Chapter 1: Love in the Time of Lattes

Remi's hands shook as he steamed the milk for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. He had been working at The Cozy Cup cafe for three months now, and he still hadn't gotten the hang of it. His manager, Rachel, was always on his case about making the perfect latte art, but Remi just couldn't seem to get it right. As he poured the steamed milk into a cup, he accidentally created a sad, swirly design that looked more like a failed science experiment than a work of art. Just as Remi was about to start over, the door to the cafe burst open and a tall, athletic figure strode in. Torment, the star basketball player of Asmodeus University, was a regular at The Cozy Cup, and Remi's heart skipped a beat every time he saw him. Torment was known for his short temper and explosive outbursts on the court, but off the court, he seemed to have a softer side. Remi had caught glimpses of it when Torment came in for his morning coffee, always ordering a large cappuccino with a smile that could light up a room. As Torment waited in line, his eyes scanned the cafe, locking onto Remi for a brief moment before moving on. Remi felt his face heat up, and he quickly looked away, busying himself with wiping down the counter. He couldn't believe he had been crushing on Torment for months now. It was hopeless, of course. Torment was straight, and even if he weren't, Remi was just an awkward cafe worker, not exactly the most eligible bachelor. Just then, a girl with bright pink hair and a confident stride walked into the cafe, followed closely by Torment. "Hey, Tori!" she called out, using the nickname that all of Torment's friends seemed to use. "What's up, bro?" Torment chuckled and ruffled his sister's hair. "Not much, Nem. Just getting my caffeine fix." Nem, or Nemia, was a gyaru with a reputation for being fierce and outspoken. She was a junior at Asmodeus U, just like Torment, and she had a habit of showing up at The Cozy Cup whenever her brother did. Remi had noticed that Nem often sat at a table by the window, sipping on a frappuccino and watching the romance unfold around her. She seemed to have a fascination with love and relationships, and Remi had caught her staring at him and Torment on more than one occasion. As Torment ordered his drink and waited for Nem to do the same, his eyes met Remi's again, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Remi felt like he was drowning in Torment's gaze, and he quickly looked away, his heart racing. Nem, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear. She loved watching her brother interact with the people around him, especially the cute guys who worked at The Cozy Cup. She had noticed Remi's awkward crush on Torment from the very beginning, and she had to admit, she thought they would make a cute couple. As Torment and Nem waited for their drinks, they chatted about their upcoming game against their arch-rivals. Remi listened in, trying to act nonchalant despite the fact that he was practically drooling over Torment. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when Torment's phone buzzed with a text from what was probably his boyfriend. But then, Nem turned to Remi and said, "Hey, you know, my brother here is always talking about how great the coffee is at The Cozy Cup. I'm glad I finally get to try it out." Remi smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, Nem! I'm glad you like it here." As he handed Torment and Nem their drinks, their fingers touched, and Remi felt a spark of electricity run through his body. He quickly pulled his hand back, feeling flustered, but Torment just smiled and said, "Thanks, Remi. You're a lifesaver." Nem, meanwhile, was watching the exchange with interest, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She had a feeling that this was going to be a very interesting semester.