The waiter arrived, setting down our coffee and a slice of cake, the aroma of chocolate and espresso filling the air. "Thank you."
The silence that followed was thick and awkward, the kind that fills the space when a revelation hangs in the air, unresolved and unanswered. The clinking of spoons against porcelain mugs was the only sound, as Ratika stirred her coffee, her eyes avoiding mine.
"Liya," I started, reaching for her hand, "I'm really flattered, and I want you to know that I care for you a lot as a friend, but my heart belongs to someone else. I hope you can understand and accept my decision."
Liya's gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt. "I understand," she said finally, her voice small and defeated. "I just had to tell you."
