EPISODE 18: The Lunch That Changed Nothing... And Everything
1564 Words
Monday afternoons always carried a strange kind of exhaustion.
Students poured out of lecture halls in groups, some discussing assignments while others complained about impossible professors. Cars rolled past the university gates, cafés filled with hungry students, and the city slowly settled into its usual weekday rhythm.
Liam Asterion walked down the marble staircase of Westbridge National University, a folder tucked neatly beneath his arm.
His final lecture for the day had just ended.
As always, he would head straight to Asterion Global Group for his internship training.
The routine had become second nature.
University.
Company.
Home.
Repeat.
He unlocked his car and slid into the driver's seat.
The engine hummed to life, but instead of driving off immediately, he remained seated with both hands resting lightly on the steering wheel.
His mind wandered back to Saturday night.
---
"You're not interested in every man..."
"You're interested in one man."
"You're interested in Noah."
---
Falcon's voice echoed clearly in his head.
Liam leaned back against the seat, a helpless chuckle escaping his lips.
"...You really know how to say things that stick."
For weeks, he had been trying to suppress every thought involving Noah.
Trying to convince himself it was temporary.
Trying to believe it would disappear if he ignored it long enough.
But after Saturday...
He had stopped fighting.
He wasn't rushing toward Noah.
Nor was he planning some grand confession.
He simply accepted one undeniable truth.
Whenever Noah smiled...
His day became a little brighter.
Liam shook his head with a smile before finally putting the car into drive.
---
Across town...
Noah had just finished his final lecture.
The moment he stepped out of the classroom, someone suddenly threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Congratulations!"
Noah jumped slightly before laughing.
"I swear one day you're going to give me a heart attack."
Ava Whitmore grinned shamelessly.
"I'll buy flowers."
"You'll attend my funeral wearing sunglasses."
"I'll look fabulous."
Noah burst into laughter.
"You are impossible."
"I've been told."
She gently nudged his shoulder.
"So..."
"So?"
"Congratulations."
Noah blinked.
"For what exactly?"
Ava placed a dramatic hand over her chest.
"For surviving another Monday without looking like you wanted to murder your assignments."
Noah looked at her for two seconds before laughing again.
"I wasn't that bad."
"You spent half of economics looking at the clock."
"I was hungry."
"You looked ready to eat the professor."
"I was considering it."
"There we go."
They both laughed as they walked through the crowded campus.
Ava suddenly clapped her hands together.
"I've got an idea."
"...Should I be worried?"
"Probably."
Noah sighed dramatically.
"Go on."
"A new café opened two streets from here."
"I've been dying to try it."
"You just want food."
"I always want food."
Noah smiled.
"Fair enough."
"Let's go."
---
Nearly an hour later...
The café was comfortably busy.
Students occupied almost every table, chatting over coffee and sandwiches.
The smell of freshly brewed espresso drifted through the air.
Noah and Ava settled into a table beside the large glass windows.
"This place is actually nice."
"I told you."
A waitress handed them their menus before leaving.
Ava didn't even bother opening hers.
"I'm getting the pasta."
"You haven't looked."
"I don't need to."
"What if they don't sell pasta?"
"They'll start today."
Noah laughed so loudly that a few nearby customers glanced in their direction.
"You really believe the world revolves around you."
"It doesn't."
"It revolves around food."
Noah simply shook his head.
"You need help."
"I need lunch."
---
Meanwhile...
At Asterion Global Group...
Liam had just finished reviewing several marketing proposals when his supervisor walked into the office.
"The client meeting has been postponed."
Liam looked up.
"Until when?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"You're free for the rest of today."
Liam nodded politely.
"Thank you."
As he gathered his belongings, his phone automatically found its way into his hand.
Without thinking...
He called Ava.
The call connected almost immediately.
"What?"
Liam smiled.
"Nice greeting."
"I'm hungry."
"So?"
"So hungry people aren't polite."
He chuckled.
"Where are you?"
"I'm having lunch."
"With?"
Ava looked across the table at Noah, who was currently trying to stop her from stealing food off his plate.
"With Noah."
Liam's smile appeared almost instantly.
"Oh."
"We're at Maple & Brew Café."
A brief silence followed.
Then Ava casually added,
"If you're nearby..."
"Come eat with us."
Liam looked out the office window.
"...Sure."
"I'll be there in twenty."
After hanging up, Ava looked at Noah.
"My brother's coming."
Noah looked up.
"Liam?"
"Yep."
Noah smiled without even realizing it.
"Oh... that'll be nice."
Ava caught the smile.
She said absolutely nothing.
But inwardly...
She grinned.
---
Twenty minutes later...
Liam parked outside the café.
The moment he stepped onto the sidewalk—
"Don't tell me you forgot."
Liam stopped walking.
