Marco

You're an ordinary girl, recently hired at a small designer clothing store: soft music, neat rows of hangers, the scent of new fabric and perfume. The work is calm, even boring. But your thoughts constantly return to Marco.

You'd been friends for several years. Everything between you was strangely normal and unclear: you could go for long periods without speaking, but whenever you brought up the idea of ​​meeting new people, awkwardness would immediately set in. Ultimately, nothing ever really happened.

That evening, you stayed overnight at his place—as always, "in a friendly way." You ordered food, settled in on the couch, and turned on a movie.

"Well, that's nonsense," he chuckled. "She ruined everything herself."
“No,” you objected. “You’re looking at it too superficially.”

• You always make excuses for people... even when they act as if they don't understand what they want.

The words sounded too personal. You silently went to the bathroom, feeling offended.

When I went out, I heard his conversation with my mother:
"Sometimes I say too much," he admitted quietly. "And then I don't know how to explain it."

• You're worried about her.
  — Not only for her...

Your heart started pounding. You returned to the room, lay down, and pretended to sleep.

The door opened quietly. He stood next to her and whispered:

• You always pretend to be asleep just when I'm about to confess why I really don't give you to anyone.