2025-07-10 10:16:31The bell above the café door jingled as Amber stepped in, keys jingling in one hand, her tote bag in the other. The place was quiet, save for the distant hum of the refrigerator.
She made her way to the back room to drop her bag, already mentally listing everything she had to clean before the 7 a.m. crowd poured in.
She pushed the door open… then froze.
“Xavier?”
There he was, slumped over their boss’s desk, still in the same navy-blue shirt he’d worn in the video that is now circulating the Internet. His head was resting on his arms, the room dim and musty.
Amber frowned, glanced at her wristwatch. “Xav… it’s 6:04 in the morning. What the hell?”
She stepped closer and tapped him, once, twice.
He jerked up, blinking hard, looking like he’d just been dropped out of a bad dream.
“Jesus,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
“Did you… did you sleep here?”
He said nothing.
“I saw the video.” Her voice was firmer now. “Xavier, what were you thinking about going live on TikTok? The entire world watched you fall apart in real time.”
He exhaled. “I didn’t plan for it to go that way. I just… I thought…”
He swallowed hard. “I thought it was gonna be a big moment. I planned it. I cooked. I set it all up. I just… I wanted to ask her to be my wife. Start a family the proper way.”
Amber sat across from him, her voice softer now. “I cannot imagine what you are going through right now. But Xavier… damn. I thought Lisa loved you. I really did.”
He nodded, eyes glassy.
“So did I.”
“And Emerald?”
His face dropped as the events from last night came crawling back
“She’s still mine. I don’t care what Lisa says. I held her before she even opened her eyes. That’s my little girl.”
Amber reached over and squeezed his arm. “You need to go home. Shower. Eat. Sleep. I’ll cover for you. Just go sort yourself out.”
Xavier shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t face Lisa now. If I go home now… I’ll break completely. I need to stay here. I need the noise.”
“You’re lucky it was me who opened up. If Old Mike found you here, you’d be out of a job too in the blink of an eye.”
He gave a dry chuckle. “Yeah. That would complete the tragedy.”
Amber stood. “We’ve got coffee to make before the early crowd shows up. Pull yourself together, man.”
After splashing cold water on his face and changing into a clean shirt he kept at work, Xavier joined her behind the counter. Amber kept casting worried glances his way.
Just then...
A loud crash echoed from across the café.
“Why can’t anyone get my order right!? Same mistake every time I come here!”
Heads turned. A girl at one of the corner tables had slammed her cup down so hard, the liquid spilled onto the saucer. Her two friends exchanged awkward glances, clearly used to this.
Amber and Xavier rushed over.
"Is there a problem, miss?" Amber asked carefully.
The girl pointed accusingly at Xavier. "He took my order." She raised her cup. "I said almond milk latte. Not oat. What is this nonsense?"
Xavier opened his mouth, but she cut him off.
"This is the third time in a row. Do you guys not listen, or are you just dumb?"
Amber stepped in with her professional smile. "We’re really sorry about that, miss. I’ll get that fixed right away."
“No,” the girl shot back, “Let him fix it. He’s the one who took the order, right?”
She folded her arms and glared at Xavier.
“Can’t even get a coffee right. What’s the point of having you behind a counter?”
Xavier just stared, lips tight. The words bounced him off.
“What?” she mocked. “You can’t speak now? Or is the oat milk too heavy on your brain?”
Amber’s jaw tightened. “Miss, please…”
Xavier cleared his throat. "I–I’m sorry. But I’m pretty sure you said "oat”. He reached out to grab the cup. “I'll fix it right now.”
“Wait a minute…”
One of the girl's friends squinted at Xavier, pulling out her phone.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I knew I’d seen that face before…”
Xavier winced.
“No, you’re mistaking me for…”
“No way! Look at his face!” She whipped out her phone and shoved it at her friends.
“That’s him! The simp who got dumped with candles and roses! The failed proposal guy from TikTok whose live stream proposal is currently trending!”
Everyone turned.
The rude girl turned slowly, eyes widening as she looked at Xavier again. “No freaking way. You’re that guy?”
She burst out laughing.
“Damn. Not only can’t you make coffee, you can’t even keep a girl. That’s embarrassing.”
Customers nearby were watching now. All their phones were out, cameras rolling trying to capture the moment.
“How does it feel, bro?” one man called out from a table. “Eight years down the drain. Must suck to be a walking meme.”
Amber stepped forward. “That’s enough! You’re invading his privacy. This isn’t a show”
“But it’s entertainment,” someone else laughed. “We’re just fans of his failed love story.”
Xavier stared at them all, humiliation burning his skin.
Hands were shaking and his jaw clenched.
And then…
The mean girl leaned in close, too close, eyes dancing with cruelty.
“You’re trending all over again, coffee boy.”
“Smile for the camera.”
