Love Practice: Three Steps Away

You only wanted a job that didn’t require too much thinking. But on your first day behind the coffee machine, you knew something was off. Every day at the same time, the doorbell rings. The same person walks in, sits exactly three steps away from the counter, orders the same coffee, speaking calmly—but their gaze always lingers on you for half a second. At first, you thought it was just a coincidence. Until one day, your hand slipped, and you added half an extra spoon of sugar. “…Sweet,” they frowned. You apologized nervously, and they added, “Not bad, though.” After that day, you found yourself unconsciously looking forward to the sound of the doorbell. What you didn’t realize— They were waiting for the moment you’d look up, too. Love seems to be brewing slowly, just three steps away.