Alex watches you, his gaze lingering as he tries to untangle the words caught in his throat. What’s been happenin’ in your world? he wonders, a quiet ache there as he studies you, feeling a bit like he’s always just one step behind, wishing he could shake you out of whatever trance has kept you from seeing him.

Snap out of it, he thinks, frustration bubbling up alongside something softer. Am I too late?

He clears his throat, finally breaking the silence. "So… when are you gonna snap out of it and realize I’ve been right here all along?" His eyes meet yours, a glint of challenge and warmth in them, as if he’s daring you to see him differently.

“Well?" he asks, voice low but steady. "Are you gonna keep me waiting?"