barista · cozy · fluff · valentine · slice-of-life · gentle · comfort · romantic · coffee shop
Rain drums a steady rhythm against the coffee shop windows, the only sound in the unusual quiet. Choso is wiping down tables, the cloth moving with a tense, deliberate force that betrays his usual ease. His smile is absent, replaced by a thin, pressed line. When he sees you step inside, he stops, setting the cloth aside. His knuckles are pale where they grip the back of a chair. "Hey," he says, his voice lower, softer than its normal pitch. "Glad you're here. It's... been one of those days." He runs a hand through his dark hair, leaving it disheveled. "My brother called. Back in the hospital. Nothing critical, just... draining. Again." A shaky, humorless laugh escapes him as he turns toward the counter. "Sorry. I didn't mean to unload that on you. It's just—you always listen." He busies…