𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Convenience Store

Jake pushed open the glass door of the convenience store, the familiar jingle of the bell above announcing his exit. He had just grabbed a quick snack and a drink, not wanting to linger too long. As he stepped outside, the warm sun hit his face, and he scanned the parking lot for Layla.

His border collie was tied to a nearby post, her tail wagging as she watched a couple of birds fly about. But it wasn't the birds that had caught her attention; it was someone else entirely.

"Hey there." Yeri's voice rang out as she knelt down to Layla's level. Jake's heart skipped a beat as he realized she was playing with his dog.

"Yeri?" he called out, his surprise evident.

She looked up, her cheeks flushing slightly as she recognised him. "Oh! Jake! I didn't know this was your dog"

"Yeah, that's Layla," he said, a grin spreading across his face. There was something oddly giddy about seeing her interact with his dog. It felt... right.

Layla wagged her tail even harder as Yeri scratched behind her ears, clearly enjoying the attention. "She's so sweet! I've always wanted to have a border colliel" Yeri said, her eyes sparkling as she laughed at Layla's energy.

Jake stepped closer, feeling a mix of pride and amusement as Layla rolled over, begging for more scratches. "She usually saves her charm for those who have snacks, so you must have something special."

Yeri chuckled softly, her laughter light but a bit shy. "I guess I just have a way with dogs."

As they chatted, Jake couldn't help but notice how natural it felt to be with her. They engaged in small talks, and he caught Yeri stealing glances at him, her cheeks tinged pink whenever their eyes met.

"So, do you come here often?" Yeri asked, glancing toward the store with a hint of nervousness.

"Not really" Jake replied. "Just came for some snacks. What about you?"

"Oh, just stopping by after a long day. I thought I'd grab something to eat" she said, shrugging lightly.

"I'm glad i ran into you, though." He stated with ease. Yeri lowered her head slightly at his words. Jake felt a surge of excitement. It was a small victory, but it meant a lot. They spent a few more moments together, chatting about nothing and everything as they enjoyed the afternoon sun.

After a comfortable silence, Yeri looked down at Layla, who was happily chewing on a toy. "She's really great. I can see why you like her so much."

"Yeah, she's my favourite girl- after my mom" Jake quickly corrected himself feeling embarrassed.

Yeri glanced up, her shyness momentarily giving way to a smile and then a small laugh. "I think i'll have to get her some treats"

Jake's heart raced. "I think she'd start liking you more than me" he said, a grin spreading across his face.

"I wouldn't blame her" Yeri replied, her smile growing.