Ayisha pushed the glass door open, the familiar calm of the restaurant washing over her. Framed photographs lined the walls, warm and quiet. Her eyes immediately found him long, tangled dark brown hair, sleeves slightly rolled, standing behind the counter.
She walked straight toward him.
"Hey there, old man," she said with a smirk.
Simon turned, surprise flashing across his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Well," she crossed her arms lightly, "we haven't talked for two weeks." Her smile softened. "I thought I'd check if you were still alive."
He stared at her for a moment, then his expression eased. Over the past two weeks, he'd convinced himself he wouldn't see her again.
"Want to hang out?" she asked.
His eyes softened even more. "Sure."
She hesitated, then spoke again, quieter but firm. "About that day… What label do you want for us?"
A few employees slowed their movements. Some customers pretended not to listen badly.
Simon froze. He let out a nervous laugh, then brushed a hand through his hair before clearing his throat.
"I don't want us to rush into being lovers," he said carefully. "Let's just… be friends. Not acquaintances."
The last word came out almost like a plea.
Ayisha studied his face, the tired eyes, the faint shadows beneath them. Then she smiled.
"That's fine," she said gently. "I'm not in a hurry either, old man."
He exhaled, realizing only then how tightly he'd been holding his breath.
"Good to know, kid."
She stepped closer. "So… you wanna go now?"
For a second, Simon just looked at her smile, his heart skipping despite himself.
"Boss," Max called from behind the counter, grinning, "we've got everything covered here."
Simon nodded. "Thanks." Without thinking, he reached for Ayisha's hand and led her outside.
Once they were out, he let go quickly. "Sorry," he muttered, ears turning faintly red.
---
He handed her a helmet, the one he buyed just for her.
"You brought it with you?" she asked, slipping it on.
"I guess my hand grabbed it on its own," he said, looking away as he put on his own helmet.
Ayisha laughed softly and climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He felt her warmth and smiled. "How was your day?"
"Good," she lied. Then, quieter, "And… sorry about what happened before."
"It's fine," he said gently. "You don't need to apologize. It wasn't a big deal."
The engine hummed to life, and for the first time in weeks, the silence between them felt less heavy.