Sitting and sipping on decaffeinated coffee with three people that enriched his life was a great way to unwind. Casey glimpsed at the smiling faces of theirs as they talked out a meaningless chatter.

"I'd say love the vibes, but not so much of the coffee. I drink them, and it makes my stomach weird. I don't know how my mom ingests so much coffee every morning," Malloy said. His cup of drink being Hot Chocolate with whip cream.

"They're good to drink sometimes," Kyle said.

In the background scene, most people around socialized to other people with such cheerful and delighted faces, and now he thought he was at most living at this moment in one like others. He glanced at Snow, who was just listening and nodding at whatever they said. She wouldn't know if he's wondering what kind of thoughts filled her head.

"So you come here frequently for the coffee?" Malloy asked.

"Yeah, and it's ten minutes away from campus," Casey said.

"Convenient." He nodded briefly. "So do you want to spend some summer days with us?"

"It'll be fun," Kyle encouraged.

"Yeah, you should come kick it with us," Snow agreed.

"What kind of things do you guys have in mind?" Casey inquired.

With these three, he knew they'd find something to fill in the gap of boring long summer days. At least, I won't be alone on some summer days.

Malloy's lips turned upward to a grin. "Are you up for board games, water balloon fights, more karaoking and bowling, and just eating lots of food together?"

Casey cocked his head at him, in the thought of that offer. It posed as fun and intriguing at the same time. "Is that all?" he questioned.

"We can all watch some movies too. Oh," Malloy stopped, suddenly snapping his finger. "Let's do a sleepover with s'mores. I can make a mean s'more."

"That again," Snow chuckled nervously.

"Hey, you know you want my s'mores." He looked at her in a serious manner, and she seemed like she couldn't deny them, looking away from him to sip into her cup.

"We never get them unless it's summer or winter," Kyle mentioned.

"Because it makes them a special edition. By the time you haven't have them for long, you guys be missing them," Malloy said, quickly clapping and gesturing to them smugly.

Then he looked to Casey. "And this is going to be your first."

"What makes them special?" Casey wondered.

"The chocolatey melt and double the brown sugar."

"It's really good," Snow said.

Kyle nodded. And judging from both of their faces, it's like Malloy's s'mores were one of the best things they were looking forward to. Now Casey's interested in how he made them and how they tasted.

"By the way, do you like pizza?" Malloy asked.

When was the last time Casey ate pizza? He couldn't remember when, but he liked the idea of having pizza. "Yeah, pizza sounds good."

"Good. What do you like on pizza?"

"Pepperoni, sausage, some olives."

Kyle's eyes looked with seriousness, and he asked, "Quick question: do you think pineapple belongs on pizza?"

"No."

Snow didn't say anything but Casey felt her scrutiny as it gave away how mildly offended and dissatisfied she was to hear his answer. He saw her lips curled down to a sulk.

"So, you like having pineapple on your pizza?" Casey asked her.

"Yeah... but not this group," she said quietly.

She twirled her hair and faced her attention elsewhere. Malloy filled him in. "We hate pineapple on pizza and think that people who like them should be obliterated. Except for Snow." She turned her head back at the mention of her name. "She gets to stay."

A smile pulled up to Snow's lips at the nice sort of praise.

"Gee thanks, I feel honored not being crossed out," Snow said jokingly as she rolled her eyes in a comical effect.

"The pleasure's all mine. You are lucky I'm so generous."

Casey chuckled at them. Will his original moping inside his home with dread filling his body plan, replaced with this real life interaction hanging out with friends and having small moments like this be for him instead? He sure would hope so.

"You're... smiling," Kyle pointed out.

"Really?" he asked, not knowing how he looked. "I wouldn't know that."

"Yeah, and it looks good on you. I like that you're rather in the moment. It makes us feel connected with you. Everything okay now? You can share with us," Malloy said, softly bumping Casey's wrist with his fist across the table.

They all looked at him keenly, including Snow with wonder in her eyes.

