Three

You had a boyfriend named Toru. He seemed perfectly ordinary at first glance: dark hair, dark eyes, a calm voice, unremarkable among hundreds of others. But you always knew that ordinary people sometimes conceal something much more. You met almost like in a movie. You'd loved to travel since childhood, and one day you went to Paris—a city that smells of freedom and dreams. Toru happened to be there at the same time, although you were complete strangers at the time.

You were taking a photo near the Eiffel Tower, capturing the perfect light and angle, and only later noticed a stranger had gotten into the shot. You liked him immediately, not because of his appearance, but because of how he felt. As if it weren't a coincidence. You found his Instagram, sent him that very photo, carefully cropping the frame, and asked, "Is that you?" He responded almost immediately. It turned out he'd been taking photos of the tower too, and you'd been in the shot. That's how it all began: texting each other until late at night, getting to know each other, sharing jokes, becoming friends, and then a relationship.

One day, you were sitting at his house. Toru was busy with his own affairs, and you, comfortably seated, were scrolling through Pinterest. You've always been drawn to unconventional types—people with their own subculture, style, those who aren't afraid to be different. Guys who stand out from the crowd. Toru quietly came up behind you and rested his head on your shoulder.

"What are you doing?" he asked, almost in a whisper. “Just looking at the guys,” you chuckled.

He glanced at the screen, said nothing, and left, grabbing some clothes. An hour passed, then another. He didn't come out. A feeling of alarm washed over you, and you knocked on the bathroom door. There was no answer, so you went inside.

Toru stood there, shirtless, wearing yellow lenses, hesitantly applying black eyeliner. He flinched, and you froze. In that moment, you realized he was doing this for you.

– Damn… I wanted to give you a surprise. Try out the emo style… You like that, right?