28. Chapter 23
SOS At The Caf
Evin
E vin had called for an SOS meeting. She barely waited for her friends to respond before dropping the message into their group chat:
When she arrived, the brisk autumn air had cooled her flushed skin from her hurried trek over.
The café, their trusted haunt, looked as though it had been waiting just for them—nestled in a quiet corner with warmly lit wooden tables, a lingering aroma of cinnamon and espresso filling the air.
Golden afternoon light filtered in through expansive windows, dancing around the steam that rose gracefully from freshly brewed coffee.
Inside, the space was an effortless blend of Scandinavian minimalism and Parisian nostalgia.
Rustic tables with time-worn edges rested on dark, creaking floorboards as if whispering tales of countless conversations.
Dried sprigs of lavender, eucalyptus, and baby’s breath sat in tiny glass vases scattered atop every table.
The chairs, charmingly mismatched—some with deep green velvet cushions and others plain, their wooden surfaces chipped around the edges—added to the café’s unpredictability.
The walls were lined with black-and-white snapshots of street artists, each hanging in simple brass frames.
Along one side, a long counter fashioned from light oak supported shelves crammed with brown paper bags filled with coffee beans.
In the center, an old espresso machine hissed softly, releasing a gentle plume of steam as stacks of earthy ceramic cups stood ready.
Copper pendant lights hung over intimate tables, bathing the room in a gentle, golden glow. A single candle flickered in one corner, infusing the space with a tender, inviting warmth.
Milka was already there, idly stirring her latte with an amused raise of her eyebrow as Evin slid into the seat opposite her.
“Damn, you look like you speed-ran here. What’s the emergency?” she quipped.
Barely a moment later, Hannah and Emma breezed in, shrugging off their jackets and exchanging looks of curious concern. Hannah, who’d been Evin’s friend since childhood—a bond that had endured distance, change, and even conflict—raised an eyebrow.
“You sounded dramatic in your text. What’s going on?”
Evin leaned back, ran a hand through her hair while her other hand absentmindedly twisted the paper napkin on the table. She took a deep breath, as if trying to steady herself. “I don’t even know where to start. Everything’s happening all at once, and honestly, it’s overwhelming.”
Hannah set her phone aside and leaned forward, her hand offering a soothing squeeze on Evin’s arm. “Talk to us. What’s wrong?”
Evin’s gaze shifted to the window, as if trying to shake the weight of her troubles.
She pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her hands, as if shielding herself from the discomfort settling in her chest. “It’s Sergej.
It’s not that he’s being overtly pushy, but I can sense his expectation.
He keeps hinting at wanting more, and I don’t know if I can match that.
He says he’ll give me time, but somehow it still feels intense. ”
Milka rolled her eyes, taking a measured sip of her coffee. “You know how it is. They promise to wait, but deep down, they’re always nudging you to make up your mind faster.”
Emma, who had been quiet for a moment, tilted her head thoughtfully. “Not every guy who wants more is trying to pressure you, though. Maybe this is just how he shows he cares.”
“I get it,” Evin murmured, frustration mingling with uncertainty. “But it feels like I need to decide right now: I’m either all in or I’m not.”
Hannah nodded encouragingly. “You know your boundaries inside and out. If he truly cares, he’ll get that. If he doesn’t, then he isn’t right for you.”
Milka clinked her coffee cup down with determination. “Exactly. You set the pace, and that’s final.”
Emma hesitated for a beat. “I understand, but consider that he might be unsure of where you stand. Perhaps he’s not trying to rush you; he’s just being open about his feelings.”
Evin bit her lip in thought. “I do appreciate his directness—it’s something I like about him. But it’s as if I’m in a constant race I never signed up for.”
“Then just tell him how you really feel,” Hannah said firmly, straightening up. “If you both care, you’ll figure it out together without any undue pressure.”
Milka grinned. “And don’t let him guilt-trip you into something you’re not ready for.”
A small, genuine smile started to play on Evin’s lips as Emma shrugged lightly. “Maybe he just doesn’t quite grasp how you feel about him. Sometimes, guys get all awkward and confused when uncertainty creeps in.”
“It’s not solely about his expectations,” Evin sighed, “I worry about how long he’s willing to wait for me to catch up.”
Hannah gave a thoughtful tilt of her head. “Then ask yourself if he’s the right guy for you."
