Phrase XII

Kai blinked at the classroom's whiteboard.

The marks were faint.
Some were smudged.

He couldn't read most of them.

Kai sighed.

He wasn't fully there.

His pen sat in his mouth.
A single word was written on his notes.

"Study?"

Kai's day continued.

A different desk.
A different professor.

A hollow in his stomach.

The group project had ended last week.
The final report submitted.
The presentation over.

They received an 'A+'.
No drama.

Or surprises.

Isaac had handled the spreadsheets.
Eli ran the slides.

Luca showed up.
He did his part—
Spoke less than fifty words.

Kai didn't look at him during the Q&A.

Kai made his way to the café.

It was colder today.
The air smelled like smoke and wet leaves.

It felt like he was walking through syrup.


Click

The employee door shut softly.
It smelled more like bleach today.

He clocked in then tied his apron.

Sienna waved, halfway into inventory.

Kai trudged to the front.

Luca was already at the grinder, calibrating shots.
He didn't look up.

Kai nodded once.

Luca gave the smallest nod back.

Kai felt a flutter in his gut.
His doubts still loomed in his mind.

Kai was rinsing a pitcher in the sink.
Steam rolled up his arms.

A customer at the window said something about Thanksgiving break.
Another one left behind a scarf.

November already...?

Kai wiped his hands on a towel and turned.

Luca was stacking pastry bags.
His hoodie was tied around his waist, not covering his face for once.

He looks... tired.

They hadn't talked.
Luca passed him a scoop yesterday.
He even said "Careful" when the grinder jammed.

Progress...?

Kai didn't answer himself.
He felt a pressure in his throat.

Maybe if we—

"Look at these peaceful little bees," Nico said, sliding behind the bar.
His apron was only half-tied.
His grin... wasn't.

"Should I be worried?"

He gestured vaguely between Kai and Luca.

"No sarcasm? No espresso-ground warfare?"

Luca didn't look up.

Kai stared at the tamper. "It's been a slow morning."

Nico made a dramatic gasp. "So you're the reason it's quiet. You two made a deal, didn't you?"

Kai reached for the milk jug. "No deals."

"Right, right. Just enemies-to-silently-tolerating-coworkers. Classic setup."

Luca's jaw twitched slightly.

Nico leaned closer. "Do I need to get you both matching mugs? Or like—one of those dumb quote signs? 'Grind together, pour together'?"

Kai closed the fridge.

THUD

Nico grinned. "You didn't say no."

Luca muttered something under his breath.

Kai didn't catch it.
Nico did.

"Aw, come on."

He leaned on the bar.

"You're not still mad about that shift, are you? I didn't even say anything that—"

"You whistled the Jaws theme every time I passed." Luca said, flat.

"Out of respect. You were stalking the espresso machine like a predator."

Kai looked between them.

Nico shrugged. "You guys need better PR. That's all I'm saying."

Kai could feel tension growing in his chest.
He wanted to say something—

"Nico."

Sienna's tone wasn't sharp, but it cut.

She stepped out from the stock room, clipboard in hand, eyebrows high.

"You're on inventory with me. Now."

Nico blinked. "But I just got here—"

"Then you've got extra energy. Time to use it."

Her smile was all business.

Nico raised both hands. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."

He slipped around the counter, muttering about "no appreciation for charm."

Sienna turned, eyes flicking toward Kai, then Luca.

"You two alright?"

Kai flinched.
Luca gave a small nod.

Kai just said, "So far."

She nodded, then vanished into the back.

Neither of them said a word.

The afternoon crowd was thinning.

Kai slowly wiped the counter.

His head felt empty.
His eyes looked tired.

But his hands continued.

Across from him, Luca was refilling the cold case.
They hadn't spoke since Sienna left.

The silence echoed faintly.


DING


Kai didn't look up at first.

Footsteps.
Uneven.

He heard "Afternoon..." from a low voice.

A little slurred.

Kai glanced up.

A middle-aged man.
Standing in the threshold.
One eye squinted at the chalkboard menu.

Kai stepped to the register. "Hi, welcome in. What can I get started for you?"

The man stared past him—toward the bar.
Toward Luca.

Then he looked back at Kai, and smirked.

The hair on Kai's neck stood up.

He pushed through his unease. "What can I get sta—"

"Didn't know this place came with a floor show." he muttered, loud enough to cut through the grinder.

Kai felt his face getting hot. "Excuse m—?"

"Bar's real clean. Must be nice havin' your boyfriend do the dirty work, huh?" The man tilted his head toward Luca.

Kai's eyebrows scrunched.
Luca's head turned.

Kai swallowed "Sir, can I take your order or—"

"You always this fucking polite?" the man sneered. "Bet he likes that. All soft and sweet, huh?"

Kai felt dizzy.
Luca was already walking over.

Kai fell back. Just a step.
Luca slid into his place.

"Sir," Luca said. "What do you want to ord—?"

The man let out a short, ugly laugh.

"Ohhh, now he talks! What's the matter? Thought the pretty one took the orders."

Kai stared.
Luca stayed still.

"You two on shift, or on a date?"
The man's mouth curled. "Gotta say, it's a bit much."

Luca started to raise a hand—

"Not as much as you're about to be."

She emerged from the back like hurricane with a clipboard.

"Out." she said coldly. "Now!"

The man turned. "Oh come on—what, I'm not allowed to fucking talk?"

"You're not allowed to harass my staff!"

Sienna looked ready to pounce.
She stepped forward.

"You've got three seconds before I make you leave."

The man stared.
Sienna didn't blink.
Kai watched the register.

Nico grabbed him by the arm.
He whispered into his ear, and led Kai to the back.

"Now. Get. Out!"

Sienna was almost yelling.
Her arms were already up.

"Christ," he muttered, backing up. "You people're all the same."

DING

The man was gone.

Luca's fists were still balled.
Now at his sides.

Sienna exhaled like she'd just lifted a truck.

Luca looked at the door.
Then at the register.