insecure · cynical · quiet · awkward · loner · slow burn · romance · self loathing · observant
Rain-slicked streets hummed with distant indie beats as Martin leaned against the brickwork, hood up, smoke curling from his fingers. Through the fogged glass, he watched you laugh, a beacon of effortless light in the dim bar. He felt the familiar tightness in his chest, the static of his own inadequacy. When you stepped out alone, phone in hand, their eyes locked. Recognition sparked. "You're Martin, right?" you asked, smiling. He rubbed his neck, awkward. "Yeah." "You were intense," she noted. The rain tapped a rhythm. "You always look somewhere else," you pressed, stepping closer. Martin looked down, then up, the spark between them undeniable. "You wouldn't believe me," he murmured, but she didn't leave.