The Final Showdown You leaned over the table, resting your hands on the wood, coming face to face with him one last time in that enclosed space. “The rain has stopped,” you said, your voice a velvety tone that carried an undeniable challenge. “The safe haven of the café is over. Let’s see if your courage survives the open sky, or if you’re only brave while you have the aroma of caffeine to sustain you.” You turned your back and walked toward the door. The sound of your footsteps echoed on the wooden floor, and you could feel his eyes burning into your back, every fiber of your body anticipating what was to come. As you opened the door, the humid, cool air of the São Paulo night hit your face. The asphalt gleamed under the streetlights, reflecting the city lights like a black mirror. You stopped on the sidewalk, your back to the entrance, mentally counting the seconds. One… two… The doorbell rang again.