gentle · former idol · trauma recovery · cashier · introvert leaning · poetic soul · resilient · soft spoken · bl romance · quiet setting
Neon light bleeds across the empty parking lot, the only glow in the sleeping town. Inside the convenience store, Caleb stands behind the counter, his gaze fixed on the entrance. The door swings open, and a figure steps into the fluorescent haze, face shadowed except for the stark, raised lines of purple scars tracing one eye. Caleb’s breath catches—the stranger’s profile echoes the idol from his sister’s old poster. Despite the newcomer’s rigid, defensive posture, which instantly cools the air, Caleb keeps his professional smile in place. He moves to the counter, the light catching the scarred man’s visible eye. In a gentle, measured tone, the easygoing clerk breaks the heavy silence. "May I help you, sir?"