The Tuesday lunch rush at The Corner Plate was a tidal wave of hungry construction workers, office clerks, and the occasional lost tourist. Maya was a blur of navy blue, weaving between tables with a tray of Reuben sandwiches and steaming mugs. She was in the zone—until the bell above the door let out a familiar, jaunty clink.
"Table for one! Somewhere with a good view of the staff," a voice chirped.
Maya nearly dropped a bottle of ketchup. Hana Jones slid into a corner booth, her green Sentinel vest unzipped and her blonde pigtails twitching with mischief. She didn't even look at the menu; her eyes were locked on Maya, then darted to John, who was laughing as he balanced three plates on one arm.
"Hana? What are you doing here?" Maya hissed, leaning over the table.
"Investigating a local phenomenon," Hana whispered, leaning in so close her nose almost touched Maya’s. "I heard a rumor that a certain 'Legacy' student traded her energy bow for a soup ladle. And wow, Maya... you never worked this hard in Gym class. Must be the high-quality management."
Maya’s face went from pale to a bright, alarming pink. "It’s for credit, Hana! Societal Contribution!"
"Uh-huh. Sure," Hana smirked, watching John walk over.
"Hey, Hana," John greeted, leaning a hand on the back of the booth. "Standard order? Animal-style burger with extra pickles?"
"You remembered! I'm touched," Hana winked, then tilted her head toward Maya. "So, John. How’s the new recruit? Is she a natural, or is she just here for the scenery? Specifically the scenery in the tight white tank tops?"
John blinked, his own neck turning a faint shade of red. "She’s... she’s great. Best partner I’ve had. She actually saved the—"
"Partner! Ooh, I like that word," Hana interrupted, tapping her chin. "Very domestic. Tell me, is the secret ingredient in the soup 'Love,' or just John’s biceps?"
Maya felt a literal spark jump from her ponytail. "Hana! Stop it!"
"I'm just saying!" Hana laughed, raising her hands in defense. "The vibe in here is so thick you could cut it with a steak knife. It’s cute! It’s like a shoujo manga, but with more gravy."
The teasing hit its peak ten minutes later. Maya was at the soda fountain, filling a glass for a customer. She was hyper-aware of John standing just a few feet away, talking to Hana.
"She’s really finding her rhythm, Hana," she heard John say, his voice full of genuine pride. "I’ve never seen anyone handle the Cybergerm with that much grace."
The word grace sent a surge of pure, unadulterated fluster through Maya’s system. Her focus snapped. The stabilizer on her collar let out a frantic buzz-buzz-buzz, and the purple light in her veins didn't just glow—it tickled.
Glug-glug-WHOOSH!
The soda fountain didn't just fill the cup; it turned into a carbonated geyser. A mountain of brown, sugary bubbles erupted, overflowing the tray and surging toward Maya’s chest.
"Eep!" Maya squeaked, waving her hands in a useless attempt to stop the foam.
"I got you!" John lunged forward, his super-strength allowing him to reach over the counter and kill the main valve in a split second.
But as the spray died down, Maya found herself tucked firmly under John’s arm, his chest acting as a shield against the sticky explosion. They were inches apart, the smell of cola and woodsmoke mingling in the air. John’s hand was resting on her waist to steady her, and for a heartbeat, the rest of the restaurant—and Hana’s cackling laughter—simply ceased to exist.
"You okay?" John whispered, his eyes searching hers.
"I... bubbles," Maya managed to choke out, her brain melting into a puddle.
"Yeah," John smiled, his thumb brushing a stray bit of foam off her cheek. "Bubbles."
"Ten out of ten!" Hana shouted from her booth, clapping her hands. "Best show in the city! I’m definitely coming back for dinner!"
Maya finally pulled away, her face so hot she was worried she might actually set the apron on fire. She caught Hana’s wink and realized that while the bubbles were a mess, the look in John’s eyes was something she wouldn't trade for all the "A" grades at West Corp.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLNWuMZoYE
and then Add to home screen.