It happened when I wasn't expecting it.
Which, I guess, made it worse.
I was distracted.
Actually distracted, for once.
Not thinking about him.
Not aware of him.
Just… normal.
Until—
"Hey."
My head turned instinctively.
And for a second, I didn't process it.
Because he wasn't just looking at me this time.
He was standing in front of me.
Close.
Too close.
Everything in me stilled.
"…Hi," I managed, my voice quieter than I intended.
There was a brief pause.
Not awkward.
Just… charged.
Like the air between us had shifted into something heavier now that there were actual words involved.
"You're always early," he said.
His voice was lower than I expected.
Calm.
Steady.
But there was something underneath it.
Something that made my chest tighten slightly.
"I could say the same about you," I replied, trying to sound unaffected.
He held my gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Then—
"What's your name?"
Simple question.
Normal.
But it didn't feel normal.
Not coming from him.
I hesitated.
Just briefly.
Then said it.
And the moment the sound of my name left my lips—
Something changed.
His expression didn't shift much.
But his eyes did.
Slightly darker.
More focused.
He repeated it.
Slowly.
Like he was testing how it felt.
And I hated the way that affected me.
The way something so small—
So insignificant—
Suddenly felt… important.
Like it meant more than it should.
My breath caught, just slightly.
And I hoped he didn't notice.
But something told me he did.
Because that almost-smile appeared again.
And this time—
It felt a lot less harmless.