William and Layla

The bustle of the college cafeteria was a familiar noise to William, one that had always relaxed him and at the same time stressed him out. Laughter and conversation intertwined like background tunes as he sat across from Layla, who watched him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. It was a cloudy day and the air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and study books.

Layla, her pink hair shining in the light, asked him curiously.

—Why are you so pensive, Will?

Her eyes were a spark that lit up the place, and her expression made him feel a strange combination of calm and anguish.

—It's just that...

William took a deep breath, searching for the words.

—I don't want to go on, college isn't for me, I want to go out into the world and do something real.

-But... what about your dreams of being a graphic designer? -Layla answered, surprised. You are the best in class. You used to be passionate about it, remember?

—Yes, but that's not enough. I don't want to spend two more years sitting in a classroom, listening to professors who don't know what they're talking about,” his gaze drifted to the window, watching the clouds gather in the sky, ”I can't take it anymore.

Layla stared at him, and in that instant, he knew she was disappointed.

—Will, please think about this. Life is not just about working. It's about learning, growing... and the opportunities a college degree gives you are invaluable.

—I know,” he replied, his voice low, ”but it's not for me, I want to do something now.

Layla folded her arms, frowning.

— If you get out, what are you going to do, are you going to be delivering pizzas all your life?

They looked at each other in silence with the weight of the decision still hanging in the air, finally, William gave her a wry smile and replied.

—Maybe I'll become the best pizza delivery boy the world has ever seen.

—That would be quite an accomplishment,” Layla teased, though there was a shadow of concern in her voice.

With a smile, William rose from the table, and resolutely told her.

—I need time to think, thank you for listening, Layla.

*****

Years later, William was in front of Layla again, but this time it was in the small dining room of Tito's Pizza, she had finished her degree and couldn't help but show it off to him.

—Look, Will! I'm a graduate, and you... well, you're still a pizza delivery boy hahaha -her voice was teasing, but her smile showed the affection she felt for him.

—Oh please, that's not fair! You've graduated while I've been working hard to make sure the pizzeria has enough cheese! -William scoffed, raising an eyebrow and pretending to be offended.

—I'm glad you're happy with your life,” Layla replied in a playful tone. But don't worry, I'll still let you eat my leftover pizza, that's one perk of being my best friend.

—We all know that,” he said, smiling.

—Can you imagine if I had dropped out of college and stayed here? No, wait, I would have surpassed you as a pizza delivery guy hahaha.

William laughed, knowing there was an undercurrent of truth in his joke.

—Now I'm going to go out and be the best graphic design graduate in the world.

*****

—Remember when you came out saying you were going to be the best graduate? Hahaha actually, you're the one who stayed at the pizza place, and I'm the one with the bright future of being the best delivery boy. how do you feel, bachelor?”

Layla looked at him, her angry expression now changing to a smile.

—Keep teasing me, but I'm here because, you know, I didn't find a job after I graduated. Not everyone can be like you and get a dream job at the pizzeria.

—So, can you say you're a pizza graduate? -William laughed, enjoying the joke.

—Shut up! -Layla threw a piece of dough at William, who managed to dodge it with a smile.

Tito's Pizza was a vibrant place, where the aroma of freshly baked dough and fresh tomato sauce permeated the air. The place was a bit large, with dark wooden tables and chairs holding satisfied customers. The walls were adorned with photographs of customers, captured moments of laughter and joy as if they were family.

William, 180 cm, had a good build, but his face was that of a regular guy, Greek nose, dark eyes and thin mouth. His brown hair was a bit tousled, as if he had spent more time in the kitchen than looking in the mirror. She wore a navy blue uniform with the Tito Pizza logo on the chest, an outfit that seemed to match her laid-back attitude perfectly.

Layla, on the other hand, was a charming sight. Standing 170 cm tall and with a body that looked sculpted, her pink hair, which was always well-groomed, was a reflection of her bright personality and pretty face. Her uniform consisted of a tight-fitting blue T-shirt and a black apron that accentuated her figure. William often found himself distracted watching her, not only because of her beauty, but because of her infectious energy.

The place was always full of customers, but the ones who livened up the atmosphere the most were the employees. Sofia, a 19-year-old girl, was a whirlwind of energy and always ready to make a joke.

—William! Have you noticed that you've lost the ability to be funny since you started working here? -she shouted as she served a pizza to a group of customers.