"...Falcon."
Falcon Hayes leaned casually against his own car, arms folded across his chest.
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"We agreed we'd grab coffee after work today."
Liam sighed.
"I didn't forget."
"You absolutely forgot."
"I was delayed."
"You were distracted."
Liam rolled his eyes.
"Happy?"
"Very."
Before either of them could continue—
A cheerful voice called from inside the café.
"Liam!"
Both men turned.
Ava was enthusiastically waving through the window.
Falcon looked between Ava...
Then Liam.
"So..."
"This is where we're having coffee?"
Liam smiled faintly.
"Looks like it."
The two walked inside.
---
The small bell above the café door chimed softly.
Noah looked up.
The moment he saw Liam, a warm smile naturally spread across his face.
"Hey."
Liam smiled back.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"We just got our food."
Ava stood up dramatically.
"And this..."
She pointed toward Falcon.
"...is Falcon Hayes."
"My stepbrother's oldest friend."
Then she pointed at Noah.
"And this is Noah."
The two men shook hands.
"It's nice meeting you."
Falcon smiled politely.
"You too."
As everyone settled down...
Falcon quietly observed.
So...
This is Noah.
He wasn't the most eye-catching person in the room.
He wasn't trying to draw attention to himself.
He wasn't loud.
He wasn't flashy.
Yet somehow...
People naturally looked at him.
There was something incredibly comforting about him.
Something genuine.
---
Lunch passed much more easily than Falcon expected.
Within minutes, Noah was laughing at one of Ava's ridiculous stories.
"So then Professor Hams asked..."
"'Miss Whitmore, why are you late?'"
Noah smiled.
"What did you say?"
"I told him..."
She puffed out her chest dramatically.
"'Sir, I wasn't late."
"'Time arrived early.'"
Falcon burst into laughter.
"You actually said that?"
"I absolutely did."
"And?"
"I got kicked out."
The entire table erupted into laughter.
Even Liam.
Falcon stole a quick glance at him.
Interesting.
---
A waiter accidentally brought Falcon the wrong coffee.
Before Falcon could even speak—
Noah smiled politely.
"Excuse me..."
"I think this belongs to another table."
The waiter looked horrified.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry."
"It's alright."
Noah smiled reassuringly.
"It happens."
"No rush."
The waiter thanked him repeatedly before leaving.
Falcon watched quietly.
A few minutes later...
A little girl walking past accidentally bumped into Noah's chair.
She looked terrified.
"I'm sorry..."
Noah immediately smiled.
"It's okay."
"Did you get hurt?"
The little girl shook her head.
"No."
"That's all that matters."
She smiled shyly before running back to her parents.
Again...
Falcon simply watched.
Noah never tried to impress anyone.
This was simply who he was.
---
As the conversation continued...
Falcon noticed something else.
Every single time Noah laughed...
Liam looked at him.
Every single time Noah smiled...
Liam unconsciously smiled too.
Whenever Noah spoke...
Liam listened with complete attention.
There was a softness in Liam's eyes...
One Falcon had never seen before.
He slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Yeah..."
"I'm starting to understand."
---
Nearly two hours later...
Noah glanced at his watch.
"Oh."
"I should probably head home."
Ava frowned.
"So soon?"
"I've got an assignment due tomorrow."
"You responsible human being."
"I try."
Everyone stood.
Noah turned toward Falcon with a warm smile.
"It was really nice meeting you."
Falcon returned the smile.
"Likewise."
"I hope we'll meet again."
"I'm sure we will."
Noah nodded before waving at Liam.
"See you around."
"Take care."
With that...
Noah and Ava walked out of the café together, disappearing into the afternoon crowd.
---
Silence settled over the table.
Falcon let out a long whistle.
Liam looked at him.
"...What?"
Falcon chuckled.
"Now I get it."
Liam frowned.
"Get what?"
Falcon pointed toward the café door Noah had just walked through.
"Forget everything we talked about on Saturday."
Liam blinked.
"What?"
Falcon smiled knowingly.
"I understand now."
"You never stood a chance."
Liam raised an eyebrow.
Falcon laughed.
"That guy..."
"He has the kind of smile that makes people lower their guard without even realizing it."
"He doesn't force conversations."
"He doesn't try to impress anyone."
"He simply treats everyone with kindness."
Falcon shook his head with a grin.
"No wonder you've been thinking about him."
A brief silence followed.
Then Falcon looked directly at Liam.
"If I were you..."
"I wouldn't waste time."
Liam's eyes drifted back toward the café entrance where Noah had disappeared moments earlier.
A small smile slowly formed on his lips.
"...I'm not."
Falcon laughed quietly.
For the first time in years...
His best friend looked genuinely happy.
And somehow...
He had a feeling this was only the beginning.
- Writer
