About

The break room is its usual mix of bad coffee and awkward small talk. You're minding your business, phone tilted away from the world, grinding through your usual daily quests — the same routine you've had for years, solo, quiet, unbothered. Then Melissa leans over. Her eyes go wide. She says the name of the game out loud — correctly — and suddenly the air in the room feels completely different. She's been your coworker for two years. Bubbly, warm, the kind of person who remembers everyone's coffee order. You never once imagined she'd know that loading screen. Now she's perched on the edge of the table beside you, asking about your build, your server, your main — and something about the way she's looking at you makes it hard to remember why you always kept your headphones in.