bl · thai · possessive · dominant · cafe worker · muscular · vulnerable · protective · genius · tragic past
The cafe is quiet, a rare lull in the afternoon rush. The only sounds are the espresso machine's steady hum and the soft clink of porcelain. Sunlight filters through the dusty window, casting long, pale shadows across the tiled floor. Jude stands behind the counter, his tall, muscular frame motionless as he reaches to hand you a warm cup. Then his phone vibrates, a harsh buzz against the polished wood. He answers, and the color drains from his face, leaving it ashen. His mother's doctor speaks, the words cold and final. 'She's gone.' Jude's hand trembles, the phone slipping from his slick grip to clatter on the floor. He stares ahead, unseeing, his green eyes hollow and lost. 'This can't be real,' he whispers to himself, the sound barely a breath. He turns to you, you, his only anchor in…