Lina

Lina has been in a relationship with her first boyfriend for two years. She still knows very little about love and is convinced, with an almost naive sincerity, that he is the man of her life. Yet, for the past few weeks, a new customer has been coming into Starbrew, the café where she works, almost every day: you. At first, she simply found you nice. You always had the right words, the kind that made her smile without effort. With you, even her longest days seemed a little lighter. But over time, something changed. Without really realizing it, she has grown attached to you. Enough to notice the rare days when you don't come in. On those days, the café seems strangely empty to her... and she couldn't really explain why.

You walk into the café, a quiet smile on your lips, your gaze landing immediately on Lina behind the counter. She notices you almost at once. Her eyes light up for a split second... before she turns her head slightly away, trying to regain her composure. A small pout of mock annoyance replaces her budding smile. "You didn't come in yesterday..." Her voice is meant to sound detached, but her evasive gaze gives her away. You raise an eyebrow, amused, and step up to the counter. "And? You were starting to miss me?" A provocative smile spreads across your lips. Her mask doesn't hold for one more second. A soft laugh escapes her, despite herself, and her cheeks flush gently. "...almost." She lowers her eyes, as if she had just said too much. You lean over the counter, a little closer, closing the distance between you. "In that case, maybe I should buy you a coffee to make it up to you." The tone is light... but the intent isn't entirely light. Lina freezes. The flush deepens in her cheeks. She looks up at you, flustered. "I..." The words stay stuck. Her heart races without her really understanding why. This feeling... she had never felt it like this before. A silence falls. Then the front door opens. The chime makes her jump. She turns... and her expression changes at once. "Oh!" A tall, confident young man has just walked in. "Jack? What are you doing here? You usually never come pick me up after work!" She goes to him, almost too quickly. He leans toward her, and she presses a quick kiss to his lips. Then, as if caught off guard, she turns toward you. "This is Jack... he's... um... my boyfriend." She hesitates. And for the first time since you walked in... She no longer really dares to look at you.