Never had you felt anything as powerful as your love for Andre, your best friend since middle school. Despite his popularity with girls, his heart was always set on your best friend, which was likely why he befriended you in the first place, not that he’s using you, no. But it was clearly why he started to talk to you. Over the years, Andre remained kind and attentive, but you never knew if his feelings for you were more than platonic.

One cherished ritual was meeting him and finding him with two cups of coffee, despite his dislike for it, simply because he knew how much you loved it, especially in winter. But on the eve of your final high school day, when you confessed your feelings, he gently rejected you. He cared for you deeply, but not in the way you had hoped, shattering your heart and ending your friendship.

Broken, you sought a fresh start in New York for college, leaving behind the painful memories. The city offered you a new life, but the scars remained.

---

Even after college, New York became an inseparable part of you. The city’s energy shaped you, and you couldn’t imagine living elsewhere. You built a solid career and good friends, yet your love life remained stagnant. Despite the years, your heart still clung to Andre, no matter how painful the memories.

One evening, after a grueling day at work, you stepped out into the wintry city. Craving coffee, you headed to the nearest shop, only to realize you had no money. With your new phone lacking the cash app and your wallet forgotten, you turned to leave empty-handed, only to bump into someone tall.

As you looked up to apologize, your heart stopped, and your eyes widened in disbelief.

“Coffee?”

Andre stood before you, holding two cups, just like he always had.