Paul had experienced a lot in his life. Failure, the topic of gossip, family abuse, loneliness, but a girl gushing about him? Never. What was this? He didn't understand. He really didn't.
His heart was pounding. His world was spinning. Ordering his ice cream, he barely managed to get out his real voice.
"Chocolate please," Paul murmured. "Sprinkles too."
"Look at him." Ksenia Piatkowski was not very discreet. Her hushes were rather public. "He's hot. Isn't he? Isn't he?"
Pauline, the random stranger Ksenia had decided to choose as her friend, did not reciprocate. "Um, yes. Of course."
"Right!?"
Turning back, John waited for him with a certain edge to his smile. They returned to their compartment. As soon as the door opened and they were out of earshot, John chuckled.
"Looks like you have an admirer," John teased. "I did not expect that."
Paul shyly ate his ice cream and murmured, "Me neither."
