The morning sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, spilling softly into the room. Claire slowly opened her eyes. The thoughts and speculations about Lucas that had plagued her all night had kept her awake. Though the morning light seemed to ease some of her doubts, the lingering curiosity remained, impossible to shake off.
Life at the café continued its usual quiet routine. Claire greeted customers as they came and went, moving back and forth between the counter and tables with cups of coffee in hand. Yet, for reasons she couldn't explain, every time the door opened for a new guest, she would instinctively glance up, hoping to see a familiar face.
Time slipped away as she waited, and it wasn't until dusk that Lucas finally arrived.
Dressed in the same dark coat as always, Lucas entered the café with a faint trace of weariness. At the sight of him, Claire felt a strange sense of relief, as though a missing piece of a puzzle had fallen back into place.
"Good evening," Claire said, striving to keep her tone steady.
Lucas nodded slightly, his eyes scanning the room before heading straight to his usual seat. Claire carried his coffee over and set it gently on the table.
"How's your day been?" she asked, trying to strike a casual tone.
Lucas looked up with a faint smile. "Not much different from yesterday."
Claire noticed that his voice, though calm as ever, carried a softness that hadn't been there before. This newfound warmth gave her the courage to press on.
"I've noticed something," she began hesitantly. "You seem to avoid sunlight. Is that true?"
Lucas's fingers paused on the rim of his coffee cup. He raised his gaze to meet hers, his eyes like deep, uncharted waters—calm yet impenetrable.
"Why do you think so?" he asked, a trace of curiosity in his voice.
Claire nervously bit her lip. "Because you only come here at night, never during the day. And you always choose seats where the light is dim…" Her voice trailed off, as if afraid of overstepping a boundary.
Lucas remained silent for a moment, his eyes drifting to the window, where streetlights flickered in the darkness outside.
"Everyone has their habits," he finally said, his tone steady. "Bright daylight makes me uncomfortable, so I prefer the night."
Claire nodded but felt unsatisfied. Her instincts told her that Lucas's aversion to sunlight wasn't just a matter of preference but something deeper.
Gathering her courage, she ventured further. "Is there a special reason? I mean… I'm just curious."
Lucas turned back to her, his gaze deep and unwavering. He didn't answer right away but instead let the silence stretch between them before speaking again.
"Claire, do you believe everyone has secrets?"
Caught off guard, Claire hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Some secrets are meant to protect oneself," Lucas continued, his voice low and tinged with melancholy. "Others are meant to protect others. I think that's explanation enough."
The ambiguity of his words only deepened Claire's curiosity, but she dared not probe further. Lucas seemed like an isolated island, surrounded by dark, turbulent seas. She wanted to approach, but an invisible barrier always held her back.
The following day, while organizing stock in the café's storeroom, Claire noticed an interesting phenomenon: areas bathed in sunlight revealed every speck of dust, while those in shadow remained calm and undisturbed. The contrast reminded her of Lucas, who always seemed to maintain his distance from brightness.
"If sunlight is a kind of taboo for him, what could it mean?" she wondered.
That evening, Lucas returned as usual. This time, Claire paid extra attention to his movements. She noticed that whenever the café's lights shifted, Lucas would subtly reposition himself, always avoiding the brightest spots. His gaze, too, never lingered on any source of light.
Unable to hold back, Claire took a warm drink over to his table when no other customers were nearby. "Lucas," she began cautiously, "do you really dislike sunlight?"
Lucas paused, his expression briefly flickering with complex emotions before settling back into calm.
"Why are you so interested in this?" he asked.
Claire hesitated, then said softly, "Because you intrigue me. There's something mysterious about you that I can't quite understand."
Lucas's gaze softened slightly. He studied Claire as though weighing whether to reveal more. With a faint sigh, he spoke in a low voice.
"Claire, some things aren't as simple as they seem. Sunlight is… unique for me."
"Unique?" Claire seized on the word. "Is it because of a health condition? Or something else?"
Lucas shook his head gently, a small smile playing on his lips. "Maybe one day you'll understand. But for now, knowing too much might not be a good thing."
Claire opened her mouth to press further but found herself silenced by his words. She looked at his sharp yet weary face and ultimately chose not to push him any more.
That night, back in her apartment, Claire opened her notebook and began jotting down every detail she could remember about Lucas.
"He avoids sunlight and is sensitive to bright environments. His behavior carries a profound contradiction, as if he wants to connect with the human world but fears being consumed by it…"
She paused, staring out at the dark night sky beyond her window. Lucas's image lingered vividly in her mind. Every word he spoke, every move he made, felt like a riddle, pulling her closer and closer into his mysterious orbit.