The crisp autumn air filled the university campus as fallen leaves created a soft blanket across the ground. The sun shone weakly through the clouds, and the scent of approaching winter was in the air.
Liam strolled across the courtyard, lost in thought. Life had become a peculiar blend of nostalgia from graduation and the lingering memories of Eva. Their paths had drifted apart since their visit to Max and Mei's place, but the unresolved tension between them still lingered like an unfinished conversation.
His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. Expecting a work email, Liam glanced at the screen.
Max:
"Yo, dude! Guess what? Mei and I are back in town for a few days. You in for dinner? We're thinking of hitting that place with the giant portions of everything—my personal heaven."
Liam chuckled. Leave it to Max to get excited about food the size of his face.
Liam:
"I'm in. But you're not gonna eat both my fries again, right?"
Max:
"No promises, bro. No fries are safe when I'm around."
Liam pocketed his phone, smiling. Max never failed to lighten his mood. Married life hadn't tamed his best friend one bit, and it was comforting to know that some things never changed.
As Liam walked toward the café, a familiar figure caught his eye—Eva. She was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, wrapped in a scarf and sipping coffee. Her face was turned toward the street, deep in thought. Liam froze.
Of all places, why here? Why now?
His first instinct was to turn around and avoid her altogether. But something in him, maybe that unresolved tension, told him not to. Before he could fully process his decision, he found himself walking straight toward her.
"Eva," he said, his voice a little hesitant.
She looked up, her green eyes widening in surprise. "Liam."
The silence between them felt thick, as if filled with all the words they hadn't said since their last conversation.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked, already pulling out a chair.
She hesitated for a brief moment, then gestured toward the seat. "Go ahead."
He sat down, the tension between them palpable. There was so much to say, but neither knew how to begin. After a long pause, Liam broke the ice.
"So, how's life been?" he asked, trying to sound casual but ending up a bit too formal.
Eva sighed, wrapping her hands around her coffee mug. "Busy. Work's been intense, but it's good. You?"
"Same. A lot of work, some... self-reflection." He shifted uncomfortably. "The usual."
Another awkward silence stretched between them. He was about to speak when his phone buzzed again. Liam glanced at it.
Max:
"Oh, and tell Eva she should come too! Double date vibes. I'll promise not to be weird—okay, maybe a little weird."
Liam sighed, looking back at Eva, wondering how on earth he was going to explain this.
Eva raised an eyebrow. "What's that look?"
"It's Max," Liam admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "He, uh, wants us to go to dinner with him and Mei. Like, a double date."
Eva smirked. "Max is relentless, isn't he?"
"You have no idea," Liam groaned, half-smiling. "He's like a tornado. A very loud, food-obsessed tornado."
Eva chuckled, and for the first time in a while, the tension seemed to lift. "So... are you actually asking me out, Liam?"
Liam blinked, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. "Well, I mean, if you want to look at it like that—yeah, I guess I am."
Eva took a sip of her coffee, eyeing him playfully. "Alright, I'll go. But on one condition."
"What's that?"
She leaned forward slightly. "You have to make sure Max doesn't eat my fries."
Liam laughed, relieved at the lightness of her tone. "Deal. I'll bring a taser or something."
Eva grinned. "Good. I'd hate to lose another plate of food to him."
Just as Liam was about to respond, his phone buzzed again. This time it was a picture from Max—of him holding two enormous hamburgers, each the size of his head, with a caption:
Max:
"Just practicing for tonight! Prepare yourselves."
Liam showed the message to Eva, who burst out laughing. "Max hasn't changed at all, has he?"
"Not a bit," Liam said, shaking his head. "He's still convinced that if he eats enough, he'll somehow gain superpowers."
"Maybe he's right. Superhuman metabolism, at least," Eva quipped.
Liam smiled, realizing how much he'd missed these light-hearted moments with her. "So, dinner at seven?"
Eva nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Sure. But remember, taser. For the fries."
Later that night, Liam arrived at the restaurant, fully prepared for whatever chaos Max might have planned. The moment he walked in, he spotted Max at a table, surrounded by plates piled high with food. Mei sat beside him, calmly sipping her drink, completely unbothered by the mountain of food her husband was amassing.
"Liam, Eva!" Max called out, waving a giant turkey leg in their direction like a medieval king. "Come, join the feast!"
Eva raised an eyebrow. "I see Max has been practicing his food consumption techniques."
"You have no idea," Mei said dryly. "He's been training for this moment all week."
"Training?" Liam asked, amused.
Max nodded, completely serious. "Gotta stay in peak condition for double dates, man. It's not just about conversation—it's about survival."
Eva shot Liam a mock-serious look. "I hope you brought that taser."
"I might need a fire extinguisher too," Liam quipped, watching Max tear into a massive burger. "He's on fire tonight."
As they all sat down, the evening quickly devolved into the kind of chaos that only Max could create—between stories of his "training regimen" (which mostly involved pizza and late-night ramen runs) and his attempts to order more food than was physically possible for a human to consume.
But amidst the laughter and Max's antics, Liam felt a quiet sense of peace. Eva was by his side, smiling and laughing. Maybe things weren't fully resolved between them, but it felt like they were moving in the right direction.
And for now, that was enough.