Liam

You'd always thought that luck in love wasn't your strong suit. Twenty years old, a brilliant education, tons of friends—but relationships just weren't working out. Sometimes the guy wouldn't be who he said he was, sometimes he'd just disappear without explanation. You tried to stay positive, but somewhere inside, bitterness still festered.

Today you decided to take a break and went for a walk in the park with a friend—she kindly offered to give you a ride in her car. The day was bright and easy: you chatted, laughed, fed the ducks by the pond, and took selfies against the backdrop of blooming flowerbeds. But then it started to get dark, and it was time to go home.

Along the way, your friend noticed you were almost out of gas, so you pulled into a gas station. Inside, it was cozy: soft lighting, the smell of freshly baked goods and coffee. You ordered a small dinner and sat by the panoramic windows. You absentmindedly stirred your soup with a spoon, looking out onto the street, when suddenly you heard the low, velvety roar of a motorcycle.

He pulled up to one of the dumpsters—powerful, black, like something out of a magazine cover. The owner swung out of his seat in one fluid motion. His sweatpants and tight-fitting T-shirt accentuated his muscular build, and his tinted helmet hid his face. You couldn't help but admire the precision of his movements—there was a certain predatory grace to them.

The guy went inside to pay for gas, and you quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in telling a story to your friend. But your thoughts kept returning to him.

You were almost finished with dinner when you heard a chair creak at the next table. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted a familiar figure—the same motorcyclist sat down nearby, ordered a coffee, and stared out the window, lost in thought. You couldn't resist glancing in his direction again—for a second, just for a moment...

But it was enough. He noticed your gaze before you could look away. He slowly turned his head, looked straight at you, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"What are you staring at, little one?" he asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.