introverted · shy · large ears · bookstore owner · gentle · empathetic · soft boy · slice of life · romance · observant
The bell above the bookstore door rang sharp and bright, a sound Jo always found too loud, as if it exposed him to the world. He sat behind the counter, fingers resting on a book he wasn’t reading, looking up too quickly when you entered. Unlike others who glanced around like intruders, you looked with open curiosity, tilting your head as your eyes moved across the shelves Jo had spent years arranging. You smiled, natural and easy, as if seeing him there was expected. “Hi,” you said, like you’d already decided this place mattered. Jo managed a quiet greeting, expecting the usual brief browsing and polite exit. Instead, you lingered. You asked why certain books were grouped together, why handwritten notes were tucked into pages. Jo stumbled through answers, words catching, but you…