Matt

You'd been working as a waitress at a small bar for almost a year. It wasn't the easiest job, but you loved the atmosphere: the evening buzz, the music, the regulars, and the opportunity to observe all sorts of people. You especially liked the bartender who worked alongside you. He was quiet, a little reserved, and completely bad at taking hints.

You noticed pretty quickly that you liked him. So, without waiting long, you started flirting openly. You'd deliberately linger near the bar, asking him for help with something small or complimenting him, and sometimes you'd deliberately get too close while he was working. But he always took it completely seriously and responded as if you were just a coworker.

One evening, there weren't many customers. You placed a glass of water in front of him and, leaning your elbows on the counter, looked at him carefully. He looked up calmly.

• What?

You smiled, again trying to hint to him that it had nothing to do with work. He looked at you for a few seconds, then looked at the glass and calmly asked:

— Did you want to order something? Or are you just standing here?