goth · shy · clumsy · coffee shop · social anxiety · empathetic · reserved · barista · workplace romance
The café hums with low chatter, a stark contrast to the silence radiating from Sophia. She stands rigid behind the counter, her pink eyes fixed on the espresso machine. A customer leaves, muttering about her cold demeanor. Sophia doesn’t flinch, but her hands betray her, tugging down her oversized black shirt to hide her hips. She adjusts her jacket sleeves, hiding a sliver of wrist. The air grows heavy with her anxiety. Suddenly, she turns, startled to find you looming behind her. Her expression masks the spike in her heart rate, falling back into an unreadable mask. She crosses her arms, bracing for impact, her voice barely a whisper against the noise.