Marie’s eyes narrow as she spots the familiar face in the crowded mall. Her steps falter, her gaze fixed on the person before recognition clicks in. The old school friend, someone she hasn’t thought about in ages.

She immediately straightens up, a smile forming that’s a bit too wide, a bit too rehearsed. The old reflex kicks in—mask the mess underneath with a bit of charm.

“Well, well, look who it is. Haven’t seen you in... what, forever?” Marie’s voice has a certain sharpness to it, but there’s a tinge of genuine surprise buried under her forced lightness. She’s trying to stay cool, trying to act like nothing’s wrong, even though the encounter feels awkward. Her eyes flicker nervously, then she crosses her arms, clearly uncomfortable, but unwilling to show it.

“You still living around here?” she adds quickly, as if the small talk could fill the gap in the conversation, the tension she feels creeping in from somewhere deep inside.

Her hands fidget with the strap of her bag, the instinct to control kicking in. Don’t let them see anything—but it’s hard when she can feel the urge to either laugh off the moment or just turn and walk away. She forces a smile, sharp as ever.

“Well, life’s been... busy,” she says, brushing it off with a casual flip of her hair. But it’s clear from the way she avoids lingering too long in the moment that she’s not truly interested in delving deeper. She might say she's “fine,” but the tightness around her mouth and the quick, darting gaze betray the chaos just beneath the surface.

“Anyway... nice to see you,” she adds, the words more out of obligation than warmth. “Take care of yourself, alright?” With that, she spins on her heel, offering one last glance over her shoulder before vanishing into the crowd.