Chapter 8: Angela and Sean’s Spark

#### **Chapter 8: Angela and Sean’s Spark**

Angela tapped her fingers on the table, glancing around the café while waiting for her coffee. It was a slow afternoon, and her friends were still busy with work. She had taken the day off to relax, something she didn’t often get to do. Being the easygoing one among Keisha’s friends had its perks, but it also meant she was sometimes overlooked. Not that she minded—Angela enjoyed the peace and quiet.

_"Two iced caramel macchiatos for Angela!"_

She stood up to grab her order, humming to herself as she did. Her eyes wandered around the room, until she caught sight of a familiar face—Sean, one of Jarren’s friends. He was sitting by the window, casually scrolling through his phone with an air of calm confidence. He had always been a bit of a mystery to her. While Jarren was loud and commanding, Sean was the complete opposite. He was quiet, but there was something undeniably magnetic about him.

Angela smiled to herself. She had noticed Sean before, of course. How could she not? With his sharp features, laid-back attitude, and that mischievous twinkle in his eye, Sean was hard to ignore. But they had never really interacted beyond the occasional polite nod.

Maybe today was different.

_"Sean, right?"_ Angela greeted him as she approached his table.

Sean looked up, momentarily surprised but quickly recovered, flashing her a friendly smile. _"Angela, right? One of Keisha’s friends?"_

_"The very one,"_ she replied with a playful grin as she sat down across from him, uninvited but not unwelcome.

_"What brings you here?"_ Sean asked, his tone relaxed as always. He leaned back in his chair, seeming to enjoy her company already.

_"Day off. Needed a break from all the chaos at work,"_ Angela said, stirring her drink lazily. _"And you? Just killing time?"_

_"Sort of,"_ Sean replied with a shrug. _"I usually come here to unwind. Nakakapagod din 'yung trabaho, you know?"_

_"Ah, the life of a rich CEO’s friend,"_ Angela teased, her eyes twinkling. _"Must be so tough."_

Sean chuckled, shaking his head. _"It’s not as glamorous as it looks. Jarren’s intense, and keeping up with him can be exhausting."_

_"I can imagine,"_ Angela said, nodding. _"I’ve seen how Keisha and Jarren butt heads. Parang fireworks sa tuwing magkasama sila."_

Sean smirked. _"Yeah, they’re a volatile pair. But I think deep down, they kind of like the chaos."_

_"Or maybe they just like annoying each other,"_ Angela quipped, making Sean laugh.

For a moment, they fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their drinks and watching the world pass by outside the window. Angela felt oddly at ease with Sean, like they didn’t need to force a conversation. It was refreshing, considering how loud and chaotic her life could get with her friends.

_"You know,"_ Sean began, breaking the silence, _"you’re not what I expected."_

_"Oh? And what exactly did you expect?"_ Angela asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued.

_"Well, I don’t know,"_ Sean admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. _"I guess I thought you’d be more like Keisha. Intense, driven, always serious."_

Angela laughed softly. _"Keisha’s got her reasons. She’s had to work hard to get where she is. But me? I’ve always been the one who just... goes with the flow."_

_"I noticed,"_ Sean said, a small smile playing on his lips. _"It’s nice. Refreshing, actually. You don’t see that a lot around here."_

Angela shrugged, her playful grin returning. _"Life’s too short to be stressed all the time. I’d rather enjoy it while I can."_

_"I like that philosophy,"_ Sean said thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on her a little longer than necessary.

---

**Later that week, Angela found herself thinking about Sean more than usual.** They had exchanged numbers that day at the café, and their conversations had been frequent but light. Witty banter, teasing remarks, and subtle flirtations filled their text messages, and Angela couldn’t deny the excitement she felt every time her phone pinged with a new message from him.

_"So, what’s going on with you and Sean?"_ Maria asked one evening as they were hanging out at Keisha’s apartment.

_"What do you mean?"_ Angela replied, feigning innocence as she scrolled through her phone.

_"Come on, Ang,"_ Maria said with a knowing look. _"You two have been texting non-stop. Something’s definitely up."_

Keisha, who had been quietly listening from the kitchen, raised an eyebrow. _"Sean, as in Jarren’s friend?"_

_"Yes, that Sean,"_ Maria confirmed, smirking.

