Liuk looked at the other man’s face, then glanced at the sun over the hill. As he came closer, he sat down beside the blond man, who slowly opened his eyes and immediately sat up.

“You’re awake!” Liuk said with a wide smile.

The other man didn’t respond. He stayed silent, slowly closing his eyes again before opening his lips slightly.

“I wasn’t asleep,” he said, running a hand through the back of his neck.

“Ha—seriously? You looked like a rock stuck in the ground,” Liuk laughed, still sipping what he hadn’t finished yet. “But tell me—do you remember me, right?”

The blond man rubbed his eyelids and let out a sigh.

“How could I forget, right?”

Liuk pulled the straw from his drink and looked into the bottom of the cup, smiling again.

“You want something to drink? You know… something refreshing?” Liuk lifted his cup slightly toward him.

“It’s not even hot. I’d rather have something warm. And I’m not really in the mood to leave here anyway.”

“Hm? Really? I’d ask you for a pint, but that doesn’t really seem like your thing,” Liuk said, leaning in and throwing an arm around the blond man’s shoulders, his hand resting behind his neck.

“Cheap shot,” the man clicked his tongue. “Take your hands off me and I’ll think about getting up.”

Liuk pulled away, standing up and offering his hand instead.

The blond man looked at the grass shifting in the wind, his eyes half-lidded, faintly glinting.

He looked up at the hand, then turned his face away.

“I know how to get up. Use your manners on someone who needs them,” he said, standing without taking Liuk’s hand.

Liuk laughed.

“Alright then, your highness.”

As they walked side by side, the blond man turned his head and noticed a little girl playing with a dog in a playground. He stopped walking, staring at the scene, and Liuk stopped beside him as well.

“What’s the deal? You want a puppy or something?” Liuk asked, hands on his hips.

The blond man raised a hand to his own head, brushing through his short hair.

Liuk grabbed his wrist and stepped in front of him, too close.

“Wake up, blondie,” he snapped his fingers in front of him.

The blond man yanked his arm down and tried to step back.

“You trying to get under my skin, you ghost? Let go of my wrist,” he said, louder this time.

Liuk released him, and they started walking again.

“I never told you this, did I? My name’s Liuk,” he said, but got no response. He glanced sideways—Leon was looking at an ice cream shop. “Do you want ice cream by any chance?”

The blond man looked forward again.

“You said we were getting a pint. Don’t start messing around,” he said, walking faster.

“Oy! At that speed it looks like you’re the one picking the place!” Liuk tried to keep up.

“If you’d left me alone, you could’ve gone wherever you wanted. But if you’re coming with me, then we’re going to my favourite place.”

“Your favourite place for beer? That’s a new one,” Liuk said, hands in his pockets as he watched the man lower his head and keep walking quickly.

When they arrived at the place Leon had chosen, they went in and ordered.

While drinking at the table, Liuk kept talking close to him.

“You hear my name?” he asked, taking a few sips.

“I’d be lying if I said I did,” Leon replied, taking a sip of his own drink.

“It’s Liuk. L-i-u-k. Got it?”

“I think so.”

“What do you mean ‘think so’? Did you or didn’t you?”

“I already said I might’ve understood,” Leon said, ordering another drink.

Liuk paused, watching Leon’s second drink arrive. He looked forward again, finished his own drink, and copied him, resting his arms on the counter.

“I don’t accept ‘maybe’ as an answer,” Liuk said.

“Why not? Has no one ever told you that before?”

Liuk scratched the table and his expression darkened. His foot started tapping quickly on the floor.

“Yeah, of course they have. But it’s such a stupid word. ‘Maybe’, ‘I think’… isn’t it easier to just answer properly when I ask you something? Sure, I’ve said it too when I’ve lied to people, but I’ve never used that word to tell the truth,” he said, looking forward again as his drink was placed down.

“I just met you. Why would I lie to you?” Leon said, drinking faster.

“It’s not you,” Liuk replied, stopping mid-sip. “And it’s not something I want to talk about right now. Are you actually interested in my life?” He looked at him.

“I’m more interested in why you dragged me here and insist on talking to me.”

“Well…” Liuk sighed. “My friends live in Ballymun, in Dublin. I’m studying a bit far away, in Wicklow. And during my breaks in this park I recently found, I moved closer to university, but not too far from my friends.”

He tightened his grip on himself slightly, making the drink swirl inside the glass.

“I just wanted someone to talk to… without going back to the noise of the city. And that’s where you come in—you were the only one I saw around who matched my timing.”

“I’m not interested in being your friend,” Leon said.

“Yeah… I figured. At least tell me your name so I don’t forget today,” Liuk said, locking eyes with him.

“My name? Just for that? What a stupid reason,” Leon muttered. “But if you want it that badly… it’s Leon.”

“Leon? Leon what exactly?” Liuk leaned in closer.

“That’s none of your business! You didn’t even give me your surname,” Leon snapped, turning away.

Leon looked down. His fingers started to tremble. A small drop of sweat ran down his forehead, and he flushed slightly.

“Mine’s Liuk Lid! Say yours now! You’re leaving anyway!” Liuk turned away too, both of them staring at the ground, fingers tightening around their glasses.

Leon finished his drink, stood up, paid the bill, and asked for a pen.

When it arrived, he paid properly, then left without looking back.

Liuk stared at the counter as Leon walked away, then asked for his own bill. While doing so, he noticed something on Leon’s receipt.

“Hm? Ríthe? What does that mean…” Liuk froze, crumpling the paper completely. “Ríthe! That’s why he didn’t want to say his name… but that name isn’t that common around here,” he muttered. “He must’ve had a reason for it.”