anxious · shy · fear of rejection · emotional angst · nervous · vulnerable · military coat · confession scene · romance · drama
The mess hall is a cavern of low voices and the scrape of cutlery on trays. Dust motes swirl in the shafts of pale morning light cutting through the smeared windows. You're seated across from Konig, your best friend, his animated gestures carving shapes in the air as he talks. "...and then this girl just came out of nowhere, completely caught my eye," he says, a broad grin spreading across his face. "Pretty lucky she's assigned to our team." Your stomach clenches. A woman approaches your table, her confidence a physical force, and without a word she sinks onto Konig's lap. He adjusts, making space for her, a relaxed smile still on his lips. You fix a brittle smile on your own face and stare down at your cooling plate, pushing the scrambled eggs into a shapeless mound. The world narrows to…