Liuk tried to open his mouth, but backed off straight away when Yuri jabbed him in the shoulder with her elbow.

“Have ya never seen a man before or somethin’? Why’re ya just standing there?” she said, cautiously stepping closer to Leon. “Nice to meet ya. Looks like you’ve already had a few chats with this gobshite behind me.” She held her hand out to him.

Leon looked down at her hand and slowly raised his own, giving it a quick shake before pulling away immediately.

“Not really into physical contact, but that’s not what I came here for.” He looked past her at Liuk. “Still, pleasure’s mine too. Good to know he doesn’t spend all his free time alone at the top of that park nearby.” Leon slipped one hand into his pocket, eyes fixed on the man standing behind her at the same height as him.

“He’s been talking about that park a lot, but he never mentioned you. Though… I think Taylor did. Said something about a blond fella Liuk told him about…” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“You say ‘told him about’ like I’m someone important,” Leon muttered.

“Important…” Liuk murmured quietly.

“Did you say something?” Yuri looked back at her friend.

“What? Me? If I said anything, I didn’t hear it!” He covered his own ears dramatically.

“He’s such a weirdo. Anyway, fate shoved him into my path to hear what I’ve got to say.” Leon pulled a pen from his pocket and pointed it at Liuk. “C’mere, jungle writer. We need a chat.”

“Hang on, weren’t you the one who told me three days ago you didn’t wanna be my friend?” Liuk dropped his hands from his ears and let his arms hang loosely.

“Amazing how you heard all that with those giant hands blocking your eardrums,” Yuri laughed dryly. “Should I leave you two alone?”

“Actually, I’d rather only he heard this.” Leon turned sideways and gestured with one finger. “I haven’t got all day. I need to do… something after this.” He fully turned his back and started walking off.

Liuk looked at Yuri, who stepped closer and patted him on the shoulder before leaving. He swallowed hard and slowly followed after Leon.

“I didn’t give a shite about who this lad was when I first saw him… just looked like some random blond guy,” Liuk thought to himself. “Tried being friendly and he ditched me. Tried again and he rejected me… and now he wants to talk again.” Liuk shoved his hands into his pockets and lowered his head. “But now I see him differently… what does a Ríthe want with me?”

Eventually, they reached the same park they always frequented, heading into a lavender field with no large trees around—just the wind and no view of the city.

“I’ll answer your question now: I haven’t taken back what I said about not wanting to be your friend… I just needed someone to listen, and you were my chosen victim.” Leon crouched slightly, brushing his fingers against the flowers while waiting for Liuk’s reaction.

“Of course… figures,” Liuk said, closing his eyes in frustration. “What else would ya expect from a Ríthe? Always so bloody arrogant,” he muttered.

“Why’re ya whispering? Got something you don’t want me hearing?” Leon stood upright and looked directly at him.

“I think that should be my question. Better just tell me what you want so I don’t think this whole thing was a waste of time.” He took a few steps closer to Leon.

“Getting aggressive now? What happened to the lad who desperately wanted to be my friend three days ago?” Leon crossed his arms and looked off to the side. Liuk did the exact same.

“You made my friend leave just to talk to me, so at the very least I expect this to matter,” Liuk replied.

Leon sighed deeply, eyes closed, still staring toward the flowers.

“What would you do… if…” Leon stopped, thinking carefully, fingers brushing against the tickle of his patchy beard as he looked back at Liuk’s face. “If you had a group of fruits that looked like oranges to the public, but were actually sour lemons in secret… how would you realise you were one of those fruits too, except you’re not a lemon anymore?”

Liuk slowly tilted his head.

“…Sorry, what?” He scratched the side of his head while trying to process it. “Oranges and lemons… right… look, I think if I were a… ripe tangerine surrounded by lemons sourer than sugarless sweets, I’d stay away from the other fruits and grow my own orchard.” He shrugged. “But what the hell are ya actually trying to say?”

“But what if one little lemon came up to you, Tangerine, and started threatening to squeeze you in a blender?” Leon rubbed his chin again, deep in thought.

“I genuinely haven’t a clue what you’re on about anymore! If you’re trying to tell me something important with this analogy, at least be more direct! Or use a better analogy! This whole lemon thing isn’t working!” Liuk covered his face, desperately trying to decode the madness.

“Hm…” Leon slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the same pen he’d pointed at Liuk earlier. He stepped closer, grabbed one of Liuk’s hands, pulled it away from his face and placed the pen firmly in the middle of his palm. “When you get home, draw everything I told you and try connecting the dots. If you figure it out, I’ll appreciate the help. If not… then I’ll try sorting it myself… if I even can.” He paused briefly. “Thing is, the person closest to me is trapped with killer piranhas, and those piranhas keep circling them. You know piranhas attack in schools, yeah? If I tell that person, the piranhas will tear them apart and then come after me, dragging me to the bottom of the river.” He leaned close to Liuk’s ear. “You’re clever. I think you’ll understand.”

With that, Leon shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket and walked off, leaving Liuk standing there holding the pen, slightly red-faced from the shock of Leon whispering in his ear.

“Ah… ah… WAIT, LEON!!!” he shouted, but Leon ignored him. “Oranges… lemons… piranhas… blender… bottom of the river…” he muttered to himself. “If I’m meant to draw this and figure it out… this might be the hardest job I’ve ever accepted without actually accepting it…”