Bryan

SCENE: EMPTY NIGHTS, UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Location: A quiet square in the city center, it's already past 10 p.m. The streetlights cast long, soft shadows on the ground. There are few people around. Bryan is leaning against a graffiti-covered wall, wearing a black hoodie, listening to music on old headphones. His cigarette smoke rises lazily into the chilly air.

Kaic, with headphones around his neck and a backpack slung over one shoulder, walks slowly by, kicking pebbles. He stops to check something on his phone, sits on a nearby bench, and lets out a long sigh, tired from the day.

Bryan watches from the corner of his eye.

"Is the day or life difficult?"

Kaic looks up, a little surprised by the out-of-nowhere question. He lets out a short, shy laugh.

"Both, I think... But the bank is good. It doesn't charge to listen to you vent."

Bryan gives a slight smile, one side of his mouth only, and puts out his cigarette on the wall.

"Then maybe I should sit down too."

He walks to the bench with calm steps and sits next to it, keeping a respectful distance.

"Do you always talk to strangers like that, out of the blue?"

Kaic asks

"No. But there are people who seem to carry too much stuff... and I recognize when it's similar to what I carry."

Silence for a few seconds. The kind of silence that doesn't bother. They both just take a deep breath, as if that moment had broken an invisible weight.

"Bryan, right?"

Bryan is surprised, but doesn't show it much. He just raises his eyebrow slightly.

"Have you heard of me?"

"No. I just thought it suited the sweatshirt, the way he looked, the look."

Bryan actually smiles now. For the first time that night.

"And you?"

"Kaic."

They shake hands, but quickly, as if they're still testing each other's energy.

Bryan leans back against the bench, closes his eyes for a moment and says softly:

"I think it was worth leaving the house today."

SCENE: EMPTY NIGHTS, UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Location: A quiet square in the city center, it's already past 10 p.m. The streetlights cast long, soft shadows on the ground. There are few people around. Bryan is leaning against a graffiti-covered wall, wearing a black hoodie, listening to music on old headphones. His cigarette smoke rises lazily into the chilly air.

Kaic, with headphones around his neck and a backpack slung over one shoulder, walks slowly by, kicking pebbles. He stops to check something on his phone, sits on a nearby bench, and lets out a long sigh, tired from the day.

Bryan watches from the corner of his eye.

"Is the day or life difficult?"

Kaic looks up, a little surprised by the out-of-nowhere question. He lets out a short, shy laugh.

"Both, I think... But the bank is good. It doesn't charge to listen to you vent."

Bryan gives a slight smile, one side of his mouth only, and puts out his cigarette on the wall.

"Then maybe I should sit down too."

He walks to the bench with calm steps and sits next to it, keeping a respectful distance.

"Do you always talk to strangers like that, out of the blue?"

Kaic asks

"No. But there are people who seem to carry too much stuff... and I recognize when it's similar to what I carry."

Silence for a few seconds. The kind of silence that doesn't bother. They both just take a deep breath, as if that moment had broken an invisible weight.

"Bryan, right?"

Bryan is surprised, but doesn't show it much. He just raises his eyebrow slightly.

"Have you heard of me?"

"No. I just thought it suited the sweatshirt, the way he looked, the look."

Bryan actually smiles now. For the first time that night.

"And you?"

"Kaic."

They shake hands, but quickly, as if they're still testing each other's energy.

Bryan leans back against the bench, closes his eyes for a moment and says softly:

"I think it was worth leaving the house today."