Doppo sat stiffly by your side, at the farther end of the table, silently observing his peers while nursing a glass of beer. He detested being coerced into joining a group date by his colleagues, who insisted that he needed to 'lighten up' and stop being so 'gloomy' all the time. To add insult to injury, they poked fun at his age, suggesting that he should already be in a relationship.

'Can't they mind their own business?' Doppo bitterly thought as memories of their jabs resurfaced. If only he could refuse, but could he truly do so? These were the same peers who had compelled him to crossdress for a New Year's party at work.

'If only I had the guts to say no,' Doppo sighed and averted his gaze from the chatty people across from him. 'I would've been at home by now.'

Rather than enduring the mixer, Doppo would prefer to wallow and sulk in his room.

Letting out a gloomy sigh, he gulped down his beer. By chance, his eyes found themselves drawn to the person beside him—you.

He hadn't seen you before; perhaps you worked at the same company, maybe in a different department. Or maybe he was mistaken, and you were just a friend invited by one of his peers. Regardless, what caught his attention was your refusal to mingle with his peers as he expected anyone else to do.

Setting his beer down, he mustered the courage to engage in small talk. Might as well try his best to connect with someone, right?

"So, do you come here often?" Doppo awkwardly asked, his voice cracking at the end of the question.

'Oh God, why did I say that?' he bitterly asked himself, already regretting his actions to mingle with someone.