Chapter 3: Coffee,Cameras and Coincidences

The next morning began with a problem.

A very serious problem.

Reina had overslept.

Again.

Her eyes snapped open.

She looked at the clock.

Then looked again.

"..."

The clock showed 8:47.

Her class started at 9:00.

"..."

Three seconds later, she exploded out of bed.

...

Meanwhile...

Apartment 408 remained quiet.

Shadow sat at his kitchen table.

A cup of coffee rested beside him.

The morning sunlight spilled through the window.

Peaceful.

Silent.

Normal.

Then a loud crash echoed through the wall.

Shadow looked toward Apartment 407.

A second crash followed.

Then another.

"..."

He took another sip of coffee.

Some things had become predictable.

...

Ten minutes later.

The apartment hallway.

Reina sprinted toward the elevator carrying her bag.

The elevator doors closed.

Right in front of her.

"No."

She repeatedly pressed the button.

Nothing happened.

The elevator had already left.

"No."

A voice came from behind.

"You should have left earlier."

Reina turned.

Shadow stood there holding another cup of coffee.

She pointed accusingly.

"You."

"What about me?"

"You knew this would happen."

"I didn't."

"You sounded prepared."

Shadow thought for a moment.

"...Fair point."

...

The university campus buzzed with activity.

Students moved between buildings.

The morning rush had already begun.

Unfortunately for Reina...

Her professor had noticed her late arrival.

Again.

By the time class ended, she had received another lecture.

A long lecture.

A very long lecture.

By the end, she felt as though she had aged five years.

...

After class.

She walked through the campus alone.

The weather was nice.

The sky was clear.

For once, everything felt peaceful.

Click.

A camera shutter echoed nearby.

Reina glanced around.

A student stood near a tree holding a professional camera.

Nothing unusual.

Universities were full of photographers.

She continued walking.

The photographer quietly lowered his camera.

Then reviewed the image.

A blonde woman.

Walking alone.

He saved the photo.

Without a word.

...

That afternoon.

Shadow found himself sitting in the same café as before.

Not because he planned to.

It just happened.

At least, that's what he told himself.

The bell above the door rang.

A familiar voice followed.

"Neighbor."

Shadow closed his eyes.

Too late.

Reina had already spotted him.

She dropped into the seat across from him.

"Fancy meeting you here."

"You came here yesterday."

"And?"

"You are the reason this isn't a coincidence."

Reina pointed dramatically.

"You are learning."

"...Learning what?"

"How to be sarcastic."

That wasn't what he was doing.

Probably.

...

Several minutes passed.

Most people would have found the silence awkward.

Neither of them did.

Eventually, Reina leaned back in her chair.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

"See? Sarcasm."

Shadow regretted speaking.

Immediately.

"What is it?"

Reina stared at him.

For a moment, her usual playful expression disappeared.

"What were you like as a kid?"

The question caught him off guard.

A strange feeling passed through him.

A classroom.

Sunlight.

Laughter.

A name.

Then...

Nothing.

The memories vanished before he could grasp them.

"...I don't remember."

Reina blinked.

"You don't remember?"

"Not much."

Technically true.

The answer sounded strange even to him.

Reina studied his face.

For the first time...

She didn't make a joke.

Instead, she nodded.

"I see."

Neither of them spoke for a while afterward.

...

Across the street.

The photographer adjusted his lens.

The café window reflected the city lights.

Inside sat two people.

Laughing.

Talking.

Looking increasingly comfortable around each other.

Click.

Another photo.

The photographer stared at the image.

Then opened a messaging app.

One photograph attached.

No text.

Only the image.

He pressed send.

A moment later...

Message Delivered.

The photographer slipped the phone back into his pocket.

And disappeared into the crowd.

...

That evening.

Reina and Shadow returned to the apartment building together.

The elevator ride was quiet.

Not uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

The doors opened.

As they stepped into the hallway...

Reina suddenly stopped.

Shadow noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Her eyes focused on the far end of the hallway.

Just for a second.

Then she smiled.

"Nothing."

But something about the smile felt different.

Forced.

Like she was hiding something.

A moment later, she continued walking.

As if nothing had happened.

Shadow glanced toward the hallway.

Empty.

No people.

No movement.

Nothing unusual.

Yet somehow...

The feeling remained.

...

Later that night.

Reina stood alone on her apartment balcony.

The city lights stretched endlessly before her.

The wind moved through her blonde hair.

For the first time all day...

Her smile disappeared.

She looked toward the distant skyline.

Toward a world she thought she had left behind.

"Two years..."

The words barely escaped her lips.

Then silence returned.

And the night swallowed the rest.