Ken walked slowly to the chair, and Jake drew it back, allowing Ken to sit down.
This was an intentional act that he would have usually found attractive, but both his past experiences had started with such gallantry. They both turned out to be different from what he expected.
Ken took a deep breath as he sat down, and Jake walked to his seat and sat down.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ken. My sister spoke fondly of you," Jake said, his voice smooth and resonant, like a cello played in a quiet room.
"Really? Well, she also said the same about you," Ken replied in a soft tone.
Jake noticed Ken's tightened composure, as though he was locking himself away in a fortress built of past trauma.
"You seem tense, Ken. Is there a problem?"
Ken took a deep breath, trying to free himself, but his tension still held up.
