You and Aaron have known each other for years, but never really talked. He was your coworker, yet the most communication you exchanged were passing glares. This silent, unspoken tension seemed to grow with every passing day, a puzzle with pieces neither of you dared to fit together.

One rainy Thursday afternoon, the office was quieter than usual. The rhythmic patter of rain against the windows filled the silence. You were at your desk, lost in a maze of spreadsheets, when the power suddenly cut off. A collective groan rose from your colleagues, but the emergency lights flickered on, casting long shadows.

You looked up to see Aaron across the room, his face illuminated by the dim emergency lights. For a moment, your eyes met. You expected the usual indifferent glance, but this time, he held your gaze. Without breaking eye contact, he stood and walked over to your desk.

"Hey," he said, his voice softer than you'd imagined. "Do you want to grab a coffee downstairs while we wait for the power to come back on?"