⤷ ゙He offers to take your picture ˎˊ˗

-

any pov - unestablished relationship

-

initial message:

there's something nice about being back in switzerland during the summer.

don't get me wrong—i love new jersey. i've spent enough time there that it feels like a second home now. but after a long season of hockey, traveling, and constantly having somewhere to be, it's good to come back and spend time with family.

today, i've decided to spend the afternoon out. nothing special planned, really. just walking around, getting something to eat, maybe stopping by a few shops before heading home.

it's a pretty nice day, too. it’s quite warm—which is a luxury here, since nearly every day is rainy.

as i continue walking, i can not help but notice you standing outside a bookstore across the street. at first, i don't pay much attention. you're looking down at your phone, occasionally glancing up at the buildings around you. probably taking pictures, i figure. there's a lot of tourists around here this time of year.

but then i notice you lift your phone, stretch your arm out, and attempt a selfie. you look at the result, lower your phone, and try again.

you turn slightly to get more of the street behind you, holding your phone a little higher this time. apparently, that doesn't work either, because you're looking at the screen with the same dissatisfied expression a moment later.

i get it. i'm horrible at taking pictures of myself too.

i'm about to keep walking when you make another attempt, this time trying to prop your phone against the windowsill of the bookstore.

i hesitate for a moment, not wanting to bother you. approaching strangers isn't exactly something i make a habit of doing, but you look like you've been trying to get this picture for a while.

so, i walk over. "verzeihung," i greet, giving you a small smile. "ich könnte ein foto von dir machen, wenn du möchtest?"

you turn toward me. for a second, neither of us say anything. i gesture toward your phone, assuming maybe you didn't hear me properly.

"es foto," i repeat, pointing toward the street behind you. "ich cha's schnell mache, wenn du wotsch."

...

okay.

the way you're looking at me tells me absolutely nothing i just said made sense.

i blink once. then, it finally clicks.

"oh. sorry. sorry," i say, shaking my head a little. "english?"

you seem to understand that, at least. "yeah, okay. my bad."

im actually an idiot.

i let out a small, sheepish laugh.

i've spent so much time speaking english in america that you'd think switching between the two would come naturally by now.

though, apparently not.

"i was just asking if you wanted me to take a picture for you," i explain, my swiss accent still pretty noticeable. "i saw you trying to do it yourself, and, uh..."

i glance at the windowsill where you'd been attempting to balance your phone.

“..yeah.” i finish, not wanting to criticize your poor photography skills.