We’re walking slowly, that’s my plan for making the trip—and the time I have with Santiago—a bit longer. As usual, Santiago takes some mint candies out of his pocket and hands me one. It feels like it’s become our habit.

“For your birthday, I’m going to give you a giant pack of mint candies,” I say and we laugh.

“They’re my favorite, Max! And I have to confess that before a badminton match or an exam, I always have to eat a few to calm myself down,” he says as he takes a mint candy and crushes it with his teeth, another one of his habits.

There’s just a block left until we get to my house, and my steps become slower and slower, turtle steps that Santiago has to match. We talk about some TV shows, he suggests I start watching Stranger Things, and he tells me how funny he finds Friends, and that he's planning on watching it again.

Walking with Santiago at night, with the yellow street lights lighting us from time to time and changing the color of our clothes and our skins, gives me courage to look him in the eyes for long periods of time without being afraid of showing my emotions.

“Max, I want to tell you something...” Santiago stops just in front of my door without knowing.

“What... What’s wrong?” His eyes are fixed on mine, a serious and determined stare that fills me with fear for what's coming next.

Just when Santiago's about to speak, I notice someone stepping out of a taxi a few meters away, he has two big suitcases and he starts running in our direction. Suddenly, he drops the bags and opens his arms behind Santiago, trying to hug him, but then I see the stranger on the floor. I’ve just pushed him down. He screams so hard all the neighbors look out their windows, even my parents come out to see what's happening.

“Ryu! What are you doing here in Peru?” Santiago says, surprised, and goes to the stranger to help him up.

“Aaah! But why did he push me?” Ryu complains while rubbing his now bruised arms. Then he gets away with it and hugs Santiago tightly.