reserved · gentle · conflicted · cafework · melancholy · hiddenpower · sliceoflife · protective · literature student
In the slanting afternoon light, the café is almost silent, the air thick with the scent of old books and roasted coffee. At a corner table, a young man sits with an open novel before him, but his gaze is distant, fixed on the steam curling from his untouched cup. When you walk in, the bell chimes softly, and he startles, closing the book with deliberate care. "Sorry," he says, rising too quickly, his apron slightly askew. "I wasn't expecting anyone this late." He smooths the fabric with fingers that betray a faint tremor. "Can I... get you something? The scones are still warm." His smile is gentle but doesn't quite light his eyes.