The days at the amusement park café began to take on a familiar rhythm, one that Wale found himself looking forward to more than he expected. Amidst the chaos of steaming coffee machines and the constant orders being called out, he and Sophia had become an unspoken team. They moved around each other with ease—handing off trays, taking orders, and managing the never-ending crowd like pros.
It wasn't just the efficiency of their teamwork that stood out; it was the ease with which they communicated. A shared glance was often enough to convey what needed to be done. Their shifts together had a certain flow, almost as if they'd been working side by side for years instead of weeks.
One morning, as Wale meticulously arranged sugar packets at the counter, Sophia came up beside him with a bemused expression.
"You know this isn't brain surgery, right?" she said, folding her arms as she watched him align each packet with precision.
Wale glanced at her, his lips quirking into a small smile. "Maybe if you stopped humming every song ever written, I'd be able to concentrate."
Sophia feigned offense, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. "Excuse me, my humming is a gift to this café. It gives life and morale to this place, man."
Wale smirked, shaking his head as he continued with his task. "Morale, huh? More like a distraction," he snorted.
Their banter became a thing. Sophia often teased Wale about his overly serious approach to the job, while Wale would throw her quips right back at her. It was lighthearted, a form of pleasure in the otherwise hectic environment.
But as the days passed, Wale began noticing more than just Sophia's humor. He found himself watching her in quiet moments—like when she expertly calmed a frustrated customer's temper or when her laugh lit up the space around them. There was a steadiness to her, a warmth that seemed to refresh him even on the busiest days.
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During one particularly busy morning, Felix decided it was time to be mischievous.
The rush had finally calmed, and the team gathered in the break room for a quick breather. Wale sat down with his lunch, grateful for a moment to relax, when he caught Felix's sly grin.
"Wale," Felix began, his tone dripping with mischief. "You've been smiling a lot lately. It's suspicious, man." He shrugged.
Wale raised an eyebrow, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Maybe I'm just happy you're finally working instead of loafing around," he replied smoothly.
The other co-workers chuckled, but Felix wasn't about to let it go. "Nah, nah. We see you. Always volunteering to help Sophia. Always conveniently ending up on the same shifts. You've got it bad, my guy," he tutted, shaking his head.
The laughter in the room grew louder, and Wale shook his head, trying to play it cool. "You're imagining things," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I help everyone, not just Sophia."
Felix leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say. But the way you light up when she's around? Yeah, we all see it."
Wale laughed along with them, brushing off the teasing, but as the chatter moved on from him, he found himself replaying Felix's words.
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Later that night, as Wale lay in bed, Felix's comment lingered in his mind. He couldn't deny that something about Sophia drew him in. It wasn't just her confidence or the way she seemed to thrive under pressure—it was the way she made him feel lighter, like the chaos of the café wasn't so overwhelming when she was around.
He thought back to the mornings they worked together, the ease of their conversations and the way her laughter seemed to echo long after she'd walked away. It wasn't just about liking her presence; it was about looking forward to it.
Wale let out a small sigh, staring at the ceiling. He didn't know what it meant, this growing warmth he felt whenever Sophia was near. But one thing was certain—his time in Minnesota was becoming far more interesting than he'd ever anticipated.