Espresso in The Rain

The morning air in Bangkok carried the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, mingling with the distant sounds of the waking city. Inside The Roasted Heaven, the usual hum of activity had yet to begin.

Noah stood behind the counter, watching as Elias moved around the café with ease, sleeves rolled up, his fingers working effortlessly as he prepared the first batch of espresso.

It had been a year since they had reconciled. A year of building something real, something solid.

"Are you just going to stare at me all morning?" Elias teased, glancing over his shoulder.

Noah smirked. "Maybe."

Elias chuckled, shaking his head as he set down two cups of coffee. "Here. Taste test."

Noah took a sip, letting the warmth spread through him. "Perfect."

Elias leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "You always say that."

"Because it's always true."

Elias rolled his eyes but smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Noah's face. The café wasn't open yet, but in this quiet moment, it didn't matter.

Santa and Perth arrived minutes later, breaking the stillness with their usual banter.

"I swear, if I have to hear another customer flirt with Elias while ordering their coffee, I'm going to start charging extra for the privilege," Santa grumbled, throwing herself onto a chair.

Perth smirked. "You're just mad because they don't flirt with you."

Santa gasped. "Excuse me, plenty of people flirt with me!"

Noah laughed, shaking his head. Some things never changed.

Elias leaned in, his voice soft. "You ready for today?"

Noah nodded. "Yeah."

Because today was special.

Today, they were officially opening a second branch of The Roasted Heaven—a dream Elias never thought he'd pursue, a future he never expected to share with someone else.

And as they stood together, the weight of everything they had been through settling into something lighter, something peaceful, Noah realized—

This was home.

Not just the café.

Not just the city.

But Elias.

Always Elias.

Elias smiled, as if reading his mind. "We did it."

Noah laced their fingers together. "And we're just getting started."

The doors to the café opened, and the world rushed in.

But through it all, they had each other.

And that was enough.

---

THE END (For Real This Time).