Chapter 15 — The Café That Knew His Name

  Lunch break arrived with the familiar chaos of trays clattering, chairs scraping, and voices colliding into one noisy rhythm. The rain from the morning had eased into a light drizzle, tapping softly against the cafeteria windows, as if it hadn’t quite decided whether to leave or stay.

  Luca sat at the corner table with Anaya, Noah, and Anvi—something that still felt strange in the best way.

  A week ago, he would’ve been eating alone.

  Today, he was unzipping his bag with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

  “I brought something,” he said, pulling out a small, neatly packed box.

  Anaya leaned forward instantly. “What is it?”

  “Cake,” Luca replied simply.

  Noah blinked. “Wait—you made cake?”

  Luca nodded. “Yesterday evening.”

  Anvi’s eyes widened. “You bake?”

  “I exist,” Luca replied dryly. “So yes.”

  Noah burst out laughing. “Bro casually drops ‘I bake’ like it’s a normal thing.”

  Luca opened the box, revealing neatly cut slices of homemade cake. The scent was warm—vanilla with a hint of cocoa—comforting in a way that felt personal.

  Anaya’s eyes softened as she took a piece. “You made this… for us?”

  “For you three,” Luca corrected.

  She smiled, genuinely touched, and took a bite.

  Her expression changed instantly.

  “Oh,” she said quietly. “Oh wow.”

  Noah and Anvi followed, chewing thoughtfully for a second before reacting almost together.

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  “No way,” Noah said. “This is actually really good.”

  Anvi nodded rapidly. “Like… really really good.”

  Luca watched them, pretending not to care, but something inside him eased. It wasn’t pride exactly—more like relief. Like sharing a part of himself hadn’t gone wrong.

  “You should open a bakery,” Noah joked.

  Luca scoffed. “Let me survive school first.”

  They laughed, the sound light and unforced.

  Anaya looked at him over her fork. “Do you have a favorite place?”

  He paused.

  “Favorite place?” he repeated.

  “Yeah,” Anvi said. “Like… somewhere you go when you want to be alone. Or feel calm.”

  Luca hesitated. For a moment, it seemed like he might refuse.

  “I don’t really—”

  “Come on,” Noah interrupted. “Everyone has one.”

  Luca exhaled slowly. “I do. But it’s nothing special.”

  “Then it’s perfect,” Anaya said gently.

  He looked at her, then away. “There’s a café. Not far from here.”

  Anvi’s face lit up. “Then we’re going there after school.”

  Luca frowned. “You don’t have to—”

  “We insist,” Noah grinned.

  Luca sighed. “…Fine.”

  ---

  After School

  The rain had returned by the time classes ended—not heavy, not dramatic—just steady enough to soften the edges of the world.

  They walked together, backpacks slung low, shoes splashing lightly against damp pavement. The streets felt quieter here, calmer, like they belonged to a different rhythm than the rest of the city.

  “So,” Noah said, nudging Luca. “What do you usually order?”

  Luca glanced at him sideways. “I usually order an Italiano Mexicano Cappucciyano Coffeano.”

  There was a beat of silence.

  “…What?” Anvi asked.

  “It’s very rare,” Luca continued seriously. “Extremely exclusive.”

  Anaya frowned, already scanning the café menu as they stepped inside. “I don’t see it.”

  Noah leaned closer to the counter. “Bro, are we blind?”

  Luca waited.

  Then—

  “You all got tricked,” he said calmly. “I was joking. I don’t even know what I just said.”

  The three stared at him.

  Then Noah laughed so hard he nearly choked. “I did NOT expect that from you.”

  Anvi shook her head. “Since when do you prank people?”

  Luca shrugged. “Learned from you.”

  The café was warm, the kind of warmth that seeped into your bones. Soft music played in the background, and rain traced lazy patterns across the window beside their table.

  They sat in the corner—Luca’s usual spot.

  “I just order regular hot coffee,” he admitted. “And spaghetti.”

  “Copy that,” Anaya said immediately.

  “All four?” Noah asked.

  “All four,” Anvi confirmed.

  They talked while waiting—about favorite places, embarrassing childhood memories, random plans they never thought they’d say out loud.

  Luca found himself talking more than listening.

  And smiling more than thinking.

  At some point, Anvi leaned back, thoughtful. “You know… Saturday’s free.”

  Noah snapped his fingers. “Trip?”

  Anaya looked at Luca. “What do you think?”

  Luca paused—but only for a second.

  “I’m in,” he said.

  ---

  Rain, Again

  When they stepped outside, rain greeted them immediately.

  Noah froze. “We left our umbrellas at school.”

  Anvi groaned. “Great.”

  Anaya handed them hers without hesitation. Luca did the same.

  “And you?” Noah asked.

  Luca reached into his bag and pulled out another umbrella.

  Noah stared. “You had two?”

  “I don’t usually,” Luca said calmly. “Today I did.”

  Noah clutched his chest dramatically. “You’ve gotten smart hanging around us.”

  “I already was,” Luca replied.

  They laughed, splitting paths soon after.

  Once again, Luca and Anaya walked together beneath one umbrella.

  This time, Luca broke the silence.

  “Did you like the café?”

  She smiled. “Yeah. If I ever feel lonely… I’d go there.”

  He stopped walking for half a second before recovering.

  “I won’t let you feel lonely,” he said softly.

  Anaya looked up at him, cheeks warming.

  She didn’t tease him.

  She didn’t ask him to repeat it.

  She just smiled.

  When they reached her house, she didn’t say goodbye like before.

  “Tonight,” she said. “For a walk?”

  Luca smiled. “Of course.”

  As he walked home alone, rain humming around him, Luca realized something quietly profound.

  He wasn’t alone anymore.

  And for the first time—

  That didn’t scare him.