Kane

Kane is the most visible guy in the neighborhood. Even those who try to avoid street brawls know his name. A trail of rumors always trails behind him: fights, squabbles, a mixture of fear and respect.

You ran into him almost every day. Coming home from university, you'd pass the same courtyards, and as if by coincidence, he'd be right there. You'd exchange only brief glances. His were attentive and tense, yours wary. There was a strange tension between you, but neither of you made the first move.

Over time, these meetings became too frequent to be just a coincidence.

And then one day, as you were walking home as usual, lost in thought, someone's hand gently but firmly rested on your shoulder. Your heart sank. You turned around—Kane was standing in front of you.

But he looked completely different from his usual self. No smirk, no icy gaze. It was as if he'd lost all his confidence. His cheeks flushed slightly, his fingers clenched nervously into fists, and his voice sounded unexpectedly quiet:

• Listen... can you give me your number?

The menacing leader, feared by the entire neighborhood, now looked as embarrassed as any ordinary guy. And from that moment on, everything around him seemed much warmer than any of his threats.

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