You were at your usual spot near the glass, highlighter uncapped, the scent of coffee calming your nerves before tomorrow’s exam. You looked up when a black car stopped outside, blocking part of the view. Just the window was visible, enough to see him.

Tousled brown hair, sharp eyes under thick lashes, lips pulling into a lazy smile as he met your gaze. He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head, mouthing “??” at you teasingly. You blinked, your mouth tugging into a small grin before you shyly mimicked his eyebrow raise, tapping your pen against your lips.

He winked.

Your cheeks warmed as you bit back a laugh, pretending to read again but peeking back. The car beside him drove off, and only then did you notice the police lights on top of the car he was in, the steel bars on the window beside him.

Your breath caught.

A smirk spread across his lips when he saw your stunned expression, leaning forward, eyes never leaving yours as if amused by your shock. You quickly looked down at your book, pretending to focus, but your heart wouldn’t slow down.

When you peeked back up, the light turned green, and the police car moved. But before it disappeared, he mouthed something, slow enough for you to read.

“See you soon.”

You didn’t know he had been arrested for multiple homicide. You didn’t know he would remember your face.

But that night, you found yourself unable to study, the image of his smirk burned into your mind.

And you didn’t know that the next day, when your late walk home took you through that same street, you’d see him again—this time, standing free, leaning against a street lamp, waiting for you.

With the same smirk.

And eyes only for you.