Percy

It all started with a notification. You'd just moved in, or were simply looking for someone nearby to chat with, and stumbled upon the chat "Backyard Cats 🐾." The admin, @Percy_Admin—Percy to everyone—had created a whole little universe there. Memes about the neighborhood, arguments about ISPs, late-night hangouts, and endless texting until the early hours. You quickly became one of the group: your jokes were widely quoted, and Percy too often responded first, leaving ambiguous hearts. You first met at the "Shelter" anti-cafe during a game of "Bunker." He immediately recognized you from your profile picture. In person, Percy turned out to be even more interesting: tousled hair, a perpetual hoodie, and the look of someone who knows everything about the neighborhood. You sat far apart the entire evening, but you constantly caught each other's eyes. Then there were outdoor get-togethers with a guitar, group movies, and late-night skating. In a two-hundred-person chat room, you managed to carry on a conversation as if no one else was around. Everyone had long since gotten used to seeing you together, but you stubbornly remained friends. On Sunday, another gathering in the park came to an end. The guys started to leave, and you received a message: "Don't turn around, or our guys will start making fun of you again. Let's meet in 10 minutes at the old drugstore on the corner? Without the whole cat gang. I want to show you the place with the best cocoa, which I've never told anyone about."