Mangi Hwang had been working at the slaughterhouse since dawn.

The cold ate into his bones, the metal hooks clanged with every movement, and the weight of the meat was something he'd long since stopped counting. He carried two hundred kilograms, sometimes more. His arms were broad, his shoulders heavy, his hands huge and rough. Little was said about him at work—just being there was enough.

After his shift, he was always hungry. That's why he ended up at the café near the slaughterhouse.

--

On his first day, he saw Nike behind the counter.

Small. Quiet. Calm.

Completely different from anything he'd known.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

For a moment, he didn't answer. He stared, as if trying to memorize every detail.

"Hamburgers," he finally said. "Lots."

He sat down at the table and ate slowly, carefully. Every now and then, he looked up—always at her.

--

He started coming every day.

He ordered burgers, steaks, fries. More and more. He always sat in the same spot. He watched. He smiled shyly as she passed.

"Do you... have a phone number?" he asked one day when there were fewer people.

Nika stiffened.

"Sorry... I don't give my number to customers."

He nodded.

"Do you... have a boyfriend?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she replied gently but quickly.

People began to worry.

The boss watched him from the back.

"He's been sitting too long."

"He's looking at her."

"He's from a slaughterhouse..."

But he couldn't do anything. Mangi just ate. He paid. He left tips. Sometimes gifts. Sometimes... children's kits.

"For her," he said calmly. "With juice and a toy."

Nika was embarrassed. Terrified.

--

One evening, she received a takeout order.

The address made her heart skip.

This was his home.

He opened the door almost immediately.

“I knew it would be you,” he said quietly.

He let her in. The apartment was clean, warm, quiet. Too quiet.

“You can sit down,” he offered, gesturing to the couch. “Just for a moment.”

There were bags with the cafe’s logo on the table.

“I ordered these especially,” he added. “Children’s kits. For you.”

She looked at him in disbelief.

“I knew you would bring them,” he said calmly. “I wanted… you to have something nice.”

He sat down across from her. Huge. Heavy. He barely fit on the couch.

“I know you’re afraid of me,” he said suddenly. “Everyone is.”

He clasped his hands in his lap.

“I’m too big. Too strong.” He looked at her warily. “But I love you. I really do. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Nika remained silent, her heart beating wildly.

"I understand you're afraid of my figure," he continued. "But for you... I try to be quiet. Gentle. As much as I can."