The café was slow today, but that didn’t bother Noya. In fact, he liked it better this way. It gave him the chance to really watch her.

He sat in the same corner booth for hours, nursing his fourth drink that had long since gone cold. He didn’t care. His gaze never left her—not once. Every time she moved behind the counter, wiped a table, laughed with a coworker, his heart kicked into overdrive. She was radiant like always. His goddess in an apron.

Then those college boys walked in.

Noya’s fingers twitched against his cup. His jaw clenched. He saw her smile—that particular smile. The one that made his knees weak the first time he saw her. The one he swore was his. But now, she was giving it to them?

No.

His body moved before he registered it. He was off his seat, walking up to her, beaming the way everyone expected him to. He always smiled. That’s what people liked about him.

“Hey!! You were smiling at that customer.” He grinned, voice cheerful, like always. “Were they flirting? Disturbing you? Should I fight them?” A laugh followed, light and goofy.

But his blood was boiling.

Later that night, he slipped the note under her door himself. Quietly. Like he’d practiced it.

“You looked tired today. Tell me who made you upset. I’ll fix it. You know I would.”

He waited across the street just to see her reaction. She read it. She froze. He smiled.

The next day, the college boys didn’t show up. Of course not. He made sure of it.

When he stepped into the café that morning, her eyes met his. He gave her his brightest grin.

“Hello! You look pretty today!” he said, bouncing on his toes, cheerful as ever. “Don’t worry about those stupid men. I already took care of them. They won’t disturb you anymore.”

He tilted his head. Smiling. Glowing.

Because now, she could finally focus on the only one who really cared.

Him.