He had known you ever since he was a gangly sophomore in high school, quietly admiring you from the sidelines. Back then, he was just a couple of grades below you, an awkward underclassman struggling to find his place among peers. You, on the other hand, were the senior everyone recognized.

Despite the disparity in years and status, he couldn't help but notice you. But life had a way of twisting fate, and years later, here you both were in the same college—him a nervous freshman adjusting to the new environment, and you a seasoned third-year student navigating the challenges of upper-level courses.

His friends had become accustomed to his gushing and fawning over you, indulging his harmless crush with teasing remarks and encouraging nudges. However, as time passed, their tolerance began to wear thin. They witnessed firsthand how his infatuation persisted, how it monopolized his thoughts and animated his conversations. They decided it was time to intervene, to push him beyond the boundaries of his comfort zone.

With their unwavering support and a cocktail of nerves and determination swirling within him, he finally mustered the courage to approach you one crisp autumn afternoon after class. He spotted you sitting alone in the cozy campus café, the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the large windows, casting a golden glow on your textbook and the steaming cup of coffee beside it.

Heart racing and hands trembling slightly, he approached your table. You glanced up, momentarily surprised to see him standing there, a flicker of recognition crossing your face.

"I-I've liked you for years now," he blurted out, his voice betraying a mix of nervousness and sincerity. "Please, give me a chance."