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Ghost From Home
Amber tore through the narrow alley behind the bakery, her breath cutting in sharp, uneven gasps. Her legs burned, lungs screaming. Her hoodie clung to her back, soaked with sweat.She reached into her pocket but found nothing, her phone was gone. “Dammit!” she cursed under her breath.She skidded to a halt.A tall figure stood at the other end of the alley. Another one of them.Her heart dropped, there was no way out.Panting, defeated, Amber slowly raised her hands. “Fine,” she muttered. “You got me. I’ll go.”The black car rolled up behind her and the man in the grey hoodie opened the back door without a word.Amber stepped in, lips pursed, eyes narrowed.Silence filled the car as they drove. The city passed by in a blur, her mind spiraling in a million directions. Who else knows? How long have they been watching? Why now?The car finally pulled into a sleek driveway with stone arches, valet space, white linen tables behind glass walls. A high-end restaurant.Amber’s brows drew
Who Sent You?
Amber left the house earlier than usual the following morning, hoodie pulled over her head, music plugged in, but she wasn’t really listening. She wasn’t out to jog, not really.She had a plan.She jogged her usual route at first, pretending all was normal. Then, she turned into a narrow side street, quieter, less familiar.There they were.Two teenage boys, slouched on a bench, eyes glued to their phones, laughing over something they were watching.Amber smirked. Perfect timing.She jogged closer and slowed to a walk just as she reached them. “Hey, boys!” she called out in a bright, fake accent. “Lovely morning, isn’t it?”They looked up, barely interested. “Yeah, sure,” one mumbled, eyes back on his screen.Before they could react, Amber lunged forward, grabbed one by the wrist, and twisted it behind his back in one clean, practiced move. “OW! What is wrong!?”The other boy jumped up. “What’s your problem, lady?!”Amber leaned in, voice low and sharp. “Easy. You see this path?
Behind The Shadows
The line went dead.Amber stared at her screen, her hand trembling like a faulty switch. “Ma’am, are you okay?” a voice asked gently.She blinked, finally registering a uniformed officer holding her by the elbow and guiding her to a seat. Someone else offered her a bottle of water. “I’m fine,” she muttered, still dazed.She didn’t know how long she sat there, but the sound of footsteps made her look up. There he was, Xavier, hovering above her with a concerned look on his face. “Amber?” he said again, his voice softer this time.She blinked, then forced a smile. “Oh, that was quick.”He sat down beside her, confused. “I also can't believe I’m out just like that. How did you convince them?” “Yep,” she said, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans. “I explained things to the right people. Sometimes, all it takes is talking to someone who listens.”Xavier narrowed his eyes. “Amber… that wasn’t just ‘talking.’ What did you actually do?”She stood. “Are you going to sit here and ask
Secrets
"Xavier?"The voice cut through the chaos like a blade.The officer paused, his grip on Xavier’s arm loosening slightly. Xavier turned his head, dazed, and saw him.It was Chris, running across the street like his life depended on it. “Officer, wait! That’s my friend! Let him go!”The cop narrowed his eyes. “You know this man?” “Yes! And he’s not a thief. He has never stolen in his life, that I can vouch for. He clearly looks like someone out on a jog with his outfit, can someone please explain what is going on here? Xavier blinked, still stunned. “Chris?”Chris didn’t respond to him directly. Instead, he turned to the boys, eyes narrowed. “What did you say he did?”One of them stammered, “He… he stole my phone.”Chris scoffed. “You sure about that? 'Cause you three look like the kind of kids who go about looking for trouble.” “We’re not lying!” the first boy insisted, glancing nervously at the officer. “He had my phone. The officer saw it!”All eyes turned to the cop. “Well
Trouble Came Knocking
Xavier mumbled in his sleep, his body twitching. "No… she’s mine. You can’t… this is my house…”His arms flailed suddenly, knocking into the edge of the couch. And then he tumbled off the couch and hit the floor face-first with a groan. “Damn,” he muttered, blinking against the light.He wasn’t in his room. Or Lisa’s. Or anywhere familiar.“What the...?”Amber appeared in the doorway with a wooden spoon in one hand and a smirk on her face. “Falling off the couch now? What were you dreaming about?He sat up, rubbing his temple. “Where am I?” “My house, genius,” she said, laughing as she walked in. “You cried yourself to sleep on my couch last night, remember?”It came back to him in pieces, the previous days. Lisa’s betrayal, losing Emerald and the house, getting fired, Chris turning him away.His smile faded.Amber noticed. “Hey. I meant what I said, you can stay here for as long as you want.”He nodded slowly, still trying to swallow everything. “I made you breakfast,” she added.
Life Is Unfair
Xavier barely made it up the steps before the Café door swung open.Old Mike stood there, arms crossed, with a deep frown on his face. “You’re late. Again.”Xavier opened his mouth, but Mike cut him off. “Don’t bother. I’m done hearing excuses.” “Mike, please…” Xavier said weakly. “I’ve had a rough–” “You think I care?” Mike snapped. “You’ve been dragging yourself in here looking like a walking corpse. You make customers feel awkward and Amber is covering for you. You think I opened a café to run a damn rehab center?” “I just need a little more time” “You need a new life, son.” Mike stepped aside and jabbed a finger toward the VACANCY sign taped to the glass door. “Already looking for someone new. Someone competent.”Xavier stared at it, numb. “So… I’m fired?” “You fired yourself, son.” “What about my paycheck?” “You’ll get half,” Mike said, stepping back inside. “If you’re lucky. That’s all you earned this month.” “Half?” His voice cracked. “I need that money, Mike.
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