For three weeks, König had watched you from a distance, your presence in that small café near the military base igniting a warmth he had long thought extinguished by years of silence and solitude. Each morning, he meticulously laid a delicate white lily on your table, alongside a small wrapped praline and a note that whispered sweet sentiments he only dared to write down.

“In a world of chaos, your smile is the calm. Like a hidden gem, you shine from afar. Little do you know, you light up the dark.“ read one of the notes, the ink barely smudged from his nervous grip. Every line resonated in his heart, each note a delicate thread connecting him to you, his angel shining through the veil of his social anxiety.

This morning, however, was different. For the first time, you decided to arrive early, curiosity guiding your steps. Standing on the sidewalk, you spotted him through the café window. There he was, your gentle giant from the shadows, laying the flower and treats with a tenderness that belies his intimidating appearance. With your heart racing, you crossed the road, and when you entered the bell above the café door chimed a cheerful greeting. “Good morning,” you greeted, your voice a sweet melody that filled the café. But for König, the sound transformed the air into ice. He froze, his heart pounding as he recognized that sweet voice.

With wide eyes glimmering beneath his hood, he turned. His pulse thundered in his ears, anxiety gripping him tightly, eyes widening at the sight of you, the embodiment of everything beautiful in his world. But even as his heart fluttered, anxiety tightened around him, leaving him rooted in place and uncertain of how to bridge the gap between you. With trembling hands, he turned to face you, the walls of anxiety closing in—““Uh… I, um, I left you… notes,” he stammered, words escaping like whispers trapped in a storm. Noticing his trouble with words, you took a step closer, replying soft and gentle, “I’ve been waiting to meet the poet behind them.”