The bells chimed softly as Alphonso entered the café, his eyes darting around nervously. Chris immediately noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the tense set of his shoulders. Concern gnawed at him, but he kept his expression neutral as he handed Alphonso his latte.

"Here you go," Chris said softly, hoping to convey his support without words.

Alphonso nodded, managing a faint smile. "Thanks, Chris."

The café was quieter than usual, giving Chris the perfect opportunity to talk. He moved around the counter, sitting across from Alphonso. "You look like you could use a friend."

Alphonso sighed, his eyes flicking to the door before meeting Chris's gaze. "It's been a rough morning. Derek... he was in one of his moods."

Chris clenched his jaw, anger flaring at the thought of Derek's treatment of Alphonso. "You don't have to stay with him, you know. There are ways out."

Alphonso's expression wavered, and he looked down at his coffee cup. "I know. It's just hard to see a way out sometimes."

Chris reached out, covering Alphonso's hand with his own. "You deserve better, Alphonso. And I'm here to help, however I can."

Before Alphonso could respond, the door opened, and Derek walked in. His eyes immediately zeroed in on their table, and Chris felt a cold knot of dread in his stomach. Alphonso stiffened, his hand trembling under Chris's.

Derek approached, his face a mask of anger. "What are you doing here, Alphonso? We need to go."

Alphonso looked up, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "I'm talking to a friend, Derek. Just give me a minute."

Derek's expression darkened, and he grabbed Alphonso's arm roughly. "Now."

Chris stood up, his voice calm but firm. "He said give him a minute, Derek."

Derek glared at Chris, his grip tightening on Alphonso's arm. "Stay out of this, barista."

Alphonso winced, and Chris felt his anger boiling over. But before he could intervene, Alphonso pulled away from Derek's grasp. "I'll go with you, Derek. Just... give me a second to say goodbye."

Derek's eyes flashed with anger, but he nodded curtly and stepped back. Alphonso turned to Chris, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude. "I'll be okay, Chris. Thanks for everything."

Chris watched helplessly as Alphonso left with Derek, his heart heavy with worry. He spent the rest of the day on edge, hoping against hope that Alphonso would be safe.

Later that evening, as Chris was closing up the café, Alphonso appeared at the door, looking more anxious than ever. "Chris, can I talk to you?"

Chris immediately let him in, locking the door behind him. "Of course. What's wrong?"

Alphonso glanced around nervously. "Derek wants to leave town. He thinks I'm spending too much time here."

Chris's heart sank. "You don't have to go with him. You can stay here, with me. We'll figure something out."

Tears welled up in Alphonso's eyes. "I don't know if I can do it, Chris. I'm scared."

Chris pulled him into a comforting hug. "You can do it. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

As they stood there, holding onto each other, Chris felt a determination settle in his heart. He wouldn't let Alphonso be dragged away into a life of fear and control.

The next morning, Chris and Alphonso decided to take a bus ride out of town to clear their heads and talk about their options. They boarded the bus, finding seats near the back. The ride was quiet, the city passing by in a blur of colors.

Alphonso leaned his head against the window, his expression contemplative. "I've been thinking about what you said, Chris. About not having to stay with Derek."

Chris reached over, squeezing Alphonso's hand. "You deserve to be happy, Alphonso. And safe."

As the bus approached a busy intersection, Chris noticed a familiar figure on the sidewalk. Derek. He was crossing the street, his eyes scanning the traffic with a look of impatience. Chris's heart pounded as he watched, a sense of impending doom settling over him.

Suddenly, the bus lurched forward, the driver slamming on the brakes too late. There was a sickening thud as the bus struck Derek, sending him sprawling onto the pavement. The passengers screamed, the bus coming to a jarring halt.

In the chaos, Alphonso lost his balance and fell forward, landing awkwardly in Chris's lap. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Alphonso looked up, his face inches from Chris's, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry," Alphonso stammered, quickly scrambling to his feet.

Chris helped him up, his heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "It's okay, Alphonso. Are you alright?"

Alphonso nodded, his face still red. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... startled."

The paramedics arrived quickly, and the passengers were ushered off the bus. Derek was taken away on a stretcher, unconscious but alive. Alphonso watched, his expression a mix of relief and confusion.

Chris placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's over, Alphonso. You're free now."

Alphonso turned to Chris, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, Chris. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Chris pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly. "You don't have to do it alone anymore. We'll figure this out together."

As they stood there, the city bustling around them, Chris felt a sense of hope for the first time in a long while. The road ahead would be challenging, but with Alphonso by his side, he knew they could face anything.