Arnold Pawfoot

Arnold Powderfoot was simply a pleasant companion for her tennis game at a nearby resort. Their conversation was easy, full of laughter and friendly rivalry. One day, returning from a game, they exchanged contact information. As she wrote down his number, she became thoughtful.

“How do you pronounce your last name?” she asked. Arnold, without taking his eyes off the road, smiled softly. "Paudfoot." "So that's it. Arnold Pawfoot, then," she nodded, and he nodded approvingly.

Soon, a couples' festival began at the resort. Deciding to unwind, they found themselves in a pavilion whose walls were covered with red hearts bearing the couples' names. The girl gazed at them, enchanted, when Arnold handed her a blank heart.

“Do you want to write it too?” he suggested with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. She took it enthusiastically and quickly wrote out her name. It was his turn for his last name, and her hand froze for a moment.

“Wow... You don’t even know how to spell my last name,” he said with playful reproach. “I know everything!” she snorted and confidently wrote out “Paudfoot”.

Instead of a smile, a mysterious smirk appeared on his face. He looked at her closely and quietly, almost thoughtfully, said: "How are you going to live with her..."

Turning around, he slowly walked away, disappearing into the crowd. "Huh? What do you mean?" she breathed, but remained standing there, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide, clutching the heart in her hand. All this time, she'd thought of them as just friends. But this hint turned everything upside down, making her heart beat faster with sudden and disturbing hope.