Without offering a verbal reply, Evin reached for the lone cookie on the plate and took a hearty bite. Milka gasped in playful outrage. “Hey, that was mine!”
Evin’s smile widened mischievously. “Sorry, sweetheart, but right now it’s mine.”
The table burst into laughter, the camaraderie easing the tension of the moment. “Sometimes,” Evin added with a playful shrug, “you just have to take what’s yours.”
Milka shook her head, still laughing. “You’re impossible, Evin. But honestly, that’s exactly the kind of vibe you need for dealing with Sergej.”
“Maybe,” Evin replied, her grin growing, “but first, I’m just going to enjoy this cookie.”
Around the table, their eyes met in warm understanding as they returned to their drinks. The comfort of their smiles and the ease of their banter grounded her, a gentle reminder that she wasn’t facing everything alone.
This conversation, flowing as naturally as their laughter, had helped her untangle her swirling thoughts. While she remained unsure about her next steps with Sergej, one truth remained unwavering: she would never compromise who she was.
Complex as Sergej might be, it didn’t require her to lose herself.
Whatever came next would be on her terms, and no matter the outcome, her friends would always have her back.
___________
Evin had already found some clarity with her friends, still, she felt the need to see things from a guy’s perspective.
Maybe they were missing something.
And who better to talk to than Ben? Over the past few weeks, their friendship had deepened, and Evin knew she could count on his advice.
Still, as she sat across from him, she found herself fidgeting with the strap of her ba g, her fingers tracing over the worn leather.
The conversation wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d imagined.
“Hey… Ben, is it normal for guys to, I don’t know… put pressure on you sometimes?” Evin murmured, absentmindedly twirling her pen over her notebook. Ben looked up from his book, his brows slightly furrowed in surprise.
“What do you mean?” he asked, his tone curious.
Evin hesitated, then met his questioning gaze. “Well, this guy I’ve been seeing…” She sighed. “We had a fight because I told him I wasn’t… ready. And then, well, the fight turned into… um, let’s just say, a make-out session. It got kind of… intense.”
She rolled her eyes. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought this up. Maybe she was overreacting.
Ben tried to stay serious, but a small grin crept onto his face. “And then?”
“Well, he fell asleep, and I just… left.” Evin shrugged. “But now I don’t know what to do." She tapped her nails against the table, the rhythmic sound grounding her for a brief moment.
"He keeps pushing, and I feel like if I bring it up again, it’s only going to make things worse."
Ben leaned back in his chair, shaking his head slightly. “Have you told him clearly that you’re not ready?”
“I have—several times, actually, but…” Evin sighed, looking away. “It’s like it doesn’t matter to him. He says he gets it, but he keeps pushing anyway. I feel like he’s just waiting for me to give in.”
“That’s seriously messed up, Evin,” Ben said, his tone firm. “You should never feel forced into anything just because he wants more. If he truly respects you, he’ll wait as long as you need. No questions asked.”
Evin nodded slightly, but doubt still lingered in her expression, settling into the creases of her furrowed brow.
“Look,” Ben said with a teasing grin, trying to lighten the mood, “if you ever decide to lose your virginity, I’m pretty sure there are plenty of guys of our year waiting in line for the chance.”
“Ha. Ha.” Evin rolled her eyes, playfully glaring at him. But even as she forced a smile, the weight in her chest didn’t lift. "I’m serious. I just… don’t know how to handle this.”
Ben sighed. “That’s his problem, not yours. He has no right to pressure you. Period. And if he doesn’t back off, then you already know where you stand.”
His words were clear and direct, but the situation still felt complicated.
Evin leaned back in her chair, trying to shift the mood.
“Enough about my drama… What about you? Anything new? Any hot dates I don’t know about?
” She managed a small smile, hoping to leave the heaviness of the conversation behind.
Ben chuckled and shook his head. “Hot? That might be pushing it. But I did meet someone. Nothing serious, though. We’ve just been hanging out.”
Evin raised an eyebrow. "Hanging out? Since when do you just ‘hang out’? Who even are you?"
Ben grinned and shrugged. “Maybe I’m not such a lost cause after all. But honestly, I don’t know if it’s going to turn into anything. We’re just having a good time. No drama, unlike your situation.”
She nudged him lightly with her elbow. “Wow, thanks for that boost of confidence!”