It had been a week since Adrian had vanished without a trace, and Gianna still couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that gnawed at her insides. Every time she walked into the café for her shifts, her eyes instinctively scanned the tables, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But day after day, there was no sign of Adrian.
At school, it was the same story. She half-expected to see him lingering by the lockers or bumping into him awkwardly in the hallway like before. But he was nowhere to be found. Each day without a sighting only deepened her worry, though she tried to push it aside, telling herself that he was probably fine, wherever he was.
She couldn't stop thinking about him, though, and that fact frustrated her more than anything. Why did he keep invading her thoughts? He was just some guy she'd helped—sure, he was cute, and yeah, there was a mystery surrounding him, but that didn't mean she should obsess over his absence.
Mia had noticed, of course.
"He's probably fine, Gia," Mia said one afternoon during lunch, her voice casual but her eyes sharp. "Maybe he's just laying low for a while. I mean, you did find him getting beat up by a bunch of thugs. Not exactly something you bounce back from overnight."
Gianna nodded absentmindedly, poking at her salad. "Yeah, I know. It's just… weird, you know? Like, why didn't he at least say something before he left?"
Mia shrugged, taking a bite of her sandwich. "Maybe he didn't want to involve us more than he already did. People like him usually have secrets. Big ones."
That much was clear. But the lack of answers had left a gaping hole in Gianna's thoughts, and she found herself filling it with worry, theories, and a swirl of questions she didn't know how to answer.
The rest of the week dragged on, each day feeling heavier than the last. Gianna tried to focus on work, on school, on anything to distract her from the nagging thought of Adrian. She kept telling herself that it didn't matter—that it wasn't her responsibility to worry about him—but her mind refused to let it go.
One Saturday afternoon, she was working her usual shift at the café, wiping down the counters and preparing orders, when the familiar bell above the door jingled. She didn't bother looking up at first, too lost in her own thoughts. The café was fairly empty, just a few customers sitting near the windows, enjoying their coffees in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.
But then something made her pause. A presence.
She looked up—and her breath caught in her throat.
There he was.
Adrian stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, his eyes scanning the room. He looked the same as he had the last time she'd seen him—bruises faded, but the shadows still lingered under his eyes, a hint of tiredness that hadn't been there before. He wore a simple dark hoodie and jeans, blending in with the casual atmosphere of the café, but there was something about him that stood out. Like he didn't quite belong.
Gianna froze, her heart suddenly hammering in her chest. For a second, she didn't know what to do. Should she say something? Ask where he had been? Demand an explanation for his sudden disappearance?
He must have sensed her staring, because his eyes found hers from across the room. The second their gazes met, the air between them seemed to shift, thickening with unspoken tension.
Adrian didn't smile or wave—he simply walked toward her, his expression cool, though his steps were measured, almost hesitant. Gianna's heart raced faster with every step he took, and before she knew it, he was standing in front of her, the counter between them.
"Hey," he said quietly, his voice just as low and calm as she remembered.
"Hey," Gianna managed to respond, her throat dry. She wasn't sure what to say next.
For a moment, they just stood there, the silence stretching on. She wanted to ask a million questions, but they all got tangled up in her mind. Where had he been? Was he okay? Why did he leave without saying anything?
Adrian seemed to sense her internal struggle, because he cleared his throat, shifting slightly on his feet. "I'm… sorry I left without saying anything. Things got complicated."
Gianna's brow furrowed as she stared at him. "Complicated how?"
Adrian hesitated, his eyes flicking to the side for a brief second before meeting hers again. "It's hard to explain. But… I didn't want to drag you into it."
"You kind of already did," she pointed out, crossing her arms. "You showed up beaten half to death, remember? And then you just disappeared."
Adrian winced slightly, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I know. I didn't mean for any of that to happen."
Gianna stared at him for a moment longer before letting out a frustrated sigh. "You don't have to tell me everything. Just… don't leave like that again. I was worried."
Adrian looked down, nodding slowly. "I won't. I promise."
Another silence followed, but this time it wasn't as tense. Gianna could see the exhaustion in his posture, the weight of whatever burden he was carrying. She wanted to ask more, to get him to open up, but she didn't push it. Not yet.
"Do you want something to drink?" she asked, her tone softening.
Adrian glanced at the menu board behind her, then back at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just a coffee, thanks."
Gianna nodded and went to make his order, her mind still racing. As she prepared the coffee, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him during that week. Why had he disappeared? And more importantly, what had brought him back?
As she handed Adrian the coffee, their fingers brushed briefly, and she felt a strange surge of warmth at the contact.
"Thanks," he said quietly, taking the cup and stepping back. He didn't leave right away, though. Instead, he lingered by the counter for a few moments, as if debating whether to say something more.
Gianna waited, but when he didn't speak, she gave him a small, tentative smile. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable once again. "You too, Gia."
And with that, he turned and walked out of the café, disappearing into the afternoon sun, leaving Gianna standing there with a swirl of emotions she couldn't quite untangle