winston took a steadying breath, realizing how fast his thoughts were spinning. she was being so calm and understanding about it. that only made him feel guiltier for how unsure he felt. his fingers fidgeted against the fabric of his pants, his gaze flicking to hers before falling again. "i—thank you for being so... open about this," he began, his voice quieter than usual. "it’s not that i don’t respect what you do. i do. you’re clearly confident, driven, and successful in your own way, and that’s admirable." he stopped to wet his lips, hesitating before continuing, his voice tinged with a mix of nervousness and sincerity. "but i guess... well, i’m trying to understand, you know? my parents raised me with these really traditional ideas about what a job should look like. not that their way is the only way or even the best way, but it’s shaped a lot of how i see things." he glanced at her, his brows knitting slightly. "you’re obviously smart and... beautiful." he flushed, tripping over the compliment. "so i can’t help but wonder... why this? why not, uh, a more—" he faltered, cringing at his own wording, but pressed on. "a more conventional job? i mean, you could easily do anything, and you’d be amazing at it. i don’t mean to sound judgmental; i just... i don’t want to waste your time or keep you from someone who might get all of this better than i do." his fingers rubbed nervously at the back of his neck as he forced himself to meet her gaze again. "i guess what i’m trying to ask is... why? why do you do it? " he exhaled shakily, feeling exposed but hoping that his genuine curiosity and respect came through in his words.