A Love Meant To Be

Chapter 11

Roasted Beans was a cozy spot with warm amber lights and exposed brick walls. The scent of fresh coffee and cinnamon filled the air. Soft jazz played quietly as Raya, Tessa, and Hana slid into a cozy corner booth, the aroma of fresh coffee wrapping around them like a warm hug. Around them, wooden tables and potted plants added to the snug, inviting atmosphere.

“Alright, fuel up before we dive back into festival madness,” Raya said, glancing at the menu.

Tessa smiled, “I’m in desperate need of something stronger than my usual ‘panic latte.’”

Hana laughed softly, “I’ll try whatever makes me look like I know what I’m doing.”

They each ordered their drinks and settled into light chatter—mostly about who had the worst sleep schedule and how many cups of coffee they’d survived so far.

Just then, Eli and Ryan breezed in, waving as they spotted the trio.

“Look who’s here!” Eli announced, sliding into the booth beside Hana. “We come bearing snacks and questionable ideas.”

Ryan nodded, smiling at the girls. “Ready for round two of chaos?”

The server set down their drinks, and Hana picked up her cup, her fingers brushing the rim as she lifted it for a sip.

Something caught her eye—a small folded note tucked inside the cup.

Curious, she unfolded it carefully.

“In a world of noise, your silence speaks the loudest poetry.”

Hana blinked, eyes wide. “Uh… guys? Someone left me a note.”

Eli leaned over, squinting at the handwriting. “Ooooh, the barista’s got a crush on you! Or maybe he’s moonlighting as a poet.”

Ryan smirked, “Since when did the coffee shop become a rom-com?”

Tessa grinned. “I want a note too. ‘Your latte’s sweet, but your wit’s sweeter.’”

Raya laughed, shaking her head. “Focus, people. Festival work waits for no poetic barista or love notes.”

Eli nudged Hana teasingly, “Better watch out—next thing you know, he’ll be writing sonnets on your cupcakes.”

Hana rolled her eyes but smiled. “If he’s half as good at baking as he is at writing, I’m all in.”

The group chuckled, the playful moment easing the tension of the busy day.

Ryan glanced at his phone, “Alright, back to vendor lists and poetry booth drama?”

Everyone groaned in playful protest but nodded, the camaraderie stronger than ever.

One Week Later

The days blurred into a whirlwind of endless to-dos and caffeine-fueled marathons.

Raya could be found buried under a mountain of vendor emails, typing furiously between classes, her mind juggling logistics and last-minute changes.

Tessa spent her afternoons running errands across campus, clipboard in hand, rallying volunteers and negotiating with suppliers like a pro.

Hana quietly organized stacks of flyers and color-coded schedules, her calm presence the glue holding scattered pieces together.

Ryan and Eli handled the technical side, setting up booths, testing sound equipment, and tweaking the festival’s digital map until every detail was pixel-perfect.

Despite the chaos, they all felt it — the electric buzz of excitement just beneath the surface.

Before they knew it, the calendar had flipped, and the day of the professor’s inspection was fast approaching.

Everything was almost ready.

The room buzzed with quiet energy as Professor Langston entered, clipboard in hand, her gaze sweeping over the bustling team. Ryan stood tall near the table, with Raya poised beside him, while Eli, Tessa, Hana, and a few others gathered nearby, ready to contribute.

Professor Langston smiled warmly. “Good morning, everyone. I see you’ve been busy.”

Ryan stepped forward confidently. “Good morning, Professor. We’ve updated the vendor layout and finalized the volunteer schedules. Here,” he held up a tablet displaying the detailed map, “you can see the event flow and booth placements.”

Raya took over smoothly. “We coordinated with security, maintenance, and vendor teams to make sure everything runs safely and on time. We’ve also prepared contingency plans in case of any last-minute changes.”

Professor Langston nodded approvingly. “Excellent. And what about communication during the festival? Any systems in place?”

