Chapter 4: Secrets on the Shelf

The bookstore café felt quieter than usual the next day — or maybe Riya was just too distracted to notice.

She stood behind the counter, mindlessly refilling the sugar dispenser as Miya chatted with a customer near the bookshelves. Miya’s usual grin was there — effortless and charming — but something about it felt... off.

Was she pretending everything was normal?

Riya replayed last night’s rooftop moment for the hundredth time. Miya’s words still echoed in her head:

> “If I kissed you right now… would you stop me?”

Riya had no idea what she would’ve done — and that terrified her.

“Earth to Riya?”

Riya blinked, startled to find Miya suddenly beside her, waving a hand in front of her face.

“You good?” Miya asked.

“Yeah,” Riya lied. “Just tired.”

Miya studied her for a second longer than usual, then shrugged. “Well, wake up, superstar. You’ve got table six.”

Riya grabbed her notepad and hurried away, grateful for the excuse to put some space between them.

The hours dragged by, and Riya couldn’t shake the feeling that Miya was avoiding her. She kept busy, chatting with customers or rearranging displays, but barely said a word to Riya unless it was work-related.

By closing time, Riya’s nerves were shot.

“I’ll finish the tables,” Miya offered. “You can start locking up.”

Riya froze. Normally, they’d clean up together — laughing, teasing, sneaking extra pastries from the display case. Tonight felt colder, like they were strangers again.

“Okay,” Riya mumbled, heading toward the back.

But instead of grabbing the keys, she slipped into the storage room.

The old shoebox — the one filled with notes from past employees — still sat tucked beneath the shelf. She reached for it, lifting the lid and shuffling through the scraps of paper.

There it was — Miya’s note from a few days ago:

> "The new girl has the cutest smile."

Riya swallowed hard. Back then, she’d laughed it off. But now… now it felt different.

She reached for a blank slip of paper and grabbed a pen. Her hand shook as she started writing:

> “I think I…”

She froze.

I think I what? Like you? Want you to kiss me? Don’t know what I’m feeling anymore?

Frustrated, she crumpled the paper and shoved the box back onto the shelf.

“You okay?”

Riya jumped, spinning around to find Miya standing in the doorway.

“Yeah!” Riya blurted, too quickly. “Just… uh… locking up.”

Miya’s eyes flicked to the shoebox, then back to her. “You sure?”

“Positive,” Riya said, brushing past her before she could ask anything else.

The walk home was painfully quiet. Miya usually walked Riya halfway, even though it wasn’t on her way. Tonight, she didn’t offer.

“Hey,” Riya said suddenly, her voice sharper than intended. “Did I… do something?”

Miya stopped. “What?”

“You’ve been acting weird all day,” Riya pressed. “If I said something last night or—”

“You didn’t,” Miya cut in. “It’s not you.”

“Then what is it?”

Miya opened her mouth like she wanted to say something — something important — but then she just shook her head.

“Forget it,” Miya muttered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Riya stood frozen as Miya turned and walked away, her hands shoved deep in her pockets.

It’s not you.

Then why did it feel like Miya was slipping away — and taking something important with her?

End of Chapter 4

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