back first.

Right?

By the fourth day, Noah was officially losing his mind.

It wasn't that he missed Elias.

He just… missed the café. The atmosphere, the smell of fresh coffee, the way the hum of conversation blended into the background as he worked.

His dorm was too quiet. The campus cafés were too crowded.

Everything was wrong.

And the worst part? He kept checking his phone like an idiot, half-expecting a message from Elias.

But there was nothing.

Not that he cared.

(He definitely cared.)

By the fifth day, fate decided to screw him over.

Noah had just left his last class when he spotted someone leaning casually against a motorcycle near the campus entrance.

It took him exactly two seconds to recognize the smug figure waiting for him.

Elias.

Dressed in a fitted black t-shirt and dark jeans, he looked infuriatingly good, like he had walked straight out of a damn movie.

Noah's stomach flipped before he could shove the feeling down.

He quickly turned on his heel, fully prepared to walk the other way.

"Noah."

Damn it.

Noah slowed but didn't stop. "I'm busy."

Elias fell into step beside him with ease. "You've been very busy lately. Too busy to get coffee, apparently."

Noah tightened his grip on his bag. "I just had a lot of work to do."

Elias hummed, unconvinced. "Sure. And avoiding me was just a coincidence?"

Noah exhaled sharply. "I wasn't—" He cut himself off when he saw the knowing look in Elias' eyes.

Lying was pointless.

Elias smirked, clearly enjoying this too much. "So? Are you done pretending you don't miss me?"

Noah scoffed. "You're so full of yourself."

"And yet, you still haven't denied it."

Noah refused to give him the satisfaction of a response.

Elias chuckled. "Alright, I'll be nice. I came to give you a peace offering."

Noah frowned. "What?"

Elias nodded toward his bike. "I was about to grab some late-night food. Thought you might want to come with."

Noah hesitated.

Every rational part of him screamed no.

But he was tired. And stressed. And a part of him—the part that he refused to acknowledge—had missed Elias more than he wanted to admit.

He exhaled. "Where?"

Elias grinned. "I'll let you decide."

Noah rolled his eyes but followed him anyway.

Maybe, just maybe, avoiding Elias had been a bad idea after all.