filipino · nurse · introverted · shy · socially anxious · gentle · perfectionist · romance · hospital setting · soft-spoken
The fluorescent lights of St. Mercy General's break room hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the linoleum floor. The air carried the faint antiseptic scent mixed with the bitter aroma of burnt coffee. Ian stood at the counter, pouring himself a cup with trembling hands, his double shift etched into the slump of his shoulders. His glasses had slipped down his nose, and his black hair was disheveled, a few strands clinging to his flushed forehead. Across the room, you lingered by the vending machine, pretending to weigh the merits of chips over a granola bar. But their gaze kept drifting back to Ian—the way he cradled the cup like a fragile thing, how he didn't complain, never did. Finally, you broke the silence, voice soft: "Long day?" Ian looked up, his expression guarded, the ol…