The next day, Sarah met Emily outside Bookworms Café, a sense of anticipation buzzing between them. Emily had been teasing her all morning, but Sarah couldn't shake the excitement of finally returning to the place that had been on her mind for days. It had become a small refuge, a corner of normalcy in her otherwise chaotic thoughts.
As they walked up to the familiar brick building, Sarah's mind was already racing with the expectation of the cozy atmosphere inside, the soft hum of conversation, the smell of freshly ground coffee beans, and of course, Ryu's calm presence behind the counter. That was what had been missing from her recent days—his steady, unobtrusive energy, even though they had never really exchanged more than small talk. It had been enough, somehow.
When they arrived, the cafe looked exactly as Sarah remembered. The shelves were lined with well-worn books, a few locals were sitting at tables, and the light streaming through the windows gave the space a warm, golden glow. But something felt off. The usual comfort she associated with Bookworms Café was there, but the air was different—subtly, but undeniably so. There was a strange heaviness, a stillness that hadn't been there before.
Sarah pushed open the door, expecting to see Ryu behind the counter, his easy smile greeting her as it always did. But as her eyes scanned the café, she realized with a jolt—he wasn't there.
Instead, a young woman with short, dark hair and a bright smile stood behind the counter, effortlessly brewing a pot of coffee. She looked up when they entered, her expression shifting from casual to professional as she straightened. "Hi there! Can I help you?" she asked, her voice cheerful, but carrying a slight tone of rehearsal that was foreign compared to Ryu's usual laid-back calm.
Sarah's stomach tightened as she scanned the room again. No Ryu, not even in the back, not even a hint of his familiar presence. It felt like a small, unexpected crack in the world she'd come to enjoy. She hadn't even realized how much she'd grown attached to the routine—how much she had come to rely on Ryu's quiet companionship—until now.
Emily nudged her with her elbow, her eyes flicking to Sarah with a teasing grin. "Well, this is… awkward," she whispered, her gaze darting around the café, as if Ryu might appear out of thin air.
Sarah offered a half-smile, but the knot in her chest tightened. The absence of Ryu was like a sudden void, and it left her feeling slightly off-balance. She wasn't sure whether to leave or stay.
The young woman behind the counter gave them a polite smile, seemingly aware of the sudden tension in the air. "I'm the temporary barista for today. Ryu, the usual barista, he—well, he went back to Italy for a bit. I think he'll be back next week, though."
Italy? The surprise hit Sarah harder than she expected. Ryu had never mentioned anything about leaving, and the news felt jarring. It was like the small thread of connection she'd been holding onto had just snapped, leaving her with an unexpected emptiness.
"Oh," Sarah said, her voice betraying a tinge of disappointment she hadn't meant to reveal. "Italy, huh? That's… that's a bit of a surprise." She shot a glance at Emily, who was barely able to suppress her grin at Sarah's obvious reaction.
The barista chuckled, a little nervously, as if she knew exactly what had just happened. "Yeah, I was surprised too when I found out. But don't worry, the coffee's still good around here." She gestured to the brewing machines, her tone confident and casual. "What can I get you today?"
Sarah hesitated, caught in the awkward space between wanting to leave and wanting to stay. She had come here to see Ryu, to feel that strange sense of peace he brought, but now that he wasn't here, she wasn't sure how to fill the gap. It felt like a small betrayal to just walk away, but it also felt like the cafe had changed in some subtle way.
"I'll have the usual," Sarah said, trying to keep her voice casual. "A cappuccino, please."
The barista nodded, her movements smooth and practiced as she began to prepare the drink. Sarah watched her, noting the precision with which the woman worked, but it didn't feel the same. Ryu's process had always had a certain rhythm, an energy that was uniquely his. Without him, the café was quieter, less magnetic. Even the air seemed to have lost a bit of its spark.
As Sarah waited for her drink, Emily leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, tell me more about your boss," she asked, her voice casual, as though she were fishing for information. "Ryu, right?"
The barista paused for a moment, considering her words. "Hmm," she murmured, her brow furrowing slightly. "Well, he's… mysterious. He travels a lot. Usually to different countries every couple of months. He never really tells anyone where he's going—just says something like, 'training for coffee.'" She shrugged with a small, knowing smile. "But he's good at what he does. And people like him. He's got a way about him."
Training for coffee? Sarah's mind raced. It sounded so cryptic, so unlike Ryu's usual detached but calm demeanor. Was that all there was to it? Or was there something more beneath the surface? She wanted to ask more, but before she could speak, the barista handed her the cappuccino. The foam art swirled gently in the center, a simple leaf shape that was far too perfect to ignore.
"Here you go," she said with a smile. "Enjoy!"
Sarah took the cup, her fingers brushing against the warm ceramic, and nodded. "Thanks."
Emily took a sip of her coffee, clearly intrigued by the response she'd just heard. "Sounds like he's got a whole secret life no one knows about," she teased, her tone light. "Maybe he's in the witness protection program or something." She laughed, but Sarah found herself unable to join in. Her mind was already whirling with thoughts of Ryu's mysterious travels, his secretive nature, and whether she'd ever truly understand him.
With a quiet sigh, Sarah turned to Emily. "Maybe. Or maybe he just likes keeping people guessing," she said, attempting a laugh, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
As they settled into their seats by the window, the world outside a blur of traffic and city sounds, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling of something unresolved. She wondered if Ryu would ever be the person she had started to imagine him to be, or if he would always remain an enigma—someone just out of reach.