Casey glanced down momentarily, taking a sip of his drink. He attempted to think best of his answer. How am I feeling? His brain contended to understand what he was going through. All moments are usually fleeting, aren't they? At this moment, he could be blessed because he's with friends like them, even if they're sitting at a table having coffee.

He remembered the past moments were him constantly stressing over his breakup, and he couldn't pull himself out of that reality. Oftentimes, he'd never know if everything was exactly okay.

"I'm... still figuring out, but," he paused, "right now, I think I'm not alone, and I want to enjoy what comes now. I want to look with my eyes at what's here, and that's you guys... I want to have fun and hopefully grow with all of you." 

"Awww." Kyle put a hand to his chest as his expression softened. "That's the most sentimental thing you've said to us."

"Then prepare for funnn days coming ahead." Malloy smiled.

Casey thought. Things are starting to look up, aren't they?

"Maybe we would've done more stuff if Snow hadn't taken you away from me." He looked narrowly at Snow who just registered a shock to her eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked accusingly.

"It means exactly what I said. We need our catching up time as bros since you've been making plans with him."

"I did it for him."

"And you."

Snow twisted her face in slight annoyance. "Hey, we both benefited from it!"

Malloy let out a slight 'tchh' sound from his mouth. "You could've supported him in a normal way instead of going through all that trouble."

"Then why don't you blame him for agreeing?" She gestured to Casey dramatically.

"He's in a vulnerable state, but you had the power to stop."

Those two locked eyes with each other immensely. It's been a while since Casey watched the two argued trivially about something. It didn't have to be a big deal, but they have to take something to the heart and turn it into something. He wasn't going to bother, so he just let them be.

"It's already over, so you can't say anymore about it. We're not doing it again," Snow remarked.

"Aren't we glad?" Malloy sipped his hot chocolate. "Relationships are soooo bothersome. As we're all single, I can say that's the best life you can live. Why bother when you can be free and spend money on yourself?" He chuckled.

"So when you decide to treat us for food, are we in a relationship?"

"Heck yes."

Everybody broke out in laughter. Maybe a relationship that was best for him was this one, a kind of relationship where he looked to different people and called them his friends.

"Maybe it'd be nice though if I actually would get to date, but then there's no time for dating. When you get so busy with everyday assignments and activities, you don't even notice time passing by," Kyle said thoughtfully. Then he shrugged. "Oh well. If it happens, maybe it'll come."

"You're taking summer courses, aren't you?" Malloy asked as he seemed to recall. 

"Yeah, two classes. American studies is a handful."

"Don't worry," Casey spoke. "You don't have to look for it. If it happens, you could be lucky to take that shot, but if it doesn't, it doesn't mean you're doomed. An opportunity will open up, and you never know who's around when you least expect it."

He snuck a glance at Snow to check how she would think of what he said, and she smiled softly at his response, meeting his gaze.

"So Snow, what about that guy?" Kyle asked her.

"Hmm? Oh right. He's everything I imagined in a guy definitely; I'd like to see him again."

"Then why don't you?"

"Oh," Snow said. She smiled to herself mysteriously, shaking her head. "There's something I have to think about, but he'll be in my thoughts for consideration..."

"You were always sulking looking at couples and wishing it was you in one... like that one." Malloy pointed to a random couple.

The couple at a table looked just about the same age. The guy had a similar hairstyle as his own, and the same could be told with the girl. Her hair was like Snow's, but her hair was a lot longer and didn't have that light golden touch as hers. From the body language, she looked at him directly as he was talking. She was holding his hand across the table and giving him small nods with each word he said. She appeared to be a keen listener. 

When he was done saying something, it was her turn to talk. After a little bit, she brought up his hand and cupped it to her face. The girl had to lean a bit forward, and her expression melted softly. It looked something sincere and thoughtful; it could look like she's grateful for whatever he had said to her, and maybe she's reciprocating the words back and was lucky to have him in her life.

"They look sweet." Snow smiled as though she's happy for them.

