☕🛠️ The Café, Late Afternoon
The café was quiet 😶Too quiet.
Late afternoon light slipped through the windows 🌤️Soft. Tired.
Walter wiped tables slowly 🧽Not humming.Not joking.
Barfi stood near the counter 🔧Fixing the milk steamer with mechanical precision 🤖Hands steady.Eyes empty.
Minutes passed ⏳No words.
Walter finally broke.
"Kid…" 😐"You're really okay?"
Barfi didn't look up.
"Yes."
Walter frowned 😕"You don't look okay."
Barfi tightened a screw 🔩Metal clicked.Voice flat.
"Emotions are useless."
Walter froze 🧊
Barfi continued calmly 😶Too calmly.
"Feelings waste time.""People waste time.""Only work matters."
Something cracked inside Walter 💔
"Aye…" he whispered."Don't talk like that, kid."
No response.
Walter swallowed 😮💨"…Damn.""Hawk was right.""He's shutting down."
Before he could say more—
🔔 DING
The doorbell chimed.
🚪💓 Miko Arrives
Miko stood at the door 😳Breathless.Cheeks red.Eyes shaking.
She didn't look at Walter.Didn't look around.
She walked straight to Barfi 🚶♀️
Walter stepped aside automatically 🪖Like a soldier leaving the battlefield.
💥💬 The Confession
Miko stood in front of Barfi 🤍Clutching her sleeves tightly 🤏
"Barfi-san…"
He looked up.
"Yes, Miko-san?"
Her throat tightened 😣Heart pounding 💓💓💓
"Can you…""…be my boyfriend?"
☠️
Walter inhaled an entire spoon of sugar 🥄😵
Barfi blinked once.
"…Why?"
Miko exploded 💥
"Because I like you!" 😖"A lot!""And I don't want anyone else near you!""And I don't want you dating other girls!""And if you say no—"
Her voice softened 💔But didn't weaken.
"…I will never talk to you again."
Silence.
Absolute silence 🧊
Walter mouthed silently:WHAT. THE. HELL.
Barfi stared at Miko.
No panic 😐No excitement 😶No confusion 🤍
Just… stillness.
Then—
He nodded once ✔️
"Okay."
Miko blinked.
"…Okay?"
"Yes," Barfi said softly."I will be your boyfriend."
Her face turned red instantly 🌸Her brain shut down 🧠❌
She grabbed her bag 🎒Bowed in panic 🙇♀️And ran out of the café 🚀💨
😨🫥 Aftermath
Walter stared at the door 🚪
"…Kid," he whispered,"Do you even understand what just happened?"
Barfi went back to the machine.
"Yes."
"That's NOT how relationships work!!" Walter shouted 😱
Barfi didn't flinch.
"Emotions are useless.""But promises…""I don't break promises."
Walter dragged his hands down his face 🤦
"Oh god…""Ohhh god…""Two girls heartbreak in one week…""Hawk will kill me.""Mochi will kill everyone.""Laddu is probably upside down again."
Barfi stood.
"I have to study."
He walked upstairs 🚶♂️Steps quiet.Back straight.
Walter stayed frozen.
Because he understood something terrible 😔
Barfi didn't say yes because he loved Miko.He said yes because he didn't want to lose anyone else.
A relationship built on fear.A future built on cracks.
And Miko didn't know.
🏠🎉 Miko's House
Miko burst through the door 💥
"GRANDPAAAAA!!" 😆"HE SAID YES!!""BARFI-SAN SAID YES!!""HE'S MY BOYFRIEND!!"
Her grandmother froze mid-knit 🧶Then squealed like a teenager 💃
"Aiiyooo!!""I knew it!""That quiet boy is good!"
She grabbed Miko and spun her 🤍
"Grandmaaa stop!" 😳
But her grandfather…
Did not smile.
He set his teacup down ☕Slowly.Carefully.
"Sit."
Miko sat instantly 🧎♀️
Grandmother crossed her arms 😤Ready to fight the universe.
Her grandfather's voice deepened.
"Miko… be careful."
"…Why?" 😟
"That boy carries pain like a sword." ⚔️"He loves deeply.""But he breaks suddenly."
Miko whispered 🥺
"I'll hold him so he doesn't fall."
Her grandmother hugged her proudly 🤍
Her grandfather sighed 😮💨
"Then don't let love blind you.""Love him…""…but don't lose yourself."
Miko nodded.
Inside her chest 🔥Determination grew.
🚽😭 Chichi Breaks
College washroom 🚺Chichi cried silently into tissues 🧻
Friends hugged her 🤍
"He said yes…?""That fast…?""He didn't even care…?"
Chichi sobbed harder 💔
"I liked him first…""I tried so hard…""Why not me…?"
A friend whispered gently 🌫️
"Maybe he was never emotionally available.""Maybe he's too damaged."
Chichi collapsed inward 😭
📚🧊 Library — Three Hearts
The library was quiet 📖
Barfi sat reading.Calm.Unreadable.
Beside him?Empty seat.
Behind him?Miko.
She sat quietly 🤍Hands folded.Saying nothing.
She was near him.Because he said yes.
But he didn't react.
💔🗣️ Chichi Confronts
Chichi approached, shaking 😞
"Barfi… can we talk?"
"Yes."
"I heard you and Miko are together."
"Yes."
"…Did our breakup hurt you at all?"
"No."
Miko's pen froze ✏️🧊
"And… you don't miss me?"
"No."
Not cruel.Just empty.
"…Why are you like this…?" Chichi whispered.
"Because feelings waste time."
Chichi broke 💥
"…You didn't choose Miko because you love her."
Silence.
"You chose her because you're afraid to lose people."
Miko's chest tightened 💔
Barfi turned a page 📄
"As long as she asked…""…it is enough."
Chichi ran 😭
Miko stared at him.
For the first time…
She was afraid.
Not of him.
But for him.
Because his heart wasn't cold.
It was dying. 🩸🫀