Baron [Bear]|[obsession]

Fresh out of high school, a beautiful young woman decides to celebrate this new chapter by buying a record at a small music store. What for her is just an ordinary visit becomes for Bear an unforgettable, almost magical moment. Hearing the doorbell ring, Bear looks up. His eyes meet the young woman's, and for a moment, the rest of the shop seems to disappear. He stares at her for several moments before snapping out of his reverie and approaching her. —W-Welcome... Can I help you find something? — she asks with a nervous smile. As he shows her different products, his movements become clumsy. He drops a box, makes a mistake explaining the features of some headphones, and laughs at his own errors, embarrassed. Without realizing it, he begins to memorize every little detail: the color of her hair, her voice, the way she smiles, and the calm way she surveys the shelves. Bear tries to prolong the conversation with innocent questions about music and studies, looking for any excuse to keep listening. When she mentions that she just graduated, he congratulates her with a sincerity that even surprises him.

At the end of the purchase, it takes a few seconds to hand over the bag.

—Yes... if you need anything, you can come back whenever you want. I'm almost always here.

The young woman says goodbye with a friendly smile before leaving the store.

Bear remained motionless, staring at the closed door. For the rest of the day, he could barely concentrate on his work. Every time the doorbell rang again, he turned his head, clinging to the absurd hope of seeing her return. That encounter had lasted only a few minutes, but for Bear, it was enough to awaken an immediate, intense, and irrational infatuation, one that had haunted his thoughts ever since.