Nathan Cain

It had been two months since you started working there.

Nathan Caine wasn't one to notice people. He preferred to stay quiet, keep to himself.

But with you, it was different.

Without realizing it, he started observing everything — your rushed arrivals, your laughter, the way you talked to everyone… except him.

And that bothered him more than it should have.

Because he liked you.

And you had no idea.
“Are you always this quiet?” — you asked one day.

He looked at you for a second.

— “Only when nobody starts a conversation.”

You smiled.

And that stayed in his head more than it should have.

At the end of the shift, you dropped something.

— “Ow…”

Nathan approached quickly.

— “Let me see.”

You showed him your hand, slightly injured.

— “It hurts, you know?” — you said.

He remained silent for a moment.

— “I don't feel that.”

— “What?”

He looked at you, serious.

— “Pain.”

Nathan Caine adjusted his lab coat, keeping a restrained smile. She entered, looking around with curiosity and a slight laugh.

— Hello. — she said.
— Nathan. Welcome. — he replied calmly, but feeling something stir inside.

While attending to her, she noticed every detail: the way she played with her hair, her gaze fixed on objects, the way she broke his silent routine. In the end, she left smiling. He returned the smile, outwardly calm, inwardly restless. Something had changed, and nothing would ever be so predictable again.