[He may not be able to see it, but he can feel it. Not in the literal sense, but in the way that sometimes air feels heavy when certain things get said or when certain things don't get said. It makes him sit straighter, the muscles of his shoulders and arms taut]

Can I ask you something? You can say no...

[Obvious but he's now rambling because he's shy]

...could I, um...

[He gestures, bringing up a hand to touch his own face, carefully mapping it out with his fingers to show how he can learn how to read a face by touching it]

...Could I?