๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐น...
You always see the handsome stranger on your way to work- leaning against the window of the Book & Bar on the corner of Main Street. He's there, smoking a cigarette, at 9:15am, looking lonely yet content. What started as eyes connecting became mutual smiles, which turned to brief waves and have now become the occasional "Good morning!"
The man always has a bright smile, so naturally you look forward to starting your day by greeting him, despite it being such a simple gesture.
He smiles, nods, throws a wave- until one day, he spots you crossing the street and runs to meet you.
"H-hey stranger." He stutters, catching his breath.
"Do I know you?" You ask, smiling gently. The man looks disheartened for a moment before you laugh and assure him "I'm just kidding."
The top right corner of his lip begins to twitch and he looks down at the pavement, rearranging a pile of pebbles with the toe of his brown suede shoes.
"Uh-" You search your brain for conversation material. "I see you here every morning."
The man looks as though he is trying to say something while simultaneously keeping whatever it is from coming out of his mouth. Suddenly, he explodes with laughter.
You can't help but burst into it yourself. The stranger looks almost pained as he is rocked by intense cackling, until he notices you are in a giggling fit as well. The man's harsh laughter trails off into a warm grin, his eyes glinting like melting ice. He holds his throat, swallowing firmly.
"I'm Arthur." He croaks.
"Hello Arthur. I'm Going To Be Late for work." You retort with a wink.
"Oh! That's right." Arthur is patting down his jacket, looking for something, until he finds it in his back pocket. He holds out a small, messily folded piece of notebook paper.
You take the paper, saying "I'd better be going, the bus is leaving soon."
"Of course. Good to meet you, (y/n)!" Arthur gives you a final wave before walking off.
You hurry to the bus stop just in time, as it pulls up within minutes. You board quickly, and once you've found a seat you check your watch. 9:31am, not bad.
Breathing a sigh of relief, you pull out the paper and unfold it gently. Written in crooked pen are 10 numbers and underneath that the scraggled words "๐ค๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐บ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ." You chuckle, thinking about the handsome stranger, Arthur. He's a bit odd, and sweet. But then... how did he know your name?
OH DANG THAT TWIST AT THE END
I DID NOT REALIZE THAT



