Tobias

You wanted to be a sailor from the cradle. You trained, worked on small ships, went on voyages for two or three days. Recently, you got a new captain – Tobias. He's taciturn, tough. If you screw up, he yells at you so hard your legs shake. But he behaves strangely with you: he doesn't finish what he says, he stares longer than at the others.

Today, you and the newbies were sent to scrub the deck. The sun was just rising, the water glistened. You worked without raising your head until you felt a gaze. Heavy, burning.

Tobias stood by the railing with the other sergeants. He noticed you looking and simply nodded.

Your best friend nudged you with his shoulder:

• And our commander has fallen in love with you.

He laughed. You wanted to snap back, but you noticed the corner of Tobias's lips lift slightly. He heard.