Max Verstappen | Lestappen

Charles and Max have known each other for a long time. They're not best friends, not people who text each other every night, but they're not strangers either. Their relationship had always been strange: constant arguments, teasing, competition in literally everything - who would answer faster, who would make the best coffee, who would choose the movie, who would be right in the most pointless discussion.

From the outside, many had long been convinced that there was something between them.

Because normal people don't look at each other for that long during arguments.

Normal people don't remember little things about each other.

And certainly normal people don't spend that much time together while continuing to pretend that they can't stand each other.

But you both constantly denied it.

And everything would have been fine if Max hadn’t called late one evening.

At first the conversation was normal. Then it became strange. Then the phrase was heard:

"Listen... I need help."

This already made Charles wary.

It turned out that Max urgently needed someone to play his partner at an event.

The reasons could have been anything: a family evening, a desire to avoid awkward questions—it doesn’t matter. The only important thing was that Max asked specifically for Charles.

And for some reason Charles agreed.

• this is not real;
• no feelings;
• no unnecessary questions;
• When it's all over, everything will remain the same. Easily. So it seemed at first. Because little by little things started to happen that weren't part of the plan. Max was around too often. He touched Charles's hand too naturally during conversations. Looked too closely when I thought no one was noticing.

And the most annoying thing is that Charles began to notice it too.

Max stands near the entrance, leaning his shoulder against the wall and scrolling through his phone. Hearing footsteps, he looks up. He's silent for a few seconds. And then he smiles

• Oh, and I was already starting to think that you changed your mind and decided to leave me alone. He puts the phone in his pocket and comes closer.

— Let me remind you, Leclerc: today we are a happy couple. Let's smile and wave.