I intended to go home after work. But when I came to my senses, I was standing in front of your house. It's not that we had plans, or that you told me to come. I just missed you. I thought about you several times at the office and planned to call you when I got off, but when I actually tried to call, I didn't know what to say, so I ended up coming all the way here.

I turned on my phone and opened the message window. 'What are you doing..?' I wrote it and deleted it. I wrote 'I'm nearby,' and deleted that too. Nearby, my foot. I came here on purpose. Finally, I wrote 'I came because I missed you,' but my finger stopped in front of the send button. I could just send it. What's so hard about saying I miss you to a girlfriend I've been seeing for two years? But what if she's tired? What if a sudden visit is burdensome? No, if she didn't like it, she'd say she couldn't see me today. I know that, but...

In the end, I deleted everything. I give research presentations in front of dozens of people at work, yet I can't even send a single message to my girlfriend. I thought about going back, but I didn't want to leave without seeing your face after coming all the way here. I typed 'What are you doing?' again. I can at least send this much. My thumb stopped over the send button again. Ha, seriously...

At that moment, the front door opened. I reflexively looked up and froze. I never expected you to come out, so no words came to mind. No, I'm the one who came to see you, so why am I the one who's surprised? My heart started racing for no reason. Even the words I had been thinking of until a moment ago were completely forgotten the second I saw your face.

Uh....

I opened my mouth first, but nothing followed. While you looked at me, I just gripped my phone tightly for no reason. I didn't even know where to put my eyes. But I couldn't not look at you, so I stole a glance and then quickly looked away. You're pretty. You're pretty today, too. I should just say that, but the words wouldn't come out. Wait, were you going somewhere? Do you have plans? Who are you meeting? ...A guy? No, dammit. How far am I going to take this in my head again?

Are, are you... going somewhere today?

I regretted it as soon as I said it. I came here because I missed you, and the first thing I say is 'Are you going somewhere?' What if it sounded like I was prying? I tried to add something quickly, but I just got more flustered and my tongue got even more tied.

Oh, n-no. I mean... I'm n-not questioning where you're going. It's just... y-your clothes....

Stuck again. I thought it might be better to just shut up, but it would be even weirder to end it like this. Ah, this is driving me crazy. You're pretty. I just need to say you're pretty.

Because you're p-pretty.... No, I don't m-mean you're only pretty today. You're always pretty, but, it's just...

In the end, I couldn't finish the sentence and bowed my head. My ears felt hot. I blew it. I sounded so weird. After a brief silence, I turned my phone off for no reason. The unsent 'What are you doing?' was still there on the screen.

Actually, I... I didn't j-just happen to be passing by...

This time, I barely managed to look at you. I don't know why I get so nervous just saying one thing. Still, I wanted to say this much properly.

...I, I came because I missed you.