Liam found himself staring at the sky from his apartment balcony, the cool evening breeze brushing against his skin. He hadn't been able to shake the thoughts from their last dinner with Max and Mei. Their engagement had sent a ripple through his emotions—one he hadn't expected. He should've been overjoyed for them, but instead, a lingering discomfort settled in his chest.
His phone buzzed beside him, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Eva.
Eva: Are you free tonight? Let's grab some coffee.
Liam hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the screen before replying.
Liam: Sure. Meet you at our usual spot?
As he walked into the café, the familiar scent of roasted coffee beans greeted him. Eva was already seated by the window, her chin resting on her hand as she stared out, lost in thought. When she noticed Liam approaching, her smile was warm but a little strained, as if she had been wrestling with her own thoughts as well.
"Hey," Liam said softly, sliding into the seat across from her.
"Hey," she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've been thinking… about the other night."
Liam felt his heart skip a beat. Was she going to mention it? The looks? The tension? He wasn't sure he was ready for that conversation.
Eva took a deep breath. "You seemed distant. Something's been off between us since the dinner. I feel it too, Liam."
There it was, out in the open. Liam rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the right words. "I don't know, Eva. It's like... everything is changing so fast. Max and Mei are getting engaged, us graduating soon, and… I guess I'm just trying to figure it all out."
Eva nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on him. "Is it Mei?" Her voice was soft, but her words carried weight.
Liam's throat tightened. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, Liam," Eva said, her voice firm but not accusing. "I saw the way you looked at her, the way she looked at you."
Liam stared at the table, his fingers tracing patterns on the wooden surface. "It's not like that," he said quietly. "At least, I don't think it is."
Eva leaned back in her chair, her eyes searching his. "You don't think?"
"I don't know, Eva. Mei and I… we've always had a connection, but I never thought it was something more. Now, with everything happening, it's all so confusing."
There was a long pause. The silence between them felt heavy, like the weight of unspoken truths hanging in the air.
"You care about her," Eva said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam nodded slowly. "I do. But I care about you too, Eva. More than I can explain."
Eva's expression softened, but there was still a sadness in her eyes. "Liam, I don't want to be caught in something that's not certain. I need to know where your heart is, for both our sakes."
Liam opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. His heart felt like it was split in two—one part still tethered to his past with Mei, the other yearning for a future with Eva.
The night grew darker as they sat in that café, sipping their coffee in silence. Liam knew that he had to make a choice, but for the first time in his life, he wasn't sure what the right one was.