27!Grab a full bag of popcorn!

Logan

The restaurant was alive with the soft clinking of cutlery and quiet jazz music playing in the background. Dim lighting gave it a warm, cozy feel, and the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air.

I had taken Victor to the restaurant we always come to with my sister back in the days and the one I also brought Sylvia to.

“This scenery is still as cozy as ever,” Victor said with a smile.

“Yeah, although it just has a five star rating, it is a very good restaurant.”

“This restaurant should be a seven star rating, the scenery is very nice.”

“Mmmm.”

Victor and I had just been seated near the window when something, or rather, someone, caught his eye.

He froze, his hand halfway to picking up the menu.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, curiously.

Victor squinted toward the far corner of the restaurant, then his face lit up. “Wait a second… is that…?”

He stood up so quickly he nearly knocked his chair over.

“Victor?” I called after him, confused.

But he was already walking across the room. I turned to look, and there, sitting alone at a table near the back, was Sylvia. She looked tired, her eyes a little dull, her posture a bit slouched like she hadn’t rested in days. She wore a soft blue blouse that made her look delicate… but still held that quiet strength she always carried.

Victor stopped beside her table.

“Sylvia?” he said, almost like he wasn’t sure it was really her.

She looked up, startled at first, then her face broke into a wide smile.

“Vee?” she gasped, jumping to her feet.

They hugged like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years, which, in truth, they hadn’t.

“Oh my God! Look at you!” Sylvia said, laughing as she stepped back. “Still dramatic as ever.”

Victor grinned. “And you’re still tiny. What have they been feeding you? Well, I'm here now.”

They both laughed. For a moment, it felt like time had rewound to a more innocent past. I stood up slowly and walked toward them, not wanting to interrupt their moment, but curious to see what would happen next.

Sylvia noticed me then. The smile on her face faded slightly, but she didn’t look angry, just surprised.

“Logan,” she said politely.

“Sylvia,” I nodded. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning to come out, but I figured I needed air, thanks for earlier, I really appreciate it.” she said.

“That's not a problem,” I said with a smile.

She nodded then turned back to Victor. “So what are you doing here?”

“Just got back into town,” he said, eyes twinkling. “Came to find Logan, but now it seems the universe wanted me to find you too.”

“Lucky you,” she teased.

“Join us,” Victor said instantly, already pulling a chair from our table.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding,” he said. “Unless Logan has a problem?”

I shook my head. “Of course not.”

A small pause. Then Sylvia nodded and followed us back to our table.

Once seated, the three of us dove into conversation like long friends that haven't seen each other for a long period of time. The laughter flowed easily between Victor and Sylvia, and I couldn’t help but watch her carefully.

Her smile was there, but it was forced tired. Her eyes were kind, but they had shadows underneath. She kept adjusting her bracelet, like she was restless.

After a while, I couldn’t ignore it.

“Sylvia,” I said gently. “Are you okay?”

She blinked at me, caught off guard. “What?”

“You still look… pale. Are you sure you’re alright? You fainted just earlier today, and now you’re out here eating alone?”

She waved me off lightly. “I’m fine. Really. I just needed to clear my head.”

Victor leaned in, serious now. “You really fainted? I thought Logan was just talking, when he told me you fainted earlier.”

Sylvia sighed. “It was just stress. Nothing to worry about.”

Victor frowned. “Sylvia, that’s something to worry about. Don’t brush it off.”

“I’ve been working too much,” she admitted. “My mind’s been all over the place. Home isn’t exactly peaceful either. I'm perfectly fine, once I get enough rest, I will be okay.”

I nodded, understanding. “You need rest. You can’t keep pouring from an empty cup.”

She gave me a small smile. “Spoken like someone who knows what it feels like.”

Victor looked between the two of us, his brows raised. “Okay… what is going on here?”

Sylvia chuckled. “What do you mean?”

He pointed between us. “You two… talking calmly? Not throwing daggers with your eyes? Something’s changed.”

Sylvia didn’t say anything right away. Then she looked at me and shrugged. “Time changes people.”

I met her gaze and nodded. “And sometimes… it helps them see what they’ve been blind to.”

Victor blinked dramatically. “I’m gonna need popcorn for this new chapter.”

“Well, grab a full bag of popcorn.”

We all laughed.

Dinner continued, lighter now. Victor filled Sylvia in on his travels and their childhood memories. She teased him about his ridiculous fashion phase in high school, and he reminded her how she once glued his shoes together in revenge.

“Victor, why didn't you call me earlier, when you arrived? Sylvia asked.

“I wanted to call you Sylvia, but I decided to see Logan here, but surprisingly he wasn't around.”

“Ohh, so I'm not important right?” She asked, looking down, while smiling.

“You're, you hold a special place in my heart,” he replied laughing. “I found out Logan was actually with you, while I was waiting like a lonely helpless man.”

“Ohh,” she said, while smiling awkwardly.

“Well, thank God he was with you, only God knows what would have happened if he wasn't with you.”

“Well, thank goodness. Thank you very much Logan for coming to see me at the right time,” she turned to me, smiling briefly but brightly. 

Her smile was brief but radiant , the kind that lit up her whole face in an instant. It was soft yet full of warmth, like the sun breaking through after a long rain, leaving behind a glow that lingered even after it faded. 

By the time dessert came, the tension between Sylvia and me had softened. Not completely gone, but no longer sharp and painful. More like a memory healing slowly. Each time with her had become less sharp and painful. I could smile now without regrets.

As the waitress cleared the plates, Victor stretched and grinned. “This night turned out way better than I expected.”

Sylvia smiled. “It did. I didn’t even realize I needed this.”

“You did,” I said quietly. “You really did.”

“When would you come to spend time with me?” Victor asked.

“Well, when I'm less busy with the hospital.”

“Okay, we have a lot of catching up to do, especially concerning him,” he said, eyeing me.

“Yeah, I will make time out for you,” she replied.

“When will you map out time for me?” I asked her.

“I will have to check my schedule first,” she told me, while giving me direct eye contact.

“Ha ha ha, Logan you still have a long way to go.” 

“Anyways, I really had fun with you guys, take care of yourselves,” she said, while standing up.

“Take care of yourself too.” Victor replied, while hugging her.

“Make sure you rest,” I turned to her and smiled.

She looked at me then, not with anger, or bitterness, but something else. Something softer.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt… hopeful.