Lily is a b*tch.
The words sat right in the center of the page—surrounded by messy notes, arrows, half-formed theories, and everything I had managed to piece together since coming here..along with story trailing off -> Reason (unknown).
I stared at the centered words for a second.
"…Yeah," I muttered under my breath, leaning back slightly.
"That much is for sure."
My fingers tapped lightly against the notebook as my thoughts drifted back.
Even if she wasn't self-aware…
or didn't know about the novel—
she could still be the type…the kind of person who enjoys being in the center of
everything.
The attention.
The importance.
And the moment things don't go her way—
she snaps.
My gaze shifted back to the scattered notes across the page.
"As I thought…" I murmured softly, "the novel only ever showed what was on the surface."
A quiet pause followed.
Then I groaned, dropping my head onto the study table with a dull thud.
"Ugh… whatever. This is giving me a headache.
I pushed the chair back slightly and leaned into it, tilting my head up to stare at the ceiling of the cramped dorm.
For a moment_
silence.
Then—
my phone buzzed.
I glanced toward the bed, eyes narrowing slightly at the screen lighting up.
Café Owner.
"…Right," I exhaled, dragging a hand over my face. "The job."
I pushed myself up from the chair.
"Need to get going.
________________
The meeting room was quiet, the low hum of the city barely reaching through the glass walls.
Ryan sat at the head of the table, posture composed, his attention fixed on the documents in front of him.
Across from him sat Ethan, Lily's elder brother, leaning back slightly in his chair with an easy confidence that didn't quite hide the sharpness in his gaze.
"You know," Ethan began casually, breaking the silence, "the kids seem to be getting along pretty well."
Ryan didn't respond immediately.
He turned a page.A brief pause.
Then—
"Lily especially."
The name lingered.
Ryan's hand stilled for the briefest moment—
almost unnoticeable.
Then he closed the file neatly.
"If that's all regarding the personal side," he said evenly, lifting his gaze to meet Ethan's, "we should stay on track."
His tone was calm.
Controlled
But final.
Ethan held his gaze for a second longer than necessary, the faint smile still there—though his eyes sharpened with quiet interest.
"…Right," he said at last, leaning forward slightly. "Business, then."
Ryan gave a small nod.
And just like that—
the conversation shifted.
________________________
I tied the apron neatly over my college uniform and stepped forward, offering a small greeting to the manager before getting started.
The café was… warm.
Not just in temperature—but in feeling.
Soft lights hung from the ceiling, casting a gentle glow over the wooden tables. The faint aroma of coffee lingered in the air, blending with the quiet hum of conversations and the occasional clink of cups.
It wasn't crowded.
But it wasn't empty either.
Just enough people to make it feel… alive.
My gaze moved across the space slowly, taking everything in without realizing it.
And somewhere along the way—
a small smile found its way onto my face.
"I wonder if it's really inside a novel…" I murmured lightly.
The thought slipped out before I could stop it.
I blinked—
then shook my head.
"Focus," I muttered to myself, pushing the thought away as I got to work.
Time passed quicker than I expected.
Orders came and went.
Voices blurred.
Steps repeated.
And by the time my shift was nearing its end—
the tiredness finally caught up.
A slight ache settled in my shoulders as I wiped down the counter, exhaling quietly.
In a world where some lived effortlessly at the center of attention—where conversations, admiration, and moments seemed to naturally gather around them—
there were also those who moved quietly in the background.
Working.
Adjusting.
Fitting themselves into spaces that weren't originally meant for them.
Even within the same world—
the difference remained.
Unspoken.
But clear.