Part 1
ADRIAN
The café buzzed with quiet conversations and the clinking of cups, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the faint sweetness of pastries. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting golden hues on the wooden tables. Despite the cozy atmosphere, my thoughts were anything but settled.
"So, why are we here, Mr. Elio?" Rick asked the moment he sat down, amusement dancing in his eyes. His chair scraped against the floor as he leaned forward, his curiosity evident.
"You texted me yesterday, saying we needed to meet earlier than usual. So, what is it?" He studied my face for a moment before smirking. "From your expression, I'm guessing something happened at that program you attended."
I exhaled, my fingers tracing idle patterns on the rim of my cup. "You won't believe this, but… I think I met my soulmate."
Rick raised an eyebrow. "Your soulmate?"
I nodded. "The pull, the reaction—it's something I can't explain. It has to be a soulmate thing. No, actually… it's not just a feeling. I met my soulmate."
Rick scoffed, shaking his head. "What book did you read before going to that program? Or was it a drama series this time?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, come on, Rick."
"Wait, wait—hold on," he said, his smirk fading as he studied me again. "You're serious?"
"Now you see? You're turning my love story into a comedy."
Rick raised his hands in surrender. "Oh no, my bad, man. I just—wow. I wasn't expecting this."
"And for your information, aside from that series you forced me to watch at your so-called 'premium event,' I don't even watch drama, Mr. Actor."
Rick chuckled. "Alright, alright. You've got my full attention. Let's hear your story."
I exhaled, adjusting in my seat. "It all started when I called the manager Ms. Kuston—out of respect—and she scolded me, saying it made her feel old."
Rick snorted. "Classic Lena."
"Yeah, but before I could even respond, this voice—deep, smooth, and completely unapologetic—cut in and said, 'But you are old.'"
Rick's head jerked back in surprise before he let out a sharp laugh. "No way. Who had the guts to say that to Lena?"
I wet my lips, hesitating for just a second before admitting, "Her son."
Rick's laughter died down, his eyebrows raising slightly. "Wait. Lena has a son?"
I nodded. "Maxen."
The name settled on my tongue strangely, like a melody I had heard before but couldn't place. Familiar yet foreign.
"Alright, so Lena has a son with no filter. What's the big deal?" Rick prompted.
I let out a slow breath, replaying the moment in my mind. "The moment I turned around and saw him, it was like the air thickened, the world tilting just slightly off balance. His gaze locked onto mine—green and gold, striking and impossible to look away from. Sunlight hit his eyes at just the right angle, making the colors shift like molten metal. His jawline was sharp, his dark hair falling just enough over his forehead to give him an effortlessly careless look. For a second, the chatter around us dulled, the background becoming nothing more than a blur."
Rick studied me for a beat before shaking his head with a grin. "No way. You're telling me you had a moment? A full-on, soul-stirring, slow-motion moment?"
I ran a hand down my face. "Rick, I swear, it wasn't just in my head. There was this… pull. Like an invisible thread between us, tightening the moment our eyes met. I felt it, deep, like something shifting in my bones. He wasn't just standing there; he was there. Unapologetically present. Like he belonged in that space, in that moment, like he was supposed to be there."
Rick's teasing smirk faltered slightly. "You're serious."
I met his gaze. "Dead serious."
He leaned back, exhaling. "Damn. That's… intense."
"And that's not even the weirdest part."
Rick raised a brow. "Oh, there's more?"
I nodded. "When Lena introduced us, I didn't even get the chance to say my name. He already knew it. Said he'd heard it a hundred times from his mom and that people talked about me."
Rick let out a low whistle. "Well, well, look at you, Mr. Local Celebrity."
"Only if they knew who you are."
I ignored the jab. "It wasn't just what he said. It was how he said it. Like my name belonged to him. Like he had the right to say it however he wanted. There was this confidence in the way he spoke, like he was already certain of something I hadn't even figured out yet."
Rick's smirk returned. "And you liked that, didn't you?"
I shot him a look. "Not the point."
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. So, what happened next?"
I exhaled, shaking my head. "Nothing. He just… walked away. Like he hadn't just turned my world upside down. Like he hadn't just left me standing there, completely thrown off balance."
Rick chuckled. "So, let me get this straight—you met this guy, exchanged barely a handful of words, and now you're sitting here looking like you just had a religious experience?"
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "I don't expect you to understand, Rick. I barely understand it myself."
He watched me for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright. Let's say I do believe in this whole 'instant connection' thing. What now?"
That was the question, wasn't it?
I looked out the café window, watching people go about their day, completely unaware that someone—one person—had managed to shake my entire reality without even trying.
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I need to find out."
Rick leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching me carefully. "So, he asked if you'd be there next week?"
I nodded. "And I said yes."
Rick let out a short laugh. "Of course, you did."
I rolled my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He smirked. "It means you're already in too deep, my friend."
I exhaled, shaking my head, but before I could respond, he leaned forward, his tone shifting slightly. "Are you sure your parents won't find out about this?"
The amusement in his voice had faded, replaced with something more serious.
I hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "I'll tell them."
Rick arched a brow. "Really?"
I sighed. "Yes, Rick, I'll tell them. I can't hide it forever, and they'd ask eventually."
"Good." His voice carried that rare note of approval. "Because honestly, I suggest you tell them sooner rather than later. It's better if they hear it from you first, rather than finding out on their own."
I took a breath, my fingers lightly tapping against the table. "Next week, I'll see him again. And I'll know."
"Know what?"
I looked down at my hands, heart pounding. "If this is real."
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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