Luke arrived carrying a tray with a cup of cappuccino and two croissants, serving them to Susan. He then glanced at Giselle and Lorna, who both looked like they were forcing their smiles.
"What is it with you two now?" Luke asked.
"Nothing," Giselle and Lorna replied in unison.
"Th... thank you," Susan stammered.
Luke grabbed a chair and sat at the head of the table. Then Luke, Lorna, and Giselle watched as Susan immediately started drinking her coffee and eating hungrily.
"Did you get your rent money back?" Luke asked.
"I did... even the deposit was returned. The repairs could take up to two weeks, so the owner suggested I find another place... but I haven't found anything yet," Susan answered sadly while chewing her croissant.
"I see," Luke muttered, lost in thought.
"Um... would it be okay if I just stayed here in the cafe until tomorrow morning? I promise I'll leave first thing in the morning. It's already late and I haven't found a place, plus I'm scared to be out there alone," Susan pleaded.
"No way," Lorna and Giselle said instantly and in unison.
Luke turned to stare at the two of them, while Susan flinched and immediately hung her head in despair.
"Hey, what is wrong with you two? The girl is in trouble and you're snapping at her? That's cold," Luke said to both of them.
"I have a better idea. I live alone in my apartment and I have an extra room that isn't being used. Do you want to split the rent with me? We could be roommates," Giselle suggested.
"Exactly! That's a much better plan than staying in a cafe and having to wander around again tomorrow," Lorna added, backing her up.
Susan lifted her head, her face looking even more like she was about to cry as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Really? Is that okay?" Susan stammered.
"Of course you can, or you could stay with her if you want. I heard you're a design major—the two of us are business sophomores, but that shouldn't be a problem," Giselle answered, gesturing toward Lorna with her thumb.
"Um... yeah, that's right. But I'm just a freshman, is that okay?" Susan asked.
"It's fine. The main thing is we're at the same university and the buildings are close, even if the majors and years are different, right?" Lorna added.
Susan thought for a moment. Even though the two girls in front of her were offering to help, she didn't know them and had only just met them. However, she was backed into a corner and had no other choice. She lifted her head to look at them, raising her arm to wipe away her tears.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'm really, truly grateful for the help," Susan said, making her decision.
"Well, that's settled," Giselle said with relief.
"So, who do you want to stay with? Me or Giselle? Though if you stay with me, we'd be sharing a single room," Lorna said, clearly nudging Susan toward Giselle. Giselle caught the hint and shot her a glare.
"Um... could I stay at Giselle's apartment for just a month? I'll look for another place during that time, if that's okay?" Susan asked softly.
"Fine by me, I understand," Giselle replied.
They fell silent again as Susan finished her food and coffee. When everything was gone, Susan tried to pay for the meal, but Luke told her not to worry about it. Feeling uneasy, Susan looked down again, lost in thought. Then, she turned to Luke.
"Um... would it be okay if I worked here part-time? Besides looking for a place, I'm also looking for a job," Susan said.
Giselle and Lorna's faces darkened instantly, even though they kept their smiles plastered on. "Damn this girl, she still wants to be here around Luke. I won't let it happen, but what can I do... this is Luke's cafe," they both thought to themselves at the exact same time.
"Hmm," Luke muttered, lost in thought.
"Hey... just say no! Why are you even thinking about it?" Lorna and Giselle both screamed at Luke in their heads, firing glares his way.
"Actually, this is a family-run cafe. We've never had any employees from outside the family," Luke explained.
Lorna and Giselle instantly felt a wave of relief, but it only lasted a split second because Luke wasn't finished.
"However, I'll discuss your request with my siblings first. I'll let you know tomorrow. Could I get your phone number?" Luke asked.
"Aaaaaaaah!" Lorna and Giselle screamed internally, even as their faces remained stuck in smiles. They stared at Luke as if they wanted to kill him right then and there.
"I see, alright then. That makes sense. Here's my number," Susan said, pulling out her smartphone.
Lorna and Giselle watched in silent resignation as Luke and Susan swapped numbers. They couldn't say a word and could only stand there, forced to keep smiling.
"Okay, Giselle, are you ready to head home now?" Luke asked.
"Huh... oh yeah... right... walk me back," Giselle replied, startled and snapping out of her own dark thoughts.
"I'm coming too," Lorna added.
"Alright, let's all go together. You come along too," Luke said to Susan.
"Okay... thank you so much... really, thank you. I'll call you later," Susan replied.
"Sure. Here, let me get that suitcase for you," Luke said, standing up and immediately grabbing the handle of Susan's luggage.
Finally, they all walked toward the door. Luke walked in front with Susan, while Lorna and Giselle followed behind them, grumbling under their breaths.
"Let me carry the suitcase... he acts so macho when it's someone else," Lorna muttered irritably.
"That's why you should dress up and grow your hair out," Giselle teased.
"Grr... you better keep an eye on that girl. Don't let her try anything," Lorna warned.
"Got it, leave it to me. But you have to share Luke with me, okay? Don't worry, I can't really do anything anyway since I'm his cousin. But get ready—if you ever marry Luke, I'm coming over to your house every single day," Giselle joked... or not, nobody knows.
"Damn you. You're such a traitor, a wolf in sheep's clothing, and an idiot," Lorna cursed again, called Giselle every name in the book.
A few moments later, the campus parking lot was dark and deserted, even though many cars were still parked there. After tossing Susan's suitcase into the trunk of Giselle's car, Giselle stood by the driver's side door.
"Alright then, I'm heading out," Giselle said.
"Okay, drive safe and don't fall asleep at the wheel," Luke replied.
"Got it, don't worry. It's not a long drive, there's no way I'm falling asleep on the road," Giselle replied reassuringly.
"Thank you so much once again, Luke," Susan said, standing by the front passenger door.
"You're very welcome," Luke replied with a smile.
"That's enough... come on, walk me home now," Lorna said, grabbing Luke's arm.
"Wait... you want me to walk you home too? You usually just go back on your own," Luke said, sounding confused.
"It's late and I'm scared. Give me a piggyback ride," Lorna answered, suddenly jumping up to hug Luke.
"Alright, alright... get down. You're being ridiculous," Luke said.
"So what? I'm a girl too. Treat me like one," Lorna protested.
"Huh... since when were you a girl?" Luke joked.
"I am a girl! I'm gonna cry," Lorna answered, frustrated.
"Fine, fine, you're a girl. Quiet down. It's late, don't start screaming," Luke replied, clearly not wanting Lorna to shout and cause a scene.
Finally, they all said their goodbyes. Luke walked Lorna home to her boarding house, which wasn't far from the cafe. Giselle and Susan got into the car, but before Giselle could even start the engine, Susan spoke up.
"Um... can I ask you something, Giselle?" Susan asked.
"What?" Giselle said.
"Are Luke and Lorna dating?" Susan asked.
"No, they're just childhood friends. Why do you ask?" Giselle replied suspiciously.
"Oh, nothing... thank goodness," Susan answered, looking straight ahead. Her once-miserable face suddenly brightened up.
Giselle stared at Susan, noticing how her face transformed the second she heard that Luke and Lorna weren't a couple. "Oh boy... this girl is after Luke too, apparently. This is going to be a mess," she thought to herself as she started the car's engine.