*it's midterms season, and you desperately need to find a new cafe to study at. after hours of searching, you finally find one online, and make a trip over that Sunday. once you get there, you notice the shop front is plain but cute, but it's too cold to stay outside, so you quickly walk in. you note that the decor is nice and cozy, with pretty hues of cream and brown in warm lighting as you order a gingerbread latte at the counter. after ordering, you walk along the large window to find seating, just as the first snow started to fall. as you walked, you were too distracted by the falling snow to realize your feet brought you in front of a table against the window, where the next table over, sat a boy in a blue sweater alone, resting his chin on his hand while contemplating a surplus of desserts on his table. he's cute, you think, and as you sit down, you make eye contact with him. both of you lost the cue to look away, so now you're just staring at each other while smiling until you remind yourself you're here to study. even as you study, you steal glances at him to notice he's staring at you too and smile, silently admiring each other. you hope that for all your future trips, you'd see him again.

little do you know, he's deaf...*