CHAPTER 2: THE USUAL TABLE
The next afternoon, the café on Alder Street was louder than usual.
Liora pushed the door open with her shoulder, camera hanging from her neck, and immediately froze.
Their table was already occupied.
Not by strangers.
By chaos.
"Finally," Mira announced dramatically, leaning back in her chair. "The photographer arrives."
Liora stared at the group gathered around the table.
Mira was sitting cross-legged on the chair like she owned the place. Jaden was halfway through a sandwich that looked suspiciously like it belonged to someone else. Kai was scrolling on his phone, looking bored as always.
And Evren was sitting quietly at the end of the table, stirring his coffee.
He glanced up when she entered.
"You're late."
"I'm not late," Liora said defensively, sliding into the empty seat beside him. "You're early."
Mira leaned forward with narrowed eyes.
"Wrong. He's been here for twenty minutes."
Liora turned toward Evren.
"Why?"
Evren shrugged.
"Coffee."
"Liar," Mira said immediately.
Jaden swallowed his sandwich.
"He was waiting."
Evren kicked Jaden lightly under the table.
Jaden winced.
"OW— okay, okay, I'll stop talking."
Liora looked between them suspiciously.
"Waiting for what?"
Kai didn't look up from his phone.
"For you."
The table went silent for a second.
Evren sighed slowly.
Kai finally looked up.
"What?" he said calmly. "It's obvious."
Liora blinked.
Then she laughed.
"Oh please."
Evren rubbed his temple.
"This is why I don't talk to you people."
Mira leaned closer to Liora conspiratorially.
"You know he carries extra film for your camera, right?"
Evren almost choked on his coffee.
Liora's eyes widened.
"He does what?"
Mira pointed dramatically.
"His bag."
Evren immediately grabbed the strap of his backpack.
"You're all very annoying."
Jaden grinned.
"Open it."
"Absolutely not."
"Open it."
"Jaden."
"Evren."
Liora leaned toward the bag curiously.
Evren held it away from her.
"This is harassment."
Mira clapped her hands.
"OPEN IT."
Three seconds later, Evren sighed and unzipped the bag.
Inside were two small boxes of Polaroid film.
The table erupted.
"I KNEW IT," Mira shouted.
Jaden slammed the table dramatically.
"THIS MAN IS DOWN BAD."
Kai nodded slowly.
"Extremely."
Evren looked like he was reconsidering every life decision that had led him to this moment.
Liora blinked at the film boxes.
"…You carry these around?"
Evren avoided her eyes.
"You run out a lot."
Mira dramatically clutched her chest.
"OH MY GOD."
Jaden leaned toward Liora.
"Marry him."
Liora burst out laughing.
Evren covered his face with his hand.
"This friend group is a mistake."
Kai calmly took a sip of his drink.
"I told you to switch schools in tenth grade."
Liora was still laughing when she suddenly grabbed her camera.
"Wait."
Everyone groaned.
"NO," Evren said immediately.
"Too late."
She stood up, stepping back from the table.
"Memory moment."
Jaden threw an arm around Evren dramatically.
"If we're going down, we're going down together."
Mira leaned forward making the most ridiculous face possible.
Kai didn't react at all.
Evren sighed.
Click.
The camera whirred.
The photo slid out.
Liora grabbed it immediately, shaking it gently.
"Let me see," Mira demanded.
"Nope."
Jaden leaned across the table.
"You're evil."
The image slowly appeared.
Four idiots around a table.
And one very tired Evren in the middle.
Liora smiled.
"This one's perfect."
Evren looked at the photo briefly.
Then at her.
"Why do you like these things so much?" he asked.
She tilted her head.
"Photos?"
"Yeah."
Liora looked down at the developing Polaroid.
Outside the café window, people were passing by, cars moving, the city rushing somewhere.
She held up the picture.
"Because moments disappear," she said lightly.
Evren watched her quietly.
"But photos stay."
She slid the Polaroid into her small box.
Then grabbed her bag.
"Come on."
"Where?" Mira asked.
Liora grinned.
"There's a street festival two blocks away."
Jaden jumped up immediately.
"I love festivals."
Kai stood up slowly.
"I love food."
Mira grabbed her jacket.
"I love chaos."
Everyone looked at Evren.
He sighed.
"I love quiet."
Liora grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the door.
"Too bad."
Evren let himself be dragged outside.
The evening air was warm, filled with music and laughter from the festival lights down the street.
Liora walked ahead excitedly, camera already in her hands.
Evren followed a step behind.
Mira nudged him as they walked.
"You know," she whispered, "you could just tell her."
Evren looked at Liora's back as she stopped to photograph a string of lanterns glowing above the street.
He shook his head.
"…Not yet."
Mira sighed dramatically.
"You're impossible."
Evren said nothing.
Ahead of them, Liora turned around suddenly.
"Evren!"
He looked up.
"Come here."
She lifted the camera.
"Another photo."
Evren groaned softly.
But he walked over anyway.