Episode 10: Cool
886 Words
Lila's POV
The next day, I found myself back at the café.
This time, I didn’t pretend it was random.
I had just settled into my seat when—
“You came back.”
I looked up and smiled before I could stop myself.
Caleb stood there, looking far too pleased with himself.
“You sound like you’ve been waiting for me,” I said.
“I have,” he replied, already pulling the chair out. “Well… not waiting. Just checking.”
“Checking?”
“To see if you’d come back.”
“And if I didn’t?”
“Then I would’ve just come again tomorrow,” he said simply.
I laughed softly. “That’s a solid plan.”
“I know.”
He climbed into the chair, sitting properly this time but still glancing occasionally toward the window where his nanny sat in the park.
“So,” I said, resting my chin lightly on my hand, “is today also a ‘break from the noise’ day?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “They’re shouting again.”
“They do that a lot.”
“I don’t understand why,” he said. “They’re just running.”
“That’s how kids play.”
“I am a kid,” he replied.
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”
He thought about it. “…Sometimes.”
That made me smile.
“You’re funny,” I said.
“I don’t try to be,” he answered.
“I can tell.”
He seemed to take that as a compliment.
For a moment, we just sat there again, more comfortable this time.
“So,” he said after a bit, “what do you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like… when you’re not here,” he clarified. “Do you work?”
“I do.”
“What kind of work?”
“I help manage part of my family’s business,” I said. “And I have my own thing too.”
“What’s your own thing?”
I hesitated, then smiled slightly. “I design.”
“Like drawing?”
“Something like that,” I said. “But a bit more complicated.”
“I draw too,” he said quickly. “But mine is not complicated.”
“I’m sure it is,” I replied.
“It’s not,” he said. “I just draw what I see.”
“That’s actually a good way to do it.”
He seemed to think about that, like he might try it later.
“What about you?” I asked. “Do you like school?”
He made a small face. “It’s okay.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“I like some parts,” he admitted. “Not all.”
“Which parts do you like?”
“Math,” he said immediately.
“Of course you do.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you like patterns,” I said. “And things that make sense.”
He nodded. “Yes. I don’t like when things don’t make sense.”
That felt… bigger than it should have.
“So when things don’t make sense, what do you do?” I asked.
“I ask questions,” he said. “Or I stop thinking about it.”
“That’s very strategic.”
“I learned it.”
“From your dad?”
He nodded.
I watched him for a second. “You talk about him a lot.”
“He talks a lot,” Caleb said. “Just not all the time.”
I smiled faintly at that.
“Do you live with him?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“And your mom?”
He shook his head. “No.”
The answer was simple.
Not sad. Not emotional.
Just… a fact.
I didn’t push further.
Instead, I said, “So it’s just you and him?”
“And my nanny,” he added. “She makes sure I eat.”
“That’s important.”
“It is,” he agreed.
A small pause settled between us again, but it felt easy.
Familiar, even.
“You’re nicer today,” he said suddenly.
I blinked. “Was I not nice yesterday?”
“You were,” he said. “But today you’re more… relaxed.”
I laughed softly. “You noticed that?”
“I told you, I pay attention.”
“You do.”
He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying me in that same thoughtful way.
“Are you still thinking about something?” he asked.
I paused.
“Maybe,” I admitted.
“You can stop,” he said.
I smiled. “It’s not that easy.”
“It is,” he replied. “Just talk about something else.”
“That’s your solution?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head, but I was still smiling.
“Okay,” I said. “Then tell me something.”
“Like what?”
“Anything.”
He thought for a second, then said, “You're cool. I like talking to you "
For a second, my heart paused.
Did a kid really just compliment me?
"Well I think you're cool too" I smiled as I said to him
- Writer