Malloy called her out with his head close to hers. "And I bet you're holding that painful expression on the inside."

"Maybe." She quietly cried out, and her smile now strained.

He clicked his tongue arrogantly. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"You can never lie," Kyle said, smiling widely.

"I feel like I'm watching a show here," Casey interjected, an amused expression taking over his face.

"Hey," Snow warned, giving him a look. "We don't act."

"Are we entertaining you?" Malloy asked curiously.

He nodded, his smile coming out to sight more naturally. "Yeah. You guys are something, okay."

"We know you've been through a rough patch with your before girlfriend, but just know that once you're a part of us, we won't break up this friendship. You're really chill, and that's something nice to add in to our friendship dynamic. Because you probably notice we're kinda weird and chaotic on our own, and you'll just have to roll with it," Kyle said, patting him on the shoulder for reassurance.

Casey shrugged. "I'll live with weird and chaotic."

Snow spoke. "I think what's important is that we find comfort and company with each other. If we can always count on sticking with each other even through the worse of times and days that are confusing, then we'll always have each other. Casey." She looked at him directly. "You've been with us since the middle of March, and I've taken more of your time since the start of the relationship pact, but now we're not awkward with each other as we were. I'll always... be there for you. We'll be there for you. You got us."

She fell into a soft yet meaningful gaze, the kind of look that he could instantly believe right there that her words are clinched. Maybe... he wouldn't mind. He wouldn't mind to just stay where they are. Nothing needed to happen between them. He believed where they were was the right choice. They didn't have to be anything more.

They had that special relationship of a relationship that didn't need to go so fast. The two can speak to each knowing that what they shared was always going to be between them. It was incredible how far things led up to here that the two could talk to each other and feel relaxed with each other's presence.

Thinking back, it was unusual how he let a stranger into his private life in such a short amount of time.

"Definitely," Malloy confirmed. "And next time if you're upset with any of us," his eyes peered to him with an eyebrow raised knowingly, "we'll let you cool down, but don't forget about our ears. We can listen, you know?"

These people are really... Casey didn't know what to do with their words filled with so much affirmation and value in them. He glanced at the three different people before him, and he could see more apparent that he wasn't alone than he thought he was. 

"I can't help I have a hot temper, but I'll try to remember that," Casey shamefully admitted.

Kyle said in a silly way. "You're only human."

"And humans have flaws," Malloy said.

It was all thanks to one particular one who reminded him that things can be looked up again. It didn't have to be very immediate, but whenever he was ready. Was he ready? Not really, but was he willing to give it a chance? Gradually, but he'll work on that. Everything was progress.

He looked at her smiling. Her smile in real life and coming into magnificent colors. She painted a picture of this view at the table surrounded by friends. Now that he noticed her more than before, she wasn't just a background. She stood out to him in many ways more than one that she would doubt that and deny each time. That girl had a name of something delicate and beauty, and she was a miracle.

Their relationship had been a test, but it was a test that made them stronger and for him in believing in life and love again. Thanks to all the memories made, he had the knowledge moving forward that he would be ready in time. 

▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓

Hello, I hope you like this last chapter. I thought it'd be good to close out with Casey leisurely enjoying himself with friends as the ending. Sometimes the real relationship is who you surround yourself with and how they could lift you up with support. 

I'm not sure how I did with the whole story, but I hope that it's everything clear and good. I would appreciate the feedback if you want to write out a little bit about your thoughts. It would help ease my mind. 

So I know you guys are expecting a love story... I have an epilogue coming up, so you can check out that coming soon if you want to know where things are with our main leads.

For real life updates, I have a job!!! It's a job that I need to start somewhere and support myself (and shop for things) until I go back to pursue higher education. I serve cute kinds of drinks: coffee, milk tea, Asian desserts, including Vietnamese che. I can try out free drinks since I have that perk, lol. But there's a lot. Look forward to the next part, and I'll keep you updated with things I have planned out. 

Please vote and comment as it means the world to me.