Angela shrugged nonchalantly, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away. _"We’re just talking. He’s cool, that’s all."_

_"Hmm, ‘cool’ huh?"_ Maria teased. _"He’s more than cool, girl. Admit it, you like him."_

Angela rolled her eyes playfully. _"I mean, I guess he’s kinda cute. But it’s not like we’re serious or anything. We’re just getting to know each other."_

_"Right,"_ Keisha said, leaning against the counter with a skeptical look. _"Just be careful, Angela. Sean may seem laid-back, but he’s still part of Jarren’s circle."_

_"And what’s that supposed to mean?"_ Angela asked, frowning slightly.

_"It means,"_ Keisha said, her tone cautious, _"that if you’re going to get involved with him, just make sure you’re ready for the complications that come with it."_

_"Keisha’s right,"_ Maria added. _"Jarren and his friends are part of a different world. They’re not like us."_

Angela sighed, a bit frustrated with her friends' warnings. _"I know that. I’m not looking to marry the guy. I’m just having fun."_

Keisha exchanged a glance with Maria but didn’t push the issue further.

---

**Meanwhile, Sean was having a conversation of his own with Jarren and the guys.**

_"So, I heard you’ve been spending time with Angela,"_ Jarren commented casually during one of their business meetings.

Sean looked up from his laptop, mildly surprised. _"Yeah, we’ve been talking. Why?"_

_"Just curious,"_ Jarren said with a smirk. _"She’s different from the girls you usually go for."_

_"Different how?"_ Sean asked, narrowing his eyes.

_"She’s more... carefree,"_ Jarren explained, choosing his words carefully. _"You’re usually into the more serious types."_

Sean shrugged, leaning back in his chair. _"Maybe I’m tired of serious. Angela’s fun, and I like that about her."_

_"Fun’s good,"_ Gabriel chimed in, grinning. _"But is she your type?_"

_"She’s not just fun,"_ Sean said defensively, a little more serious than he intended. _"There’s more to her than that. She’s laid-back, but she’s also smart, kind... easy to talk to."_

Jarren raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the shift in Sean’s tone. _"Sounds like you’re into her more than you’re letting on."_

Sean chuckled, though there was a hint of discomfort in his voice. _"Maybe I am. I don’t know. We’re just talking for now, but... we’ll see where it goes."_

---

**Later that night, Sean and Angela met up again.**

They decided to keep it simple—grabbing dinner at a small, cozy restaurant away from the noise of the city. As they sat across from each other, the conversation flowed easily, just like it always did. They joked about their friends, talked about work, and shared stories from their past.

_"So, do you always charm your way into people’s lives like this?"_ Angela teased, taking a bite of her pasta.

_"Only when it works,"_ Sean shot back with a grin.

Angela laughed, shaking her head. _"You’re trouble, Sean."_

_"And you’re not?"_ he countered, leaning in slightly.

For a moment, their playful banter faded, and the air between them shifted. Angela felt her heart skip a beat as Sean’s gaze locked onto hers. There was something in his eyes—something that told her this wasn’t just casual flirting anymore.

_"Maybe I am,"_ Angela said softly, a small smile playing on her lips.

Sean didn’t say anything in response, but the way he looked at her—like she was the only person in the room—said more than words ever could.

---

As the night went on, the line between friendship and something more began to blur. Angela could feel it, and so could Sean. There was a spark between them, something that neither of them had expected, but neither could deny.

_"You know,"_ Sean said as they walked out of the restaurant, _"I never thought I’d meet someone like you."_

_"Like me?"_ Angela echoed, raising an eyebrow.

_"Yeah,"_ Sean said, shoving his hands into his pockets. _"Someone who makes me forget about all the noise in my life."_

Angela smiled, her heart swelling at his words. _"Well, I guess we

’re both surprising each other."_

As they stood there under the streetlights, the subtle flirtations that had started between them were now something more. It wasn’t just fun anymore—it was real.

And as they parted ways that night, Angela couldn’t help but wonder what this spark between them could turn into.