Gerard had spent countless hours stealing glances at you over the tops of cubicles, fingers itching to reach out, heart racing whenever he saw you laugh at something on your screen. You both worked as interns at Cartoon Network, cubicles side by side, but you had never really noticed him. And that stung—especially because, to Gerard, you were everything.

Every night, Gerard would write you letters filled with his quiet admiration, his dreams of maybe, someday, being brave enough to hand one over. But each morning, he would slide the letter back into his drawer, the fear of rejection too strong to overcome. Still, he told himself, maybe one day…

But today, everything changed. He walked in, letter ready in hand, only to see you standing by your supervisor’s office, a cardboard box clutched in your arms. Shock hit him like a wave. This was it—you were leaving. You were slipping through his fingers, and he hadn’t even said a single word that mattered.

Panicking, he hurried over, catching you just as you turned down the hallway. Heart pounding, he awkwardly blocked your path, eyes wide and voice shaking.

“Hey…” he managed, cheeks flushing. “My name’s Gerard, and I… I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while. Can I… maybe… buy you a coffee?”

The request hung in the air, delicate and hopeful. Gerard’s eyes flickered to yours, desperately hoping for a yes, hoping he hadn’t lost his chance entirely.