ONCE WE WERE US

FAMILIAR FACES

The days that followed passed more quickly than Daisy expected. Every morning, The Garden Brew filled with the familiar scent of coffee and warm pastries and every afternoon, the soft chatter of customers echoed through the cafe. But lately, one thing had become part of Daisy's routine.

Kelvin.

He came almost every day. Sometimes in the morning before work. Sometimes in the afternoon carrying his laptop and a stack of papers.

And always, he ordered the same thing -

"A cappuccino and a slice of chocolate fudge cake," Daisy said one afternoon before he even reached the counter. Kelvin smiled.

"You remembered."

"You make ordering very easy." He laughed softly.

"And you make coffee dangerously addictive." Grace, who had been arranging cups nearby, shook her head with amusement." I think someone keeps coming here for more than coffee,"she whispered when Kelvin walked away. Daisy pretended not to hear. But her smile gave her away. Over time, conversations between Daisy and Kelvin bacame easier.

They talked about small things at first.

The weather.

Favorite foods.

Books.

Movies.

Childhood memories.

And slowly, without realizing it, they began looking forward to those conversations. One quiet afternoon, Kelvin spread several papers across the table.Daisy glanced at them while cleaning nearby.

Lines.

Measurements .

Drawings of buildings and roads.

"You draw?"she asked.Kelvin looked up.

"Something like that."

He handed her one of the papers. Daisy stared at it. It was a beautiful design of a modern community center sorrounded by gardens and walking paths ."You made this?"

Kelvin nodded."I'm an architect." Daisy blinked in surprise.An architect.

For a moment, she felt slightly embarrassed. Kelvin always looked neat and confident ,but she had never imagined he designed buildings.

"It's impressive," she said honestly.

"Thank you." He looked at her for a moment.

"What about you?" Daisy hesitated.

"I studied at University."

"What did you study?" She looked down briefly.

"Business management."

Kelvin seemed surprised.

"Then why are you working here?" The question was gentle, but it touched a place Daisy usually kept hidden. "Life doesn't always go as planned," she said quietly. Kelvin nodded. There was no pity in his eyes.Only understanding.

"I know that feeling," he said.

Daisy looked at him .

"What do you mean?"

Kelvin leaned back slightly."When I finished school, I thought success would come quickly. It didn't. I spent years doubting myself."

That surprised her. People like Kelvin looked like they had everything figured out.Yet maybe everyone carried struggles that others couldn't see. Just then, Grace called Daisy to help a customer. When she returned, Kelvin was packing his papers."I have to go," he said.Then he hesitated.

"Actually....there is something I wanted to ask." Daisy felt her heart beat faster."What is it?" Kelvin smiled.

"Would you like to have lunch with me this Saturday?"

For a moment, the sounds in the cafe seemed to disappear. Daisy looked at him. She had not expected that. A thousand thoughts crossed her mind. Should she say yes? What if it meant nothing to him? What if it meant too much to her? Kelvin noticed her hesitation.

" It's okay if you don't want to,"he said gently.

Daisy smiled."I'd like that."Kelvin's face brightened.

"Really?"she nodded.

"Really." For the first time in a long while, Daisy felt something she had almost forgotten.

Excitement.

Hope.

As Kelvin walked out of the cafe that evening, Daisy watched him through the window. Outside, the city moved as it always did. Cars passed. People hurried home.Life continued. But for Daisy, something had changed. A simple cup of coffee had turned to conversations.

Conversations had become friendship

And perhaps...........

Friendship was quietly becoming more.