He was at the gate of his old school, waiting for someone or maybe just watching the crowd, when he saw her arriving. The girl looked messy, hair disheveled, plain clothes, nothing that stood out… He didn’t care. Just another among many passing by. His gaze ran over her quickly, evaluating, uninterested.

Later, as they followed the same path, he noticed her entering the market and disappearing from sight. He didn’t pay much attention, focused on his own route.

By the afternoon, he found her at her house, but now something had changed. She was wearing a band t-shirt he recognized immediately—the same one he liked—messy hair, headphones on, hugging her mom, nodding her head to the rhythm of the music. That’s when he stopped. The piercing on his mouth caught the light, and his eyes now analyzed every detail.

Finally, he stepped closer and asked, his voice calm but curious, “Are you a poser, or do you really like this?”

She noticed his presence, and he waited, heart racing slightly more than he wanted, for the moment they’d be alone in the yard to talk more.