THE COFFEE SHOP

The bell above the door of "The Daily Grind" coffee shop chimed, but Anya didn't notice. She was too busy staring into her latte, a dreamy, unfocused smile on her face. She slowly stirred the foam with a spoon, her thoughts a million miles away in the quiet section of the college library, sitting across from a certain messy-haired coding genius.

Maya snapped her fingers in front of Anya’s face.

Maya: "Hello? Earth to Anya? You've been staring at that coffee for ten minutes. If you stare any longer, it's going to file a restraining order."

Anya blinked, her focus returning to the cozy coffee shop.

Anya: "Sorry. I was just thinking."

Maya: (leaning forward with a mischievous grin) "Thinking about what? Or should I say, who? You have your 'binder boy' look on your face."

Anya's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she ducked her head, trying to hide her smile.

Anya: "It's nothing. We just... we finished the first phase of our project. Sameer is... he's really smart."

Maya: "Uh-huh. 'Smart.' Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

Anya let out a little sigh, the kind that was full of helpless affection. She couldn't hold it in anymore.

Anya: "Okay, fine. It's more than that. He's not just smart, Maya. He's brilliant. The way his mind works is incredible. And he's quiet, but when he does say something, it's always important. And sometimes, when he solves a really hard problem, he gets this tiny little smile, just at the corner of his mouth... It's kind of adorable."

. She knew she was blushing, but she couldn't stop.

Maya stared at her, a look of pure shock slowly melting into amusement. This was priceless. Anya, her best friend who had spent the last week ranting about an arrogant online genius named Zero, was now swooning over a shy, real-life genius.

Maya: (trying to sound casual) "Adorable? The quiet guy who looks like he's terrified of human contact? That Sameer?"

Anya: "He's not terrified! He's just... focused. I don't know. I just really like him. Is that so crazy?"

Maya started to laugh. It started as a small chuckle, but it grew until she was wiping a tear from her eye.

Anya: (pouting) "What's so funny?"

Maya: "Oh, nothing," she said, trying to compose herself. "It's just... the irony. One minute you're declaring war on some anonymous online genius, and the next you're falling for a quiet offline genius. You really have a type, you know that? The 'smarter-than-everyone-else' type."

The comment flew right over Anya's head.

Anya: "They're nothing alike! Zero is a cocky, arrogant jerk. Sameer is sweet, and humble, and..."

Maya: (raising her hands in surrender) "Okay, okay! I get it. He's perfect. Binder boy is your dream man."

She leaned in, her tone shifting from teasing to serious, though a twinkle of amusement remained in her eyes.

Maya: "Look, I'm happy for you. Seriously. But... just be careful, okay?"

Anya: "Careful? Why? He's the least dangerous person I've ever met."

Maya: "I know. It's just... sometimes the quiet ones are the most complicated. They can have a lot going on that you don't see. Just promise me you'll take it slow."

Anya smiled, completely missing how right her friend was.

Anya: "I promise. But I have a good feeling about this."

She went back to dreamily stirring her coffee, while Maya leaned back in her chair, shaking her head with a grin. Her best friend's love life was officially the most interesting show in town.