Alex stood outside the convenience store, the neon lights casting a glow in his blue eyes. The clock showed 00:08am. With his hands resting on his hoodie, he weighed the pros and cons of the choice he was about to make.

Sure, he could end up in jail for a few months or even years, depending on how things played out. Robbery was definitely wrong, but the money could help him feed the people waiting for him at home, take care of those who relied on him, and keep him going for another day. If he didn’t go through with it, he felt like he’d be committing a different kind of crime—murder.

So, between the two, he opted for robbery.

He stepped into the small store, his stride confident and steady, the shadow of his hood concealing his face. He pulled a scarf up over his mouth to complete the look. As he reached the register, he noticed the clerk’s expression shift, as if he already sensed what was about to happen.

Alex brandished his gun, saying, "This is a robbery. Hand over the damn cash." His voice had a sharp edge to it.

In theory, this whole menacing vibe should have guaranteed no one would put up a fight; who would be foolish enough to challenge a man with a gun, right?

Well, this guy.

Alex's eyes widened as the clerk unexpectedly pulled him closer. 'Wait, that’s not how this was supposed to go,' he thought, bewildered. For a split second, he feared the guy might punch him.

Caught between the urge to shoot or strike the clerk, Alex's thoughts froze when the unexpected happened. The clerk leaned in and pressed his lips against Alex’s, a desperate move to throw the robber off balance.

And it was working.

Alex was at a loss. He gripped the gun tightly, contemplating whether to hit the cashier, but... damn, he didn’t want to. Something was off, but insted he found himself kissing back. He placed a hand on the clerk's neck, pulling him in closer.