Part-71

  Mili's sudden stop jolted James out of his musings. He smmed on his brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision with her back wheel. She gestured towards a brightly lit shop with colorful dispys in the window – a sweet shop.

  Relief washed over James, momentarily eclipsing the surprise he felt at her champion status. He hadn't realized how tense he'd bee navigating the chaotic streets. "Sure," he said, parking his bike o hers and following her inside.

  The shop was a haven of cool air and sugary sts. The ctter of spoons against ceramic mugs and the animated chatter of ers created a warm, inviting atmosphere. Mili sed the room, a small smile pying on her lips, before settling on ay table in the er. James pulled out a chair and joined her, stealing a gnce around the shop.

  A friendly-looking woman with a warm smile approached them. "Mili! The usual cold coffee?" Her voice held a note of familiarity.

  Mili nodded, a flicker of something resembling affe crossing her features. "Yes, please, Asha. Make it a double today."

  The woman, Asha, wi James before disappearing behind the ter. "You e here often," James observed, more to break the fortable silehan anything else.

  Mili leaned ba her chair, a thoughtful look on her fabsp; "Often enough," she replied. "This pce, this cold coffee… it's a bit of a tradition for me. A quiet space to think, to… disappear for a while."

  James couldn't help but feel intrigued. The national champion cyclist, the serious bookworm, the girl who craved a quiet escape – these seemingly disparate aspeili were slowly weaving themselves into a more plex picture. He wao ask more, to delve deeper into this new side of her, but something held him babsp; Perhaps it was respect for her privaaybe a sense of caution, unsure of where this ued detht lead.

  Asha returned with two tall gsses of chilled coffee, their surfaces adorned with swirling patterns of whipped cream. Mili took a long sip, her eyes closing in apparent te. James took a tentative sip of his own, the cool, sweet beverage a wele trast to the city's heat.

  "So," James began, carefully choosing his words, "where are we goily?"

  Mili finally met his gaze, a flicker of determination repg her earlier ption. "Somewhere you o see, James. Somewhere that might expin a lot of things."

  Suddenly, a thought struck James: they were drinking coffee together like a couple. Were they on the verge of dating or something? The idea seemed to e out of nowhere, but it lingered in his mind, making him feel both excited and anxious.

  This kind of thought was swirling in his head because it was the first time he had ever hung out with a girl other than his sister. He wasn't used to this kind of situation, and it made everything feel new and strange.

  As he sidered this, his mind drifted back to the many times he had spent with his sister when they were youhey had hung out together a lot, expl their neighborhood, pying games, and sharis. Those times were unplicated and filled with joy, a stark trast to the fusing feelings he was experieng now.

  Thinking about those days brought a smile to James's face. It was a sweet memory, ohat he cherished deeply. His sister had been his best friend and stant panion, and those moments were some of the happiest of his life.

  Now, sitting across from Mili in the coffee shop, he felt a strange mix of nostalgia and anticipation. The memories of his sister provided a f backdrop as he navigated this new experience. He took a sip of his coffee, trying to steady his rag thoughts, and g Mili, who seemed lost in her own world.