Robert.

She glanced down, her eyes widening as she saw Robert's name flashing on the screen.

"Sorry," she murmured, feeling a twinge of guilt as she hesitated, her fingers hovering over the phone. Harry's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his expression understanding.

"Take it," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'll get us some coffee."

Bianca's fingers hovered over the phone, she felt a twinge of guilt wash over her, mixed with a dash of annoyance at Robert's timing. She glanced up at Harry, who was watching her with an understanding smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. With a gentle nod, she opened the text, her eyes scanning the brief message. "Where are you?? You're gonna miss the entire class!" Robert's words leapt off the screen, his urgency and concern palpable even in the brief text.

Bianca's gaze lingered on the message, her mind racing with a response.

As Bianca's gaze lingered on the message, her mind racing with a response, Harry slid out of the booth, his warm thigh no longer pressed against hers. She felt a pang of disappointment at the loss of contact, but her attention was soon diverted by the sound of Harry's voice, low and smooth, as he ordered their coffee. The barista, a bright pink streak running through her hair, smiled warmly at Harry, her eyes sparkling with recognition.

"Your usual, Harry?" she asked, her voice friendly, and Harry nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

As the barista's eyes sparkled with recognition, Bianca felt a slight pang of jealousy, her gaze drifting to the bright pink streak running through the barista's hair. There was a familiarity between Harry and the barista that Bianca couldn't quite grasp, a sense of shared history that made her feel like an outsider. She watched, her eyes narrowing slightly, as the barista expertly crafted their drinks, her hands moving with a confident ease that spoke of long practice.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of conversation and the gentle clinking of cups.

As Bianca's gaze lingered on the message, her mind racing with a response, her fingers began to move deftly over the screen, crafting a reply that would placate Robert's concern. "Sorry, I got lost on the way and gave up, dinner?" she typed, her eyes scanning the brief message before sending it off into the digital ether. The phone's screen flickered as the message was delivered, and Bianca felt a twinge of guilt wash over her, mixed with a dash of relief at having sidestepped the issue of her tardiness.

As Bianca sent off the message, she felt a sense of temporary reprieve wash over her, allowing her to refocus on the present moment. Her gaze drifted upwards, meeting Harry's warm smile as he returned to the booth, balancing two steaming cups of coffee in his hands. He set one cup down in front of Bianca, the ceramic clicking softly against the tabletop.

"Cream and sugar, right?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and Bianca nodded gratefully, taking in the rich aroma of the brew.

Just as she reached for the spoon to stir her coffee, Harry leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Was that your boyfriend?"

Bianca's eyes met Harry's, her gaze locking onto his as she felt a flutter in her chest. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the sounds of the cafe fading into the background as she wrestled with the question. Why did she hesitate? What was it about Harry's inquiry that made her want to conceal the truth?

She didn't know, but what came out of her mouth surprised even herself. "No," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, the single syllable hanging precariously in the air.

Harry raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, though a hint of curiosity danced in his eyes.

As Bianca's denial hung in the air, Harry's face broke into a slow, deliberate smile, his lips curling upward with an unmistakable glint of satisfaction. His eyes never left hers, holding her captive with an unnerving intensity that sent shivers coursing down her spine. The dim lighting of the café seemed to amplify the connection between them, casting everything outside of their tiny bubble into obscurity.

With an almost imperceptible lean forward, Harry bridged the gap between them, his words tumbling forth in a husky murmur, laced with anticipation. "Good. So, I can say this is our first date then?"

Bianca didn't expect that - the sudden shift in Harry's demeanor, the unapologetic flirtation that gleamed in his eye, or the assumption that had slipped from his lips with such casual nonchalance. It caught her off guard, rendering her temporarily speechless as she struggled to process the implications of his statement.

As Bianca uttered those two simple words, "Yeah, sure," a subtle tremble ran beneath her voice, betraying the mix of excitement and trepidation swirling inside her. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, infusing her porcelain-like complexion with a delicate warmth that rivaled the golden glow cast by the setting sun streaming through the café windows.