Chapter Text
Truth be told, Sophia doesn’t know how she ended up in this situation.
Actually, she does know—but she still hasn’t fully processed it.
Lara, her friend of many years, had dragged her here with a simple excuse that, at first, had genuinely worried Sophia.
“It’s urgent. Come with me.”
Sophia had imagined every possible scenario in her head, silently scolding herself for it the entire drive. So many possibilities… only for Lara to park in front of a restaurant that wasn’t particularly popular and, if Sophia were being honest, didn’t look too far from being condemned.
“What the hell?” Sophia finally managed to say.
Lara was busy touching up her lipstick in the mirror.
“You don’t like it?” Lara asked without looking away from her reflection.
“Like it? Lara, what are we doing here?” Sophia stared at the building in disbelief.
“I have a date,” Lara replied, as though that explained everything.
“So? Don’t tell me you planned a double date, because if you did, Lara, I’ll leave you here and go home.”
Lara let out a sigh, muttering something under her breath that Sophia could easily read as, Lord, give me patience.
“You did, didn’t you?” Sophia accused.
Lara shook her head.
“You’re so dramatic. Are you on your period or something?”
Sophia sighed and leaned back in her seat. Maybe she was the one who needed patience.
“Actually, no. I didn’t plan a double date. You know I’m not really into those anymore,” Lara admitted. Progress, at least. “But I do need your help.”
“That much was clear from your text,” Sophia muttered. “What kind of help requires dragging me all the way here?”
““The girl I’m meeting is ridiculously pretty, okay? Making a good first impression pretty much guarantees me a second date. The problem is my credit card is still frozen, I don’t have any cash, and even if I did, you know I hate paying with cash. Your card is the solution.””
Sophia closed her eyes.
Was Lara seriously waking her up for this?
She tried to laugh, but it came out sounding more like an exasperated huff.
“So I’m supposed to be the third freaking wheel at your table?”
“You’ll be at another table. I don’t want you listening to me flirt with her,” Lara answered immediately.
“Trust me, I don’t want to hear you flirting either.”
Sophia rubbed her temple.
“It won’t be that bad. You’ll sit nearby, but not close enough to eavesdrop. I’ll distract her at the end of the date, and that’s when you’ll pay.”
“Are you at least going to say please?”
“Oh, come on. You know I’ll pay you back. I just need my parents to reactivate my card.”
“So… never?”
“Don’t be so negative. It’s only a few weeks as punishment. It’s happened before. I know how this works.”
“You know how it works, yet you still haven’t learned not to max out your credit card. Impressive.”
“I deserved that designer bag.”
“What exactly made you deserve it?”
“I passed my classes. Duh.”
“You bought a designer handbag because you passed your classes—which is literally your responsibility, not an achievement.”
“Ugh. You sound more and more like my parents every day. I’m convinced you’re secretly working with them just to test my patience.”
Sophia was about to defend herself when—
“Shhh. She’s here. Will you be quiet already?”
She patted Sophia’s shoulder.
Sophia followed Lara’s gaze through the windshield and immediately spotted her.
“That’s your date?”
“It is.”
Lara’s smile widened.
“She looks…” Sophia swallowed. “…intimidating?”
“Oh, you’re judging her completely wrong. She’s a sweetheart.”
“You’ve met before?”
“We met at a party. She got on stage while I was performing and requested a couple of songs.”
Sophia blinked.
Lara had asked out someone she’d met at a party?
This had to be serious.
“Come on. I don’t want to keep her waiting. Manon probably already thinks I picked a table.”
Lara grabbed her purse—which probably contained nothing but makeup, considering Sophia was apparently today’s source of funding.
They stepped out of the car.
Only then did Sophia notice what she was wearing, black joggers, a comfortable university hoodie, and at least she’d let her hair down before leaving.
Meanwhile, Lara wore knee-high boots and a stylish coat that hid whatever dress she had underneath. Oddly enough, Lara was bundled up too, though that made sense considering the neighborhood.
“Stay close. I’ll signal you when it’s time,” Lara instructed before heading inside.
Sophia closed her eyes for a second.
She should’ve been back at her dorm, resting after an exhausting week full of projects.
Instead, she was about to enter a restaurant she didn’t even like.
