Chapter 12: Boys, Blushes, and Bullshit
The academy café was buzzing with life.
Laughter, clinking silverware, and the soft hum of mana-infused coffee machines filled the air. Sunlight spilled through wide arched windows, casting warm patches of light across polished wood tables and velvet seats.
Noel sat by one of the window booths, one leg crossed over the other, sipping from a cup of something vaguely caffeinated and not entirely awful. A plate of untouched food sat in front of him—mostly for show.
He didn't eat much during conversations.
He watched.
A shadow flickered across the window.
"Hey," Marcus said as he slid into the seat across from him, setting down his tray. "Sorry if I'm late."
"You're not," Noel replied without looking up. "You're early. Roberto's late."
Right on cue—
"Oye, I'm fashionably late," said Roberto, appearing behind Marcus and dropping into the seat beside him with a dramatic sigh. "Totally different vibe."
Marcus rolled his eyes and handed him a fork.