The next day came with a dull haze and too little sleep. Terrence dragged himself downstairs in a hoodie, earbuds in— a present from the Verlices after their "three monthiversary." He half-listened to Genevieve talk about their group project again, the soft music in his ears offering a welcome distraction.

“We didn’t finish yesterday,” she said, grabbing a granola bar on her way out the door. “Too much talking, not enough work. We’re meeting at the café again to wrap it up.”

“Didn’t realize you considered that place your second home.”

She shot him a look. “It’s either that or cram into someone’s living room where their baby cousin is screaming in the background. Come on, it’s not that bad.”

“I’m going with you again?”

Terrence groaned but followed her anyway. The school café still buzzed with the usual energy—upper-year students typing frantically, others pretending to study while scrolling social media. The same table from yesterday was already half-filled with Genevieve’s friends.

As they approached, someone waved Terrence over a little too eagerly.

“Why would you invite me back?” he said, raising an eyebrow at Genevieve. “Even after I just sat there and judged you guys for two hours?”

“We like having you around,” one of the girls said brightly. Then, with a sheepish grin, “Also… it’s kind of nice having a guy nearby. You know, since it got late yesterday, and things felt a little sketchy with just us here.”

Terrence blinked. “And out of all the guys at this school, you couldn’t invite Augustin? He’s bigger. More likely to be respected too.”

Genevieve shrugged, "Will you sit down or not?"

He didn’t say anything to that. Just pulled out a chair and flopped into it with practiced laziness.

The café felt warmer today. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching flecks of dust in the air and lighting up the polished surfaces. Terrence sat back, stretching his legs under the table, watching Genevieve and her friends debate over slides and formatting like the fate of the world depended on font choice.

He was quieter than usual, but no one seemed to mind. Maybe they assumed he was just tired.

The truth was, his thoughts kept drifting—to the watch, to the guy who gave it to him, to the way the energy had shifted since that weird, offbeat conversation. It wasn’t just about the gift anymore. It was the way the guy looked at him—like he knew something Terrence didn’t. Like there was a string tying them together that only he could see.

Every now and then, he caught one of the girls glancing toward the café entrance, almost unconsciously. Not afraid exactly, but cautious. Alert.

So yeah. He got why they wanted him here.

“I still think Augustin would've been the better bodyguard,” Terrence muttered, eyes half-lidded, watching them fuss with their laptops.

Genevieve didn’t look up. “Augustin would’ve taken over the whole project and made us cry by the end. You’re better moral support.”

“And you’re eye candy,” one of the girls joked, making the others chuckle lightly.

Terrence gave a faint smirk, not quite looking at anyone. “You all really must be desperate.” He said jokingly.

But the tension didn’t quite fade. Not really. The compliment bounced off him. His stomach still hadn’t settled since yesterday.

Terrence leaned back, arms crossed. He wasn’t wearing the watch today; it was still tucked away in his closet, in its original case, hidden between his clothes. He’d have to figure out how to return it without making things even more awkward.

“We’re just revising the second section, then we’re done,” Genevieve said, tapping away at her screen. “I promise.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You said that an hour ago.”

“You’re still here,” she pointed out with a smirk.

“Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out why.”

Genevieve didn’t look up. “Augustin’s scary when he’s focused. You’re less intense. We like having you around too.”

There was a quiet pause after that—just the sound of tapping keys and the distant hum of the espresso machine. But those words hung in the air longer than they should’ve. We like having you around too.

He didn’t know what to do with that.

Then—he saw him.

Near the far end of the café, standing just inside the door like he hadn’t decided whether to come in or not. The guy. The admirer. Same guy who’d shoved that expensive watch into his hands like it was nothing. Like it meant something.

He looked... unsure. Nervous, maybe. His eyes scanned the café, skipping over most people—until they landed right on Terrence.

Their eyes met.

Terrence shifted in his seat, the easy posture falling away.

He hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. Or at all, really.

The guy gave him a small wave. A hopeful one. Terrence didn’t return it.

Genevieve noticed. “Friend of yours?”

“Nope,” he said, sharper than he meant to.

But the guy didn’t come over. Just stood there. Watching. A little too long. Then, eventually, walked away.

Terrence let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The others didn’t say much, just exchanged glances and went back to work. But the air felt heavier now.

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, suddenly itching to leave.

Genevieve looked at him sideways. “You okay?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

But the truth? He wasn’t sure. Not about the guy. Not about the gift. And definitely not about whatever this strange mix of guilt and confusion bubbling in his chest was supposed to mean.

The guy had left, his awkward smile still lingering in Terrence’s mind like a smudge he couldn’t wipe off. The café noise hummed around him — cups clinking, laughter from another table, Genevieve chatting beside him — but it all felt muted, like he was underwater.

Terrence leaned back in his chair and stared at his phone, the corners of his mouth twitching like he wanted to make a joke but couldn’t summon the energy.

He opened his messages and typed:
yo some dude gave me a timelx today lmao
Then deleted it.
Then retyped it.
yo some dude gave me a timelx today. should i be freaked out

He hit send to his best friend back in D.C.

A beat passed before the typing bubbles appeared.

Damien 🤨

freaked out bc it’s a timelx or bc it’s a dude

Terrence frowned.
idk both
it was weird. he said he admired me
and then dipped
i didn’t even know him like that

The reply came faster this time.
okay but admiration isn’t a threat
you used to LOVE when people were obsessed with you

Terrence rolled his eyes.
yeah girls tho
not guys
it’s different is it?

That made him pause.

His phone buzzed again.
dude just don’t be weird about it
maybe he likes you. maybe he’s just weird.
if you don’t like him, cool. just don’t be a dick.  I know you, sometimes you kinda go too far.

Terrence didn’t answer right away.