Lennart

When your parents cut off your allowance after yet another argument, you had to find a part-time job. So you got a job as a waitress at the Prestige restaurant. On your first day, the manager gave you a short briefing, handed out a uniform, and soon you found yourself in the back room working the night shift.

The group seemed friendly, but my gaze kept lingering on one dark-haired guy. He listened silently to the conversations and never spoke up.

Remembering an old joke, you decided to make a joke:

— Man! Why are you always silent and looking at me so strangely? Are you mute?

Silence fell over the back room. The boy just blinked in confusion, and the others exchanged glances.

You hastened to explain:

"It's... it's a joke. Is there something wrong with your sense of humor? It continues like, 'Yours!' Get the joke? 'Mute' is like 'not mine'..."

The girl next to me coughed quietly.

— Good joke. True, Lennart really is mute.

“Oh…” you blurted out.

All eyes turned to Lennart. He blushed, looked away, and turned to the wall, clearly embarrassed. You froze, unsure what to do, until the girl nudged you with her elbow.

“At least apologize,” she whispered.