Eli grinned and held up a set of walkie-talkies. “We’re all connected — instant updates, no waiting around.”

Tessa added with a smile, “Plus, we made a group chat that even Ryan doesn’t ignore. Well, mostly.”

Ryan shot her a playful glare. “Hey, I listen. Just selectively.”

Hana chimed in shyly, “We’ve also printed backup schedules and maps for the volunteers and vendors, so no one gets lost.”

The professor glanced around the room, clearly impressed. “This is a solid plan. Ryan, Raya — your leadership shines through. Raya, your organization is meticulous, and Ryan, your ability to keep the team motivated is evident.”

Raya smiled, a little proud. “Thank you, Professor. We’ve been lucky to have such a dedicated team.”

Eli elbowed Ryan lightly. “And a pretty great captain, right?”

Ryan smirked. “Sure, I’ll take that.”

Professor Langston laughed softly. “I was not wrong in choosing Ryan as captain and Raya as undercaptain. You two make a remarkable team. The rest of you should be proud to work alongside them.”

Tessa grinned. “We definitely are.”

Hana nodded in agreement. “It’s been great working with everyone. I’m glad we’re almost there.”

Eli added with mock seriousness, “Almost? More like we’ve crushed it.”

Ryan rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “Don’t get too confident, Eli. We’ve still got to pull this off.”

Professor Langston closed her clipboard and gave a final nod. “Keep this momentum. I trust you all to make this festival a success. I’ll check in again soon.”

As she left, Tessa whispered, “Guess we’re officially the dream team now.”

Raya smiled at Ryan, “Not bad, Captain.”

Ryan leaned in, grinning. “Wouldn’t be anything without my trusty first mate.”

They all laughed, the team tighter and more energized than ever.

After wrapping up their inspection with Professor Langston, the team headed out to the amphitheater to check on the final setup. The sun cast long shadows over the field as they approached, the festival site slowly coming to life with tents, banners, and the hum of last-minute preparations.

The team was gathered near the amphitheater where booths were being finalized. Ryan was reviewing the logistics with a clipboard, while Raya and Eli checked the newly delivered banners. Everything was lining up—until a small commotion stirred near the main walkway.

A tall girl in a flowy, paint-streaked kimono jacket stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the wall meant for the festival info mural.

It was Lin.

“Oh no…” Tessa muttered. “That’s not our mural space, is it?”

Lin turned, beaming like she hadn’t just commandeered a major part of the venue.

“Hi!” she said sweetly. “I hope you don’t mind—I thought this blank wall was begging for some life. My art team and I are starting an abstract piece. Isn’t it perfect for the aesthetic of the whole event?”

Ryan blinked. “That wall is for the official festival map and announcements.”

Lin tilted her head. “Oh… oops. I thought the chalkboard wall near the back was for that.”

“It is,” Raya said, stepping forward calmly but firmly. “This one was reserved since week two. It’s even in the layout we submitted.”

Lin waved her hand dismissively. “Well, it’s already sketched. And it’s, like… inspired. The wall spoke to me.”

Eli muttered under his breath, “We’ll see if it still speaks when Professor Langston hears this.”

Tessa snorted.

Ryan sighed, trying to keep it diplomatic. “Lin, we appreciate the art, but this sets us back. Can we work something out?”

Lin’s smile thinned slightly. “My team worked late last night preparing the canvas. We’re emotionally invested. Maybe… just let it be? Or find another wall?”

Raya shot Ryan a look. He gave her a small nod. He’d handle it.

“Let me talk to Langston,” Ryan said coolly. “Maybe she’ll have a compromise. But please pause work until we clear it.”

Lin gave a tight nod, already turning away. “Sure. But it would be a shame to waste such potential beauty.”

As she floated off, Hana whispered, “Did she just say emotional investment as a reason to hijack a wall?”

Ryan rubbed his temple. “Yep. We’ve got our first artistic villain.”

Raya sighed. “Here comes the drama.”