Ding-dong.

  The door opened and then closed again.

  Albus's eyes widened briefly before narrowing, their expression shifting ever so slightly in that instant.

  I was wiping spoons and forks when I looked up.

  Three boys stood at the entrance, and among them was a face that felt both familiar and distant.

  That face looked uncertain—one foot stepping forward as if wanting to leave, while the other remained frozen in pce.

  "A-Ta?" I recognized him instantly.

  With his head hung low, A-Ta hesitated before finally following his two companions into the café.

  The other two didn't seem to be from the inline skating club—I hadn't seen them during PE css this afternoon.

  "What a coincidence. I actually know one of those guys who just walked in—the one with the slightly messy hair, sharp eyes, and tanned skin," I said, waiting for them to order at the counter.

  A-Ta and his two friends sat on the soft couch on the left side of the café, just behind the King of Random Orders.

  "Is that so?" Albus's tone remained indifferent.

  "That guy is kind of a legend because—" I stopped mid-sentence. I had just realized I was smiling. But A-Ta's face was still lowered—so low, so very low.

  For some reason, my heart clenched.

  Was it because he saw me and recognized me as one of the girls from this afternoon? Was he feeling awkward and helpless? That had to be it. He probably thought I was recalling that embarrassing incident—the one where his girlfriend was stolen by another girl. He must be mortified; that’s all I could think about right now.

  "Because of what?" Albus asked, still looking at the gingerbread house in front of the café owner.

  "Nothing," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. "I almost became the kind of person I hate—someone unkind and inconsiderate."

  I pinched my cheek hard as a form of self-punishment.

  Then I remembered the promise I had made to myself today. I took a deep breath.

  Every time I have to make an important decision, I take a deep breath—to fill myself with oxygen and courage.

  A-Ta slowly stood up, running his fingers through his hair. Through the messy strands, his expression seemed bleak.

  It looked like I really shouldn't have recognized him just now. My gaze must have hurt him more than I realized.

  He walked toward me, but I felt too ashamed to look him in the eye. The air in my chest defted all at once.

  "Sir, may I take your order?" I asked, guilt pressing down on me. I almost wanted to extend my hand so he could sp my palm and vent his frustration.

  "Two medium caramel macchiatos, one kiwi juice, two fruit waffles, and a nine-inch seafood pizza,"

  A-Ta, he said, his voice slightly dry.

  Something in me reacted unexpectedly.

  Weren't the three of you friends? Why are you the one pcing the order? And why do you look so miserable, making me feel so unbearably awkward?

  "Alright, please wait ten minutes."

  I took his money, opened the register, and still couldn't bring myself to look at him.

  A-Ta took the change I handed him. Then he just stood there, unmoving, making no move to return to his seat.

  Was he deliberately using his gloomy aura to drown me in guilt?

  Fine. Since I made a promise to myself, I had to follow through.

  I took a deep breath and lifted my head, looking at A-Ta, who had already turned his face to the side.

  "I'm sorry about what happened today—" I started, but my voice grew smaller and smaller.

  Not because my courage failed me again, but because I realized A-Ta wasn't even listening to me.

  His eyes weren't on me.

  They were on Albus.

  And Albus was looking back at him with a kind of calm I couldn't quite describe.

  It wasn't the usual indifference Albus carried.

  It was a calm that had long been prepared, as if it had been set aside, waiting for the right moment to be used.

  A-Ta asked, "How is Wan Wan doing?"

  His voice was so earnest that even I, a stranger, was moved.

  "Wan Wan is doing well," Albus replied with a slight nod.

  A faint smile appeared on A-Ta's face.

  That slight smile was like a sky shrouded in dark clouds, quietly revealing a ray of sincere blue light.

  "Thank you." A-Ta leaned forward ever so slightly—he was bowing.

  Albus adjusted their red-framed gsses and, surprisingly, returned the gesture.

  Then A-Ta turned around.

  And in that moment, I understood.

  I understood everything that had just happened.

  "I know what you're thinking," Albus said softly, their voice not as sharp as usual.

  "He's a tragic legend, isn't he? Maybe… his misfortune includes a piece of me, too."

  At that moment, I had no idea what to say.

  The girl who had stolen A-Ta's high school girlfriend—the infamous heartbreaker—was Albus all along.

  A living legend, the woman who could steal love away from men.

  "You… do you feel guilty?" I stammered.

  "Love isn't about guilt," Albus said.