Chapter 5 - Coffee and Silence
639 Words
The night after the underground race stayed trapped inside Ophelia's mind for days.
No matter how hard she focused on classes or work, she kept remembering the roar of engines beneath the bridge... and Liam Castillo standing under neon lights like he belonged to danger itself.
But eventually, the chaos of midnight faded back into routine.
School during the day.
Coffee shop shifts at night.
Pretending her heart didn't race whenever Liam walked into class.
Outside, rain softly covered Valencia City in silver light as another quiet evening settled over the café.
And for the first time since the race-
Ophelia thought maybe Liam Castillo had already forgotten about her.
Then the café door opened.
A cold breeze entered first.
Then silence followed.
Several girls near the windows immediately started whispering excitedly.
"No way..."
"Is that Liam Castillo?"
Ophelia froze.
Slowly, she looked toward the entrance.
And there he was.
Liam stepped inside wearing a black hoodie over his university uniform. His damp hair suggested he had been outside in the rain.
The entire café atmosphere changed instantly.
Even Chloe Benitez looked surprised.
"Well," Chloe muttered quietly. "That explains your distraction."
Ophelia glared at her softly. "Stop."
Liam's eyes scanned the café once before landing directly on Ophelia behind the counter.
Her heartbeat betrayed her immediately.
He walked toward her calmly.
Every step somehow made the café quieter.
When he finally stopped at the register, Ophelia forgot how to breathe for half a second.
"What would you like to order?" she asked carefully.
Liam studied her face first before answering.
"Iced americano."
"That's all?"
"That depends."
Ophelia blinked. "On what?"
"If you're going to lecture me again."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"You came here for coffee, not arguments."
"Hm."
That small sound almost felt like amusement.
Almost.
Ophelia quickly focused on preparing the drink to avoid staring at him too much.
But Liam remained standing there quietly instead of sitting down.
Watching her.
The silence between them felt strangely comfortable and awkward at the same time.
Finally, Ophelia placed the coffee on the counter.
"That'll be two hundred pesos."
Liam handed her the money without looking away.
Their fingers brushed slightly.
Ophelia immediately pulled her hand back.
Liam noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"You still scared of me?" he asked suddenly.
Ophelia looked up. "Should I be?"
The café became quieter somehow.
Liam leaned slightly against the counter.
"Yes."
But his expression didn't match the answer.
Instead of fear, Ophelia suddenly felt something far more dangerous.
Curiosity.
"You know," she said carefully, "normal people usually say thank you after getting coffee."
"Normal people don't talk back to me."
"Maybe that's your problem."
For a second, Chloe nearly dropped a cup behind them.
Because Liam Castillo-
Actually smiled.
It was small.
Brief.
But real.
And it completely changed his face.
Ophelia stared before she could stop herself.
Liam noticed again.
His smile disappeared almost instantly.
"You're staring," he said quietly.
Ophelia looked away quickly, embarrassed. "You started it."
A low chuckle escaped him.
This time, Ophelia definitely heard it.
Across the café, two girls whispered loudly while secretly taking pictures.
"Are they flirting?"
"I've never seen Liam stay anywhere this long."
Chloe slowly walked beside Ophelia and whispered under her breath:
"He likes you."
Ophelia nearly choked. "No, he doesn't."
Liam raised an eyebrow slightly. "Doesn't what?"
"Nothing."
For the first time in days, the tension inside Ophelia's chest felt lighter.
Until the café television suddenly flashed entertainment news across the screen.
A photo of Sofia Velente appeared attending a luxury family event.
One of the customers spoke casually nearby.
"Aren't Sofia Velente and Liam Castillo basically dating already?"
The warmth around Ophelia instantly faded.
She looked toward Liam automatically.
But his expression became unreadable again.
Cold.
Silent.
And somehow that silence hurt more than an actual answer.
- Writer
