The next morning felt wrong. Damian Roberts noticed it the moment he stepped into the café. Nothing obvious had changed. The same smell of roasted coffee beans filled the air. The same morning crowd shuffled in with tired faces and half-awake orders. The same quiet music played through the speakers. Everything looked normal. But something was different. People were watching him. Not openly. Not dramatically.
Just small glances that lingered a little too long. Conversations that paused when he walked closer. Eyes that followed him before quickly looking away. Damian tried to ignore it as he tied his apron behind the counter. You're imagining things. But the uneasy feeling in his stomach refused to settle. He moved through the morning routine automatically, arranging cups and checking supplies, yet his attention kept drifting toward the customers. Someone was whispering. Someone else was staring. And the tension in the room felt heavier than usual.
