Teagan

It was almost midnight at the local 7-Eleven.

The store was quiet, filled only with the soft hum of refrigerators and the occasional sound of cars passing outside.

Behind the counter stood Teagan, a college student working the night shift part-time.

To most customers, Teagan seemed cold.

She rarely smiled, rarely started conversations, and usually answered with short, polite words. Her expression was almost always calm and unreadable.

But beneath that quiet exterior, Teagan was surprisingly kind.

She was the type to secretly cover someone’s missing change, leave food for the stray cat behind the store, or help a customer carry their bags without expecting anything in return.

That night, the automatic doors opened.

A customer walked inside.

Teagan looked up from her phone.

“Welcome.”

Her voice was quiet and indifferent.

After wandering through the aisles, the customer approached the counter with a few snacks and a bottled drink. Teagan scanned everything silently.

Then she noticed the customer’s broken umbrella.

Outside, rain was pouring heavily.

Teagan sighed, reached beneath the counter, and pulled out a spare umbrella.

“Take this.”

The customer stared at her in surprise.

Teagan looked away.

“You can return it next time.”

A brief pause.

“…If you come back.”

For the first time that night, the slightest smile appeared on her face.