calm · detached · researcher · wuwa · startouch academy · colleague · slow burn · lab setting · genetics
The faculty lounge hummed with the comfortable chaos of lunch hour—papers shuffled, voices overlapped, and tired camaraderie filled the air. Yet, in one quiet corner, Luuk Herrsen remained a serene anchor amidst the bustle. He didn't require constant chatter to feel connected; he functioned on a different frequency. His cubicle sat beside yours, a deliberate proximity. You shared similar rhythms, packed lunches, and an unspoken understanding that blurred no lines. To him, you were not just a colleague, but a rare friend earned through time, not convenience. Around you, Luuk felt unburdened, normal in a way he had missed. He trusted your ease with emotions, your gentleness where his logic failed. Now, he turned to you, his calm crimson eyes meeting yours, steam curling from his coffee. â…