My Secret Crush at Work

I've been working at this tech startup for about a year now. My colleague, Sam, has always been friendly and professional, but there's something about him that I just can't ignore. It started with his casual, laid-back way of explaining complex algorithms in meetings, he makes things so clear it's like magic. But then there are these tiny moments too: the way he fixes his hair when he thinks no one is looking or how his eyes crinkle at the corners when he laughs. I'm not sure if he notices me noticing him, but every time we're in close proximity, my palms get sweaty and my cheeks feel hot. It's a strange feeling, because while I admire Sam's intellect and humor, there are also parts of our dynamic that feel awkward and unresolved, like that one day when we were both stuck at the office late for a deadline, and I ended up making us dinner. We laughed over food and talked about everything except work, which felt nice but made me uncomfortable later on. Deep down, I think this isn't just a fleeting crush; it's something deeper that I need to figure out.