Espresso in The Rain

The apartment felt colder than before.

Noah stood in the center of the room, staring at Elias as silence stretched between them. The weight of their conversation pressed down on his chest, suffocating, unbearable. He had expected Elias to fight for them, to tell him he was wrong, that they could work through this.

But Elias hadn't said a word.

And that silence told Noah everything.

His hands curled into fists at his sides. "So that's it?" His voice wavered, but he refused to look away. "You're just going to let this fall apart?"

Elias looked at him, pain etched into every feature, but he still didn't move, still didn't reach for him.

Noah swallowed against the lump in his throat. "I can't do this anymore," he whispered.

Elias flinched, as if the words physically hurt him.

Noah turned before he could change his mind. Before the sight of Elias—sitting there, looking so damn torn—made him stay when he knew he shouldn't.

He walked out of the apartment, out of The Roasted Heaven, into the night. The humid Bangkok air hit him like a wave, thick and stifling, but it did nothing to numb the ache blooming in his chest.

It wasn't until he reached his condo that he realized he was shaking.

---

A Week Later

Noah buried himself in work.

He spent long hours at the university, staying late at the library, drowning himself in assignments. Anything to keep his mind off him.

Santa noticed, of course. She wasn't the type to let things slide.

"You look like hell," she said bluntly, plopping down beside him at a café near campus.

Noah barely glanced up from his laptop. "Thanks, Santa. That's exactly what I needed to hear today."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't be an ass. You're miserable, and we both know why."

Noah tensed but said nothing.

Santa sighed, stirring her iced coffee lazily. "Look, I get it. He hurt you. But avoiding your feelings isn't going to make them go away."

Noah clenched his jaw. "I'm not avoiding anything."

Santa snorted. "Right. That's why you've been throwing yourself into work like a man on a mission."

Noah exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to be honest with yourself." She leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "Are you done with Elias? Really done?"

The question sent a sharp pang through his chest.

He wanted to say yes. That he had moved on. That it didn't matter anymore.

But that would be a lie.

Santa must have seen the answer in his expression because she sighed, sitting back. "I figured as much."

Noah frowned. "What do you mean?"

Santa took a sip of her drink before replying. "Elias is just as much of a mess as you are."

Noah's breath caught. "You've seen him?"

Santa nodded. "Perth told me he's been off. Barely talking, barely sleeping. The Roasted Heaven is running, but it's not the same. He's not the same."

Noah looked down at his hands, his heart clenching.

He had spent the last week trying to convince himself that walking away was the right choice. That if Elias wasn't willing to fight for them, then neither should he.

But if Elias was hurting too…

Santa's voice softened. "Maybe you should talk to him."

Noah hesitated. He wasn't sure if he could handle facing Elias again—if he could stand to see him and not completely break.

But deep down, he knew Santa was right.

He needed closure.

Even if it hurt.

---

The Roasted Heaven

The café was quieter than usual.

It was late, past closing hours, and most of the lights inside were dimmed. But through the large windows, Noah could see a familiar figure behind the counter.

Elias.

He was cleaning, but his movements were slow, almost absentminded. He looked… exhausted.

Noah hesitated at the entrance, his fingers hovering over the door handle.

Then he took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The soft chime of the bell made Elias freeze.

Slowly, he turned.

The moment their eyes met, Noah felt everything he had been trying to suppress crash over him at once. The longing, the pain, the love—because God, he still loved him.

Elias looked just as wrecked. Dark circles under his eyes, tension in his shoulders. His fingers tightened around the cloth he had been holding.

"Noah," he said, voice hoarse.

Noah swallowed. "Hey."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Elias exhaled shakily and set the cloth down. "I didn't think you'd come."

Noah forced a small, humorless smile. "Neither did I."

A tense silence stretched between them before Elias finally broke it.

"I miss you." The words were quiet but raw, laced with emotion. "I tried to stay away, but… I can't. I miss you, Noah."

Noah's breath hitched. He had waited days—weeks—for Elias to say something. To reach out. To fight.

And now, here it was.

Elias took a hesitant step closer. "I was scared." His voice wavered. "Scared of ruining this. Scared of losing you. But I realized… letting you go was the worst mistake I've ever made."

Noah felt his resolve cracking.

Elias reached for him—tentative, almost afraid—and Noah didn't pull away.

"I love you," Elias whispered. "And if you'll let me, I'll spend the rest of my life proving that to you."

Noah sucked in a sharp breath. His heart was pounding, his mind racing.

But then he looked at Elias—really looked at him.

And suddenly, the choice wasn't hard at all.

With a shaky exhale, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Then, without another word, he pulled Elias into a desperate, searing kiss.

Elias let out a soft, broken sound and kissed him back, arms wrapping tightly around him as if he never wanted to let go again.

And in that moment, Noah knew—despite everything, despite the pain, despite the fear—this was where he belonged.

In Elias' arms.