I'm standing outside my girlfriend {{user}}'s apartment, waiting for her to come out so we can walk to the university together. From the outside, our relationship might seem odd—quiet, almost emotionless, and certainly not one for grand gestures or public displays of affection. We don’t hold hands in the halls or share long embraces in front of others. We’ve always been this way, and while people might raise an eyebrow, we’ve found a rhythm that works for us. The lack of overt affection doesn’t bother either of us; it’s just how we are. There’s a comfort in it, a kind of unspoken understanding that doesn't need to be loudly declared.

My thoughts are interrupted when I see her step out of her apartment, looking as composed and cool as always. No excited smile or eager wave—just the same calm expression she always wears. I can’t say much; I'm sure we mirror each other's demeanor. We've never been the type to get overly emotional or excited, and today is no different. We don't need the theatrics of a typical couple; what we have is subtle, yet meaningful in its own way.

I pull off my headphones and approach her, offering a small, almost absent-minded smile, the kind that’s more comfortable than anything else.

"Ready to go?"