Saturday began like any other. Blue skies, dry wind, and a hint of weekend laziness. Kai was finishing the last lines of a bug fix when his phone buzzed.
Mr. Grimor — his least favorite instructor.
Cold, impatient, and condescending.
“Mr. Kai. Your previous code submission had flawed optimization. I want it fixed and submitted by 3:45 today. In person. Or you fail the module.”
Kai stared at the message.
Today? Now?
He looked at the time: 1:32 PM.
The café meet-up with Cyntia was in less than three hours.
⸻
In the kitchen, Cyntia was prepping. She’d already changed into a pale pink blouse, her hair tied neatly with a ribbon. The smell of vanilla body mist and heat from the hairdryer still clung faintly in the air.
“You look… formal,” Kai said.
“Shut up,” she replied with a grin, spinning around. “Do I look like someone who deserves overpriced cake?”
“Definitely.”
She smiled, then caught the shift in his tone. “Wait. What?”
Kai handed her the phone.
Her face fell just slightly as she read the message. “Mr. Grimor again?”
He nodded. “Apparently my optimization skills threaten the fabric of the school.”
She rolled her eyes. “Can’t you send it digitally?”
“Not when the professor’s allergic to modern convenience.”
She folded her arms. “How long will it take?”
“I’ll make it fast. Just submit and go. I’ll catch up to you at the café.”
She looked unsure. “You’re really coming?”
He nodded. “Promise.”
She studied him. Then quietly said, “Okay. I’ll see you there.”
⸻
By 3:40 PM, Cyntia was already walking down 6th Street alone. The breeze played with the edge of her blouse. She checked her phone, opened their group chat.
Katy: “We’re at the table by the window! Get your cute butt in here.”
She smiled and texted Kai one last message.
“They’re here. I’ll order drinks first. Catch up soon, okay?”
He replied within seconds.
“On my way soon. 15 mins tops.”
She tucked her phone away and stepped inside.
⸻
Meanwhile, Kai stood outside Grimor’s door, laptop clutched in one hand, tapping his foot. The hallway was nearly empty. His face was calm, but his eyes flicked constantly to the clock.
3:53 PM.
Then 4:12.
Then 4:26.
Still inside.
Still waiting.
⸻
Cyntia stirred her drink with a straw, laughing with Katy and Sofia. Her phone stayed on the table, face up. She checked it once, then again. Still no new messages. But her smile never faded.
Because she believed in promises. Especially his.
⸻
4:47 PM.
Kai finally walked out of the department, phone already in hand.
No new messages.
He walked faster.
Past the train crossing.
Down the crowded boulevard.
He texted her again.
“Done. Running now. Be there in 10.”
No reply.
⸻
He didn’t know what was coming.
He didn’t know the so-called heroes had already entered that café.
He didn’t know this day would mark the end of the old world.
All he knew was that he was late.
And some things in life…
You can never catch up to again.
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