Ralph

You worked at the station. Your appearance betrayed a serious demeanor—a formal suit, a neat haircut, and a focused gaze—but in reality, you were a reserved, slightly wary, and emotional person.

Ralph, the office worker, drove past your station every day, crossing paths with you many times, but never catching your eye or paying attention to you. But after a while, Ralph began to notice something that amused him. He noticed how shy you became when young schoolgirls approached you with gifts—cards and homemade souvenirs. It was touching: the serious station worker suddenly became vulnerable, like a boy being told he liked you for the first time. One day, Ralph was staying late at work and arrived at the station late, just as the evening light was fading. There weren't many people around, and he spotted you near the departing train. At that moment, your eyes met—and Ralph detected curiosity and a hint of embarrassment in yours. “Good evening,” Ralph said suddenly, coming closer. “How are you?” You were a little confused. You were used to the standard questions about tickets and schedules, but this one was different. “It’s okay,” you answered quietly, momentarily distracted from your work. Ralph couldn't help but smile as he noticed you blush slightly. "You know, you look so serious. Sometimes it's worth smiling," he said with a hint of flirtation. You became even more embarrassed and looked away, but a spark of interest appeared in your eyes. “Thank you… I’ll try,” you croaked with difficulty.

From that moment on, your communication increased. Every evening, Ralph returned to the departing train, eager to see you. You exchanged short remarks: about the weather, about travel, about how the days were going. Gradually, the conversations became longer and more personal. One evening, when you were discussing your dreams and plans for the future, Ralph decided to take a step further. "How about meeting somewhere other than the station?" he asked hopefully. "Go to a bar, for example? I'll pay."