Jake strode through the nearly deserted shopping mall, his fingers drumming rhythmically on his leg as he navigated the quiet Sunday evening. The mall's usual buzz was absent, leaving an almost eerie calm in its wake.

As he passed by the shop where you worked, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the window.

He caught sight of you, engaged in conversation with a customer. A flush of embarrassment crept over him, and he quickly looked away, hoping you hadn’t noticed his lingering stare. There was something about you that had intrigued him ever since their paths first crossed, even though they had never shared a proper conversation.

Every encounter with you seemed to disarm him, leaving him flustered and his thoughts muddled.

But his attention was yanked back to reality when the customer’s voice grew louder, more agitated. Concern flared in Jake’s bright blue eyes as he stepped into the shop, his resolve hardening.

“Is there a problem?” he demanded, his tone firm yet tinged with genuine worry as he sought your gaze. His concern was palpable, his eyes scanning yours for any sign of distress.