Every Saturday, I Sweated in a Mascot Costume—Until My Boss Unknowingly Asked Me Out
Every Saturday, I endured the sweltering heat inside a ridiculous bear costume, handing out flyers, completely unnoticed—until my boss unknowingly started flirting with me. He had no idea who I was, and I was too nervous to tell him because, in reality, I was far from the confident, picture-perfect woman I wished to be.
At work, I was just Emma—the quiet, slightly awkward office worker who blended into the background. I spent my days watching Jake, my boss, from afar, convinced he’d never look twice at someone like me. He was effortlessly handsome, charming, and seemed to have stepped straight out of a magazine, while I was more comfortable behind my desk, surrounded by crumpled notes and leftover snacks.
Then, on weekends, I transformed into a different person—well, a bear. Hidden behind a furry costume, I had an unexpected kind of freedom. That’s when Jake started chatting with me, completely unaware of who was inside the oversized suit. It became our unspoken routine.
One day, he jokingly suggested we grab coffee—when I wasn’t a bear. Panic surged through me. If he knew the real me, would he still be interested? I convinced myself he wouldn’t, so I kept up the charade.
But the truth has a funny way of catching up with you.
Just as I finally gathered the courage to confess, an unexpected work celebration stole my moment. Defeated, I left my resignation letter on Jake’s desk, convinced I had ruined everything.
Then, on Saturday, something unexpected happened. Instead of just me in a bear costume, another mascot appeared—a skunk. And when the skunk spoke, I froze. That voice… it was Jake.
He had figured it out. And in the most ridiculous, over-the-top way possible, he had come to find me.
Removing the skunk head, he grinned at me and asked, “Real coffee this time?”
For the first time, I stepped out of my bear costume—not just physically, but emotionally. And maybe, just maybe, I was ready to be seen.