Only because she was a good friend.
She really was.
…
Yoonchip
You’re a terrible friend. Terrible, terrible.
Sophia cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably on the already uncomfortable restaurant bench while rereading Yoonchae’s message.
A few tables away, Lara was already smiling brightly at the woman Sophia now knew was Manon.
Soph
Sorry, Chip. Lara dragged me here saying it was an emergency. I’ll make it up to you later.
Yoonchip
That’s the third time you’ve canceled game night. I don’t forgive easily, but food might convince me.
Soph
I’ll cook for you later. Promise.
Yoonchip
You’d better.
And keep me updated on Lara’s love life.
Soph
Will do.
She locked her phone.
The restaurant wasn’t nearly as empty as she’d expected, though it wasn’t crowded either. The inside looked much nicer than the exterior.
She should stop judging places so quickly.
She sat alone at a table not too far from Lara’s, where Manon was enthusiastically recommending something from the menu.
Sophia sighed again.
Her brief moment of peace was interrupted by a voice.
“Are you waiting for someone, or would you like to order?”
The voice was kind but confident.
Sophia looked up.
A curly-haired waitress wearing a black apron stood beside the table, holding a menu.
“Oh… um, no. I’m not waiting for anyone.”
The waitress’s curious expression softened into… pity?
Only then did Sophia realize how awkward this probably looked.
“Alright. Here’s the menu. I’m Daniela, and I’ll be taking care of you.”
She placed it on the table before stepping back.
Sophia grabbed it immediately, partly out of nerves, partly because she’d noticed Lara glancing her way.
She skimmed through the options.
She wasn’t hungry, but sitting alone for who knew how long without ordering anything would definitely look strange.
She sighed yet again.
Whether she was genuinely deciding or merely pretending to, she couldn’t even tell anymore.
“Ready to order, or would you like a recommendation?”
Daniela had returned.
Sophia lowered the menu.
“Maybe something light…”
“Are you dieting or something?”
“No… I don’t think so.”
Daniela raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t think so?”
“I mean… no. I’m not on a diet.”
Daniela studied her for a second before a faint smile tugged at her lips.
“Any preferences?”
“I pretty much like everything.”
Her smile grew just a little wider.
“Our special today is lasagna. Would that be alright?”
“Sounds good.”
Daniela nodded, wrote it down, and walked away with the same calm demeanor she’d arrived with.
Sophia watched her disappear through the kitchen doors.
She had really pretty curls.
Really pretty.
Sophia glanced back toward Lara, who was already holding Manon’s hand.
They sure moved fast.
Soft music drifted through the restaurant, keeping Sophia company in her solitude.
She probably looked ridiculously dramatic by now.
She’d already lost count of how many times she’d sighed.
Hopefully, at the very least, the lasagna would be good enough not to ruin the rest of her evening.
…
She lost track of time.
She wasn’t really paying attention to the clock anyway.
Instead, she found herself observing the restaurant.
She noticed the cheerful waitress laughing while serving Lara and Manon. Sophia could’ve sworn they already knew each other.
She quickly looked away.
She didn’t need to monitor Lara’s date.
It would’ve been easier to just hand Lara her credit card and PIN from the start, especially since Lara could probably forge her signature if necessary.
Still…
Sophia had the feeling Lara had dragged her here for more than just the payment.
Maybe she simply needed moral support.
Sophia wasn’t about to argue about it now.
Especially not when Daniela returned carrying her food.
The lasagna looked surprisingly good.
“Can I get you anything else?”
Daniela’s warm voice pulled Sophia from her thoughts.
She’s just doing her job, Sophia reminded herself before her mind wandered somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t.
“I’m good, thank you.”
She smiled politely.
Daniela smiled back.
Tiny dimples appeared in her cheeks.
Sophia mentally cursed herself for noticing.
She cursed herself even more for thinking Daniela’s hazel eyes were so captivating.
“Daniela!”
The waitress called from across the room.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Daniela hurried away.
Sophia told herself—for what felt like the hundredth time—to focus on eating.
Hopefully Lara wouldn’t take much longer.
…
The food wasn’t bad at all.
She finished her last bite while noticing Lara and Manon had already ordered dessert.
