As he placed his order, he glanced around, then over to a table near the counter. He sat down there and pulled out his phone.

“Don’t worry,” a voice said.

He looked up, seeing two people in front of him.

“You’ve done more than enough today, haven’t you? I’ll take care of the washing up when we get back,” said a tall man to the woman beside him.

“If you’re sure it’s no trouble,” she replied.

The blond lad tightened his grip on his phone slightly.

Looking back down, he unlocked it and started scrolling, watching random videos until his order finally arrived.

As he walked again, he pulled his scarf up over his nose, looking down as he made his way home.

Once inside, after taking off his shoes, he stared at the kitchen table for a moment. Then he walked over and set his food down. He began unwrapping the plastic and plating everything up.

Sitting at the table, he let one hand hang loose. A finger tapped against the glass, up and down. The sound echoed through the room with each touch, until he stood up, grabbed his food, and went over to the sofa, sitting there to eat while turning on the TV.

He looked up at the ceiling and sighed, his eyes slightly teary.

“This is… torture,” he muttered.

---

A few hours later, after getting himself ready again, he took an umbrella and a book and made his way back to that same park.

The wind tugged at his clothes, his hair shifting with it, but never covering his face or touching his eyes.

His walk ended when he saw the place was empty. He sat down on the grass, took out his book, and breathed deeply.

He closed his eyes, let the wind hit him, and ran his hand over the first few pages.

---

On the other side of the park, a tall, dark-haired man—his hair messier than the blond lad’s—bought himself a drink and started walking over, though at a slower pace.

He watched his phone as he took small sips. On the screen was a photo: a younger boy beside an older woman, a younger girl, and a man who looked like him.

With a quick blink, he turned the phone off and kept going—until he ran into someone he recognised, breaking into a smile.

“Taylor… you alright?” he said, taking another sip.

“I think I am, yeah. If I’m here, I don’t look like I’m doing too bad,” Taylor replied, crossing his arms as he stepped closer.

“Sharp as ever, eh? Yuri still hasn’t taught you any manners,” he said, reaching out and ruffling Taylor’s hair.

“Oi, piss off! Where’ve you been all this time? Thought you’d gone back to that little town of yours,” Taylor snapped, grabbing his arm and pushing it away.

“I’d have told you if I had,” he said with a small grin, taking another drink.

“You disappear without a word—you’d come back the same way. So, where are you off to now, then? Yuri’s been worried sick, wondering where you’ve been,” Taylor said, hands on his hips, waiting.

“Honestly… my studies are killing me,” he said, looking up at the sky, his cheeks going a bit red. “And I found a decent spot to draft my practice essays before the exam comes up.” He looked back at Taylor.

“Yeah? And where’re you studying? Can’t be here in Dublin—we haven’t seen you in ages,” Taylor replied.

“No… not Dublin. I’m studying in Wicklow,” he said, running a hand over his face.

“Hm… your beard’s come in quite a bit. Since when do you keep it like that?” Taylor turned his head slightly.

“I thought we were talking about where I’ve been, not what I look like,” he said with a short laugh. “I just felt like changing things up. And, well… it makes me look a bit like someone I met recently. Before that, I was thinking of shaving it off.” He rubbed his chin.

“Then that person must mean something to you. Someone we know?”

“No, no… truth be told, I don’t really know him myself. Can you believe I couldn’t even meet him yesterday? Might be a miracle if I see him today.” He stepped closer to Taylor and tapped his shoulder. “I’ll get going. I’ll be revising in my new spot. Let Yuri and Max know I’m alright now.”

He stepped away, heading towards the park.

Taylor watched him go.

“Good to see you again, Liuk… you annoying eejit.”

---

Liuk’s hands wouldn’t move. His body wouldn’t respond. He tensed up, gripping himself tightly.

His gaze locked forward, fixed on a blond figure—and he couldn’t believe it.

“He… he’s here.”