A few days had passed since Oluo apologized to Eren, and things at the restauranthad finally settled back into their usual rhythm. The tension that had clouded the kitchen seemed to have lifted, and Petra could feel the difference. The staff was in sync again, and even Oluo had returned to his usual sarcastic, yet strangely endearing, self.
Petra, however, found herself thinking about him more and more. Every time she caught his eye across the kitchen or heard his voice bantering with the other cooks, her heart did a little flip she wasn't used to. The comfortable friendship they'd developed was beginning to feel like something else, something that made her pulse race when he was near.
It wasn't just the way they worked together, or the quiet conversations they shared after a long shift. It was the way he had opened up to her—the vulnerability he rarely showed anyone else. And maybe it was the way he looked at her when he thought no one else was watching.
The afternoon rush was just beginning, the lunch crowd filtering in slowly, and Petra was running through the usual routine—greeting customers, taking orders, and slipping between tables like it was second nature. But she couldn't ignore the subtle energy that had started buzzing between her and Oluo. It was something neither of them had acknowledged out loud, but it was there.
She could feel it in the way his hand lingered just a moment too long when he passed her a plate. Or the way their gazes locked in the middle of a busy dinner service; a look that seemed to say more than just are you keeping up? It was like a silent conversation, one that neither of them had quite figured out how to put into words.
By mid-afternoon, the lunch crowd had slowed, and Petra found herself taking a quick break near the drink station, sipping a glass of water and watching the flow of the restaurant. She glanced toward the kitchen, where Oluo was at the grill, flipping burgers with his usual practiced ease. He hadn't seen her yet, but she couldn't help but watch him for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Just as she was about to head back to the floor, Oluo caught her eye. He grinned, a mischievous glint in his gaze as he motioned her over.
"What's up, rookie?" he called out, leaning casually against the counter as she approached. "You look like you're daydreaming. Thinking about messing up another order?"
Petra rolled her eyes, though her heart raced at the teasing tone in his voice. "Shut up, Oluo. I haven't messed up a single order today, thank you very much."
"I'm impressed," Oluo said, raising an eyebrow. "You're really starting to fit in here."
"I guess I have a decent team to thank for that," Petra replied, a playful smirk on her face. "Even if one of the line cooks is constantly giving me grief."
Oluo chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "What can I say? You make it too easy."
Their banter flowed naturally, but there was something simmering underneath it—something neither of them had acknowledged out loud. Petra could feel the air between them shift, the playful teasing giving way to a heavier silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was charged, like the space between them was crackling with something unspoken.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Petra leaned against the counter, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her glass as she tried to find the right words. But before she could speak, Oluo beat her to it.
"So, are you anything after work tonight, Petra?" he asked, his voice more serious than before. There was a hint of something behind his eyes—something softer, more vulnerable.
Petra blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh... no, not really. Why do you ask?"
Oluo rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze flicking away for a second before returning to hers. "I was thinking... maybe we could grab a drink. You know, somewhere that isn't here."
Petra's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't like the casual hangout they'd had at the movies. There was something different about the way he was asking—like he was testing the waters, unsure of what her response would be.
"A drink sounds nice," Petra said softly, a smile creeping onto her face. "I could use one. I haven't gone out for one in a long time, actually..."
Oluo's lips quirked into a small, relieved smile. "Yeah? Cool. There's this bar a few blocks from here. It's nothing fancy, but the drinks are decent, I'd say."
"That sounds good," Petra replied, her smile widening. "I'll meet you after the shift?"
"Sure," Oluo said, the tension in his shoulders easing as he gave her a quick nod. "Just don't be late, rookie."
Petra laughed and gave him a little shove. "I'm actually well-known for my punctuality."
The rest of the day flew by, and before Petra knew it, her shift was over, and the restaurant had quieted down for the night. She hurried to clock out, her nerves buzzing with excitement and anticipation. It felt different tonight—more significant somehow.
By the time she stepped outside into the cool evening air, Oluo was already waiting for her, leaning against the side of the building with his hands in his pockets. He looked relaxed, but there was an undercurrent of something else in his expression—maybe a little nervousness, though he was trying to hide it.
"There you are. Are you ready to go?" he asked, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside her as they started walking toward the bar.
"Yeah," Petra said, feeling a smile tugging at her lips. "You?"
"I'm always ready." Oluo replied, flashing her his signature smirk that always made her heart race.
The walk to the bar was comfortable, the conversation easy as they talked about everything and nothing at the same time. It wasn't until they arrived at the small, dimly lit pub that Petra realized how close they had become—physically, and in every other sense. There was no awkwardness, no tension between them anymore. Just an unspoken understanding.
They found a table near the back, ordered a couple of drinks, and settled in, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses surrounding them. The mood was lighter here, more relaxed, and Petra felt like they could both finally take a breath.
"So," Oluo began, swirling his drink in his hand, "how're you feeling? You've been working at the restaurant for a while now. Still think Levi's going to throw you out at any second?"
Petra chuckled, shaking her head. "Not anymore. I think I've finally earned a little bit of respect... or at least I hope I did."
"Trust me, if you hadn't, Levi would've kicked you out by now," Oluo said with a grin. "He doesn't keep people around unless they've got something to offer."
"Good to know," Petra replied, taking a sip of her drink. "And what about you? You seemed pretty stressed the other day."
Oluo's smile faded slightly, and for a moment, his expression turned serious. He looked down at his drink, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. "Yeah. It's been... rough."
Petra didn't say anything, giving him space to continue if he wanted to. She knew there was more going on with him than he let on—more than just the stress of the kitchen.
"My brother's doing better," Oluo said after a moment, his voice quiet. "But it's still... hard. I've been trying to keep my head above water, but some days it feels like I'm drowning."
Petra reached across the table and placed her hand on his, squeezing gently. "You don't have to do it all alone, you know."
Oluo looked up at her, his eyes softening. "Yeah. I guess I just... I'm not used to leaning on anyone."
"You can lean on me," Petra said softly, her heart pounding in her chest. "I mean it, Oluo. You don't have to carry everything by yourself. I'm your friend."
For a moment, the noise of the bar seemed to fade away, and all that was left was the space between them—the unspoken feelings, the connection they'd been dancing around for weeks.
Oluo's gaze locked with hers, and something shifted in his expression. He leaned forward slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Petra..."
Before he could finish, the waiter arrived with their next round of drinks, breaking the moment and pulling them back to reality.
Oluo chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head. "Timing, huh?"
Petra laughed, feeling her cheeks flush. "Yeah. Perfect timing."
But despite the interruption, the tension between them didn't dissipate. It lingered, just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to resurface.
And as they continued to talk, their hands brushing occasionally, Petra felt something. In her heart, she knew that something had shifted tonight. They were no longer just co-workers, no longer just friends navigating the chaos of Scout's Table.
They have gotten close, and maybe with time, they'll get even closer.