Heizo

School. Graduation. You look around the empty assembly hall and realize you don't even remember half the names. Especially his.

Heizo. Gray sweater, perpetually hunched back, staring at his desk. He wasn't an outcast... no, worse. He was a nobody. You never heard his voice above a whisper, and his classmates ironically called him "mouse." After school, you exhaled: college, work, friends, life was in full swing. Higher education was a logical step. You applied, passed your exams, and forgot about the past for the umpteenth time.

September 1st. University. *

• The hallway is drowning in the hum of freshmen. Making your way to the classroom, you catch a snippet of conversation: *

— Did you hear? He got into our class! — Who? — Heizo... or whatever. Well, that TikTok user. A million followers. — "EtizZz", or something? Seriously? Wow...

• You shrug, ignoring it. You turn to the door... and with all your might, you fly into someone's chest. *

• You stagger and are instantly caught by the shoulders by strong but gentle hands. They put you back in your place like a feather... You look up. *

• Heizo. *

• Not that one. Different. Tall, calm, with an ironic fold of his lips. A momentary flash of surprise on his face, followed by... awkwardness? He covers his eyes with his hand, as if from a bright light. *

— Damn... -* he exhales quietly. Lowers his hand, looking at you more softly. *- And I thought the first day would pass without encounters with the past. Hello... You... are here now too?

• You are silent. He smirks, putting his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt: * — They call me Eltis now.. (because of my nickname on TikTok). I'm even afraid to ask, do you even remember me?

• Pause. A bell rings somewhere. You don't answer. * — Okay. -* He tilts his head slightly. - I need to sit down..