—Lose the ability to be funny? Have you tried making jokes with pizza dough? It's an art you haven't mastered yet,” William replied, laughing.

And then there was Lucas the manager, a 23-year-old guy, who seemed to be the most disinterested, but always made sure everyone was at their best.

—You know, Will? If you ever decide to stop delivering pizzas, you might be a good comedian, but you'd have to stop making fun of Layla,” said Lucas, as he arranged a box of pizzas on the counter.

—Why not? It's part of my charm,” replied William, with a smile, ”I really enjoy watching her blush.

The dynamic between them was special. They teased each other constantly, but there was a spark in the air that suggested something deeper. The way Layla would smile at William as he spoke, or how she would laugh at his awkward jokes, was indicative of a connection that went beyond friendship.

As William moved among the tables, serving customers and delivering pizzas, he couldn't help but steal glances at Layla, she moved gracefully, interacting with the customers, and every laugh she shared with them seemed to make William feel more attracted to her, it was a strange mix of admiration and desire.

—William, stop flirting with the girls and go take that order! -Sofia shouted from the kitchen, provoking laughter among the employees.

—Me? Never! -William replied with a smile, while Layla looked at him with her arms crossed.

—Come on, Will, don't kid yourself, you're about to be pizza king, get to work! -Layla said sarcastically.

—Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, cheese queen,” he replied, as he moved toward the cash register.

As the workday continued, Layla tossed him a small piece of pizza dough as a joke. William ducked with quick reflexes, laughing as he stood up.

—That was no way to make friends, Layla,” he said, smiling, ”Careful, maybe I'll steal your bachelor's degree and become a graduate.

—In your dreams Will, don't forget that, even though you didn't finish college, you have the talent to make pizza an art.

That was the spark that ignited something in William. The laughter in his eyes, the way his lips curved as he spoke, everything seemed perfect. There was something deeper between them, a romantic potential they both seemed to ignore.

As the afternoon turned into evening, the pizzeria filled with laughter and the sound of the oven running. William moved among the tables, serving pizzas and chatting with customers. At one point, while making sure everyone had what they needed, he noticed Layla chatting animatedly with a group of friends. Her laughter was infectious, and William felt a pang of admiration.

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with vibrant energy.

—Do you have to do that? -asked Sofia, as she filled a tray with empanadas.

—Do what? -William answered, grimacing.

—Look at it as if it were a work of art. You're here to work, not to become a spectator,” Sofia said with a smirk.

William shrugged, unable to hide his smile.

—It's hard not to, sometimes I feel like the pizzeria is just a backdrop for his performance.

—You're a romantic, Will,” Sofia laughed, ”but maybe it's time you told her how you feel.

William frowned, processing the suggestion. The idea of opening up and confessing his feelings to Layla seemed terrifying to him.

—What if she doesn't like me? What if I'm just a friend to her?

—¿Y si es algo más? Solo tienes una vida y no puedes quedarte atrapado en la zona de amigos para siempre. La vida es demasiado corta —respondió Sofía, apretando suavemente a William—.

—Sí, tal vez tengas razón. Pero... No sé cómo hacerlo", admitió, sintiendo que su corazón latía más rápido.

Más tarde, cuando el servicio se calmó y la pizzería comenzó a vaciarse, William encontró un momento de tranquilidad. Se acercó a Layla, que estaba organizando unas cajas de pizza.

—¿Entonces ya eres graduado? -dijo William, sonriendo mientras se acercaba- -¿Crees que eres mejor que yo?

—Solo un poquito -respondió Layla, con un tono juguetón- pero no tanto como para que dejara de trabajar aquí, a veces pienso que esto es más divertido que estar en una oficina.

William asintió, disfrutando de la familiaridad de su interacción.

—No olvides que me debes una pizza gratis por cada vez que me recuerdas que no terminé la universidad.

Layla lo miró con picardía.

—Tal vez deberías considerar que soy la única persona aquí con un título, y sin embargo estoy aquí, tal vez la universidad no sea todo lo que parece.

—Tal vez deberíamos hacer un trato. Yo te enseñaré a hacer pizzas y tú me darás una clase sobre cómo ser un graduado exitoso", sugirió William en tono de broma.

—Eso suena justo, pero no creo que enseñar sea lo tuyo —se rió Layla—.

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