They laughed together.
Sophia couldn’t help thinking Manon’s laugh sounded oddly like a dolphin.
She immediately stopped making comparisons.
When Manon became distracted by her phone for a moment, Sophia raised her hand and pointed to her watch, silently asking Lara how much longer this would take.
Lara responded with a vague gesture.
Sophia figured she should probably ask for the check.
Before she even had time to call someone over, Daniela appeared.
“Need anything else?”
“Actually… yes.”
Sophia hesitated.
“I need the check… and a favor.”
Daniela frowned.
“What kind of favor?”
“I’d like to pay for that table.”
She gestured toward Lara and Manon.
Daniela followed her gaze.
“You want to pay for their bill?”
She sounded genuinely skeptical.
“Yes. I know it sounds strange, but I’m serious.”
Daniela looked at her with suspicion, curiosity…
…and something else.
“They seem pretty close. If you’re interested in one of them and you’re trying to impress her by paying, trust me… I don’t think that’s the best idea.”
Sophia immediately felt heat flood her face.
Did Daniela think she was trying to flirt with one of them?
“I-It’s not like that. One of them is my friend. I just wanted to treat them.”
Daniela nodded, still unconvinced, before signaling someone.
A moment later, the waitress approached.
“Megs, can you bring me the check for table seven?”
“The check? Why?”
The waitress—Megan, apparently—looked even more confused.
“She insists on paying.”
Sophia smiled awkwardly.
Now both women were staring at her.
Great.
She could practically feel herself turning red.
Her palms were damp.
Yoonchae would never let her live this down.
“Why would she pay for someone else’s table?” Megan asked.
“One of them is her friend,” Daniela answered.
“Then why isn’t she sitting with them?”
So many questions.
Sophia felt like a frightened animal trapped in a corner beneath both of their stares.
She seriously questioned whether Lara’s friendship was worth all this embarrassment.
“Just bring the check, Megs.”
Megan walked away.
“Card or cash?” Daniela asked.
“Card.”
Somehow Sophia still hadn’t forgotten how to speak.
The process was quick.
Daniela fetched the card reader while Megan returned with the bill.
Sophia dug through her wallet.
She inserted her card, entered her PIN, and left a generous tip that fairly covered both servers.
Megan took one receipt while Daniela tried printing another copy.
The machine jammed.
“One minute. I’ll fix it.”
“You don’t have to—”
But Daniela had already hurried away.
Sophia waited.
She noticed Lara and Manon heading toward the exit after Megan told them their bill had already been paid.
Both smiled politely.
Sophia avoided staring.
She simply finished the last sip of her sparkling water.
Daniela was taking longer than expected.
When she finally returned, she handed Sophia the receipt.
It had been folded.
“—That’s everything. Have a good night.” Daniela smiled again.
This smile was different. Almost nervous.
Sophia nodded.
“Thank you, Daniela. Hope the rest of your shift goes well.”
She left just as Lara finished saying goodbye to Manon.
Back inside the car, Sophia fastened her seatbelt.
“We’re having a second date,” Lara announced proudly.
“Really? I’m happy for you.”
She meant it.
“I knew my charm would work.”
Sophia only smiled while settling into her seat.
Soft music played as Lara drove, quietly humming along.
Sophia reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet along with the receipt Daniela had given her.
It was already a little wrinkled.
She unfolded it, intending to ask Lara what on earth they’d ordered.
Instead…
She froze.
“Oh, come on. It can’t be that expensive. Just tell me the total,” Lara insisted.
Sophia hadn’t even looked at the amount.
Her eyes were fixed on the phone number written beneath it.
Along with a short handwritten message.
“I wouldn’t mind being your company sometime. Text me… Dani;)”
“Sophia?”
A quiet laugh escaped her.
“What’s so funny?”
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought,” she answered simply.
Lara frowned but didn’t push any further.
Sophia folded the receipt carefully and held onto it a little tighter, as though she didn’t want to lose it.
Now she understood Daniela’s last nervous smile.
In the end, maybe luck really had been on her side.
Sure, Lara still owed her a pretty decent amount of money.
But somehow…
Sophia had also walked away with the number of the cute waitress.
And she was absolutely certain she was going to text her.