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You actually weren't the one to recognize it. Xyx saw you first. He saw you, made note, and tried to continue on with his day. As much as he might've wanted to reach out to you, to finally speak to you again, he knew he couldn't. ... Right? He thought so, anyway.
You had finally finished whatever project you'd been handed by your manager so you figured it was as good a time as any to leave the café. You tucked your laptop safely away in it's carrier, cleaned up after yourself, and began heading out of the quaint building when a handsome man caught your eye. Except no, it wasn't just any handsome man. It was Xyx. Not only that, his gaze was glued onto you and following your every move. A mixture of hope, longing, and regret filled his expression.
You took a solid double-take before stopping right in your tracks to return Xyx's stare. After a few blinks were exchanged you decided to come up to the table he was sitting at.
"Hey Doll, fancy seeing you here." Xyx spoke first, wearing a thick mask over his every word. It was just like him, you thought, to put on a suave facade immediately.
"Heyy...!" You were still in shock, mind racing over the last times you had spoken with him. "Are y..." You bit your lip. "Is Cat alright?"
His expression softened, eyebrows raising slightly. "Yeah. The thing's still freeloading, though they're much more lazy about it. Guess that's what time does to ya, huh?" Xyx chuckled.
You smiled, glad that he was visibly more at ease. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you two still have each other." You paused to take a breath and calculate your next words. "Then... what have you been up to?" It wouldn't be kind to directly ask how he's been, you thought. Especially not after how things left off.
Xyx sighed, rolling his eyes in a playful manner. "Oh, you know. This and that. A lot of keeping up with work and taking care of that little beast. Actually, I've been up to a whole bunch of things. Anything to fill up my free time. In fact, it was only recently that I started coming here for an hour every other day after noon had hit." That last statement sounded off. You glanced outside to discover that the clouds were definitely preparing for a beautiful sunset. You also distinctly remember it being hours past one, not to mention twelve.
"Huh?" Your thoughts escaped into your speech. "If you're supposed to be here only an hour every day at twelve then... what are you doing here now...?" Xyx squinted at you.
His smile formed a line as his eyebrows furrowed into a knot. "Ahah. It seems a plot hole has been discovered. What a wonderful cue for me to take my fashionably timed leave." Xyx stood up and tried to run away before you caught his hand, gently taking it in yours.
"No, wait! What... do you mean by that?" You tilted your head, blinking at him.
"You really are so humble. Why is that?" Xyx's squint grew just a bit more until he finally sat back down. "I saw you enter as I was getting ready to leave. I figured I'd stay a bit longer." He was averting his gaze as heat quickly rose to his cheeks and neck. "A bit longer turned into a while longer and... now here we are."
You stumbled over the explanation, finding it so... lovable. "But! What about when I was leaving? You were just going to let me leave?"
"Hey," Xyx tutted, trying to cover his fluster. "Even a man as wonderful as I has his moments where the nerves get him." The heat in his cheeks had begun to burn and prick at his skin. He looked at you, his expression sincerely undeserving of the mask he laced his words with. His gaze was soft, an affectionate warmth about his eyes.