It was just another ordinary evening at a cozy café tucked away in a quiet street corner. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, and the faint sound of jazz music played in the background. Sam, an engineering student, sat at his usual spot near the window, lost in thought. His mind was always busy—calculating, analyzing, thinking about a million things at once—but today, something pulled him out of his usual overthinking cycle.
At the table across from him, a girl sat alone, completely engrossed in her book. She had a calm yet captivating presence, her fingers gently turning the pages as her eyes darted across the words with deep focus. Her name, though he didn't know it yet, was Mahiru.
Gathering his courage, Sam finally decided to approach her.
"Hey, I just noticed you from the other table, and that book you're reading looks really interesting. What kind of genre is it?"
Mahiru looked up, surprised for a moment before a small smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, it's a mystery novel. I love books that keep me guessing till the end."
"I'm not really into mystery, but I do love thrillers," Sam admitted, sitting across from her.
"Thrillers, huh?" Mahiru raised an eyebrow playfully. "Then maybe you'd like this one. It has a mix of mystery and psychological twists."
And just like that, their conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about books, movies, and the little things in life that made them happy. Sam, who usually struggled with talking to new people, found himself enjoying every second of their chat.
Before he knew it, the café was about to close.
"So, do you usually come here?" Sam asked as Mahiru began packing her things.
"Yeah, pretty often," she replied. "It's my favorite spot."
"Then maybe we'll run into each other again," he said, trying to sound casual but hoping she'd say something encouraging.
Mahiru gave him a teasing look. "Maybe."
And with that, she walked out, leaving Sam grinning like an idiot.
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