Page 9

ANYA

“You know, I really feel like we aren’t seeing eye to eye,” Daniel says. He grins lazily as we discuss which is the best superpower: invisibility or teleportation. My vote goes to teleportation; it would save so much time and money, not to mention how beneficial it would be for the environment.

I scoff, swatting his arm. “That’s because you’re taller than me, asshole.” I glare at him. I sip the coffee that he just bought for me. My eyes flutter closed; this is heaven. I thought he was joking during the lecture, but he actually accompanied me to the cafe and ordered the coffee, remembering exactly how I like it. He chuckles at my expression. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the hum of conversation fill the air as we settle into a corner table.

“I do agree it’s a good superpower, but invisibility tops it for me. But nothing can top mind reading.” I can’t help but roll my eyes at his choice. Invisibility over teleportation? Seriously? But then again, he always has a way of surprising me with his choices. And he’s so confident about it, too.

“Mind reading? Really?” I scoff, shaking my head. “That’s just plain creepy, Daniel. You really want to know what people are thinking about you all the time? ”

“It would be fun, don’t you think?” His eyes glint mischievously.

I laugh, shaking my head. “I hold grudges, captain. I would definitely not want to hear someone badmouth me.”

“I do know that pretty well!” he exclaims. “Besides, I would never badmouth you,” he says it so casually, unaware of the effect his words have on me. “Not even in my mind.” He sips his coffee. I can feel my heart skip a beat, hearing his words. It’s such a small thing to say, but the sincerity behind it throws me. I glance at him, unsure how to respond.

We’re just assignment partners. That’s all this is supposed to be. Yet here we are, sitting in a café, sharing coffee and laughing over superpowers like we’ve known each other for years. Daniel is confident, easygoing, and has this knack for making everything feel casual—even when it’s not. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here overanalyzing every little thing, trying to make sense of why this feels so different. It’s confusing, really. He’s supposed to be just another loud, self-assured guy I have to work with, but the way he remembers how I like my coffee and says things so effortlessly? It’s throwing me completely off balance.

I try to maintain my composure, but the warmth spreading through my chest is undeniable. He smirks, and I roll my eyes. “Why are we even discussing this?” I ask, trying to sound composed, propping my chin on my hand.

“Because you started it,” he says casually, shrugging.

I gasp. “I started it?” I ask. “You started it. Whose question was it: Who’s your favorite superhero?” I scoff. I take a bite of pancake and groan. He snickers.

“Okay, fine. That’s not the point. The point is, before I forget, I have to tell you something.”

I stop midway. “Oh?” I raise an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”

“It’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you since this morning,” he says, his voice suddenly serious. He pauses as if building up the courage to speak. I look at him, waiting for him to continue, a sense of curiosity mixed with a touch of anxiety creeping in. My heartbeat quickens. Is something wrong?

Finally, he speaks again, his voice almost a whisper.

“I…I want to ask you something but I’m not sure how you’ll react,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.

“You’re scaring me, Daniel. What is it?” My heart is now practically racing in my chest, and I feel a knot forming in my stomach. What on earth could he have to say that is making him this anxious?

For once, his usual smirk fades, and I feel the air between us change. My heart races as I wait for him to speak. I can’t stand the suspense any longer.

“Just spit it out,” I say with a hint of impatience. He looks away for a moment before meeting my eyes again.

His expression is unreadable. “Actually, me and my roommates were planning to go to the beach.” He pauses as his eyes roam my face. “I thought maybe you could come too.”

I blink, still processing his words. His facade of seriousness is gone, and he laughs freely. I glare at him, crossing my arms. “You’re insane,” I declare.

He just grins back at me. “Well, what can I say? You bring out the best in me.” I sigh and shake my head at his carefree attitude. But secretly, I can’t help but feel a little endeared by his antics.

“What will I do with you guys? Besides, I don’t even know any of your friends,” I say carefully.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “You know me.”

“Yeah, and that’s the scariest part,” I retort with a laugh, although internally I want to jump at this chance to spend more time with him because it seems to be the highlight of my day.

He feigns hurt and clutches his chest. “Wow. Way to break my heart. How about you bring your friends along?” he suggests.

I arch an eyebrow at him. “But why do you want me there anyways?” I ask, genuinely curious. He looks down at the table for a moment, and I catch a hint of something in his eyes that I cannot decipher. But then he looks up at me, his usual cheeky smile back on his face.

“Do you remember the party?” he asks and I nod. “You said you wanted to get out of your comfort zone?” I try to hold back a smile, feeling giddy knowing he remembers such vivid details of our conversation. He rubs his nape, as if unsure of what he’s saying. “I just thought parties may not be your scene because there are too many people and it’s always wild, but maybe,” He pauses, staring into my eyes, his green ones twinkling. “Maybe you could enjoy around people you know.” I feel my heart skip a beat at his words.

I look at this guy I initially thought to be careless, simply annoying. And yet here he is, thinking about my comfort and my wishes. I slowly sip on my coffee to swallow the lump in my throat. I don’t think anyone has ever done that for me—well, except my family, but they have to. He doesn’t, but he still thought about me.

“It’s…” I fumble. “It’s really thoughtful of you to think like that,” I say, trying to sound casual. He grins playfully, leaning closer across the table.

“Well, what can I say? I’m full of surprises.”

I roll my eyes, unable to hide the smile creeping onto my lips. “Surprises and trouble, I presume?”

He chuckles, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “Hey now, I prefer the term ‘spontaneous fun provider.’”

I shake my head, feigning exasperation. “Spontaneous troublemaker, more like.”

He raises an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Ouch, right in the heart. You wound me.”

I laugh softly, feeling a warmth spreading through me despite my attempts to stay composed. “You’ll live.”

Leaning back in his chair, he eyes me intently. I shiver slightly under his intense gaze. “So, are you in or not?”

I take a deep breath, the weight of his question on my shoulders. What’s the harm in it, right? If I don’t like it there, I will still have Soph and Siya with me. We can come back whenever we want to. Plus, he's right. If I want to break free, I need to do something about it rather than just overthink it. But there’s a part of me that’s still hesitant, my heart pounding in my chest, torn between saying yes and continuing to play it safe. I look at him carefully, studying his face for any indication of what he’s thinking.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes never leaving mine. I can sense that he’s anticipating my answer, and the weight of his gaze intensifies the pressure I feel. The silence between us stretches taut, only the soft hum of conversation around us breaking the tension. He seems to be waiting patiently, his patience only fueling my hesitation.

Finally, I take a deep breath. This is not a life-or-death decision; I can do it. “Alright, I’m in.” The words come out softer than I intended.

“You’re in?” Daniel’s eyes widen with surprise but also with a hint of excitement. He didn’t expect me to agree so quickly. He grins, his entire face lighting up.

“Good. I’m glad,” he says, relief audible in his voice. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

I pick up my backpack, wanting to talk about this with Soph and Siya as soon as possible. “You text me the details, okay?”

Daniel nods, looking slightly taken aback by my haste. “I will. I will,” he says, as I get up to leave. I give him a final smile, and he grins back brashly.

“Have a good day, firecracker.” He watches me leave, and I feel his gaze on my back as I turn around. My cheeks heat up slightly, but I push the feeling down, reminding myself that this is not a big deal. It’s just a day at the beach with some friends.

No biggie. Right?

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