Melody Between Us

The days following her birthday were a whirlwind of emotions for Mia. She threw herself into work, trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest every time she thought about Lukas. His teasing, his presence, and the way he had stayed by her side lingered in her mind, making it impossible to concentrate.

One evening, as the café closed and the streetlights flickered to life, Mia found herself locking up alone. She turned to find Lukas leaning casually against a lamppost, waiting for her.

"You again?" she said, feigning annoyance but unable to suppress a small smile.

"Miss me?" he quipped, falling into step beside her.

"You wish," Mia retorted, shaking her head.

---

As they walked in companionable silence, Lukas's occasional quips and playful nudges began to chip away at Mia's carefully constructed walls. Finally, she stopped in her tracks, turning to face him.

"Okay, enough," she said, her voice sharp but not unkind. "Why do you keep teasing me like this? And the flirting—what's your deal, Lukas? Do you… like me?"

Lukas blinked, momentarily taken aback, before a slow grin spread across his face. "What gave me away?"

Mia's breath hitched. "So, you're not denying it?"

"Nope," he said, his voice steady. "I like you, Mia. More than I probably should."

Her heart raced, and she felt her cheeks flush. "But why? I mean, you don't even really know me."

Lukas stepped closer, his gaze soft but intense. "I know enough. I see the way you light up when you talk about your café. I see how hard you work, how much you care about the people around you. And I see the strength it took to rebuild your life after everything you've been through. That's more than enough for me."

---

Mia stared at him, her mind racing. The vulnerability in his voice, the sincerity in his eyes—it was too much. She shook her head, stepping back. "I… I can't do this right now."

"Mia," Lukas began, but she held up a hand.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just need some time."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried to her apartment, her thoughts a chaotic jumble of fear, confusion, and something she couldn't quite name.

---

Once inside, she sank onto her couch, burying her face in her hands. Her heart was still pounding, and she replayed Lukas's words over and over in her mind. Why now? Why him? Like i only had some crush on him... That's not like i like to be in a relationship with him..... Ahhhh!!!

A knock at her door startled her, and she froze, unsure whether to answer. But when she peeked through the peephole, it wasn't Lukas—it was Greta, holding a bag of takeout and wearing her usual smirk.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Greta said as Mia opened the door. "Bad day?"

"Something like that," Mia muttered, letting her friend in.

---

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of comfort food and Greta's relentless gossip, giving Mia a brief reprieve from the storm inside her. But as she lay in bed later that night, staring at the ceiling, Lukas's confession lingered, refusing to be ignored.

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