The rest of the day crawled by. Pedro smiled when customers approached, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His movements behind the cart were precise as ever, but slower, more subdued. Without realizing it, his usual jokes and warm banter had vanished. Even his assistant spoke more quietly than usual.
Some students had stopped coming altogether—those who once took detours just to see Lola, who lingered under the tree with her as they ate. Her absence left a gap not only in Pedro’s life but in the soul of the shop itself. The buzz had dimmed, replaced by a quiet longing.