The blazing afternoon sun was unrelenting, but Wave was smiling from ear to ear. Sitting on the grass beneath the gentle breeze of the tree overhead, he felt completely free. This was his ideal setting. If it were up to him, he'd live right here, outdoors, without a house, a couch, appliances, or doors. River baths and wild fruits would be his sustenance.Utopia? Absolutely. But Wave cherished this dream dearly. He pictured himself living in harmony with nature, free from the constraints of modern society.It was a distant dream, for sure. But with each day spent outdoors, Wave felt closer to making it a reality. The feeling of freedom was intoxicating, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.The theater group's meeting that day was at King Rama Park, and all the members were sitting in a large circle on the vibrant grass. This was after Wave had been thoroughly scolded by Marco for being late to the meeting. He would have been even later if Dan hadn't noticed his trick of circling around to reach the destination.But now, the scoldings were a thing of the past, even though they had happened just ten minutes earlier. His mind was light and calm as he listened to the sound of the wind and the birds, just before Marco began speaking:"Well, now that everyone's finally here," Marco glanced briefly at Wave, who was leaning back with his arms crossed and a relaxed smile, his eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "We can start today's work.""When will the auditions be?" Sandee asked anxiously, her hands nervously fidgeting with the edge of her skirt as her eyes darted around at the other participants, examining each one as if trying to guess the role she might get. Despite her enthusiasm, her gaze betrayed a visible impatience, an almost palpable desire to stand out."Now that Wave isn't going to be acting, who will be our leading man?" another girl asked."Will it be a romance? A drama? A comedy?" The questions kept coming."You're all getting ahead of yourselves; calm down," Marco said with a smile, clearly enjoying the excitement. "First of all, 'Seven Warriors' is a fantasy play, but with a focus on romance.""Yes! I'll get to be the leading lady and live out a great love story!" Sandee stood up in celebration like a dreamer, momentarily forgetting everyone around her."Um, not exactly..." Marco observed the scene and seemed to search for the right words. "You might be a heroine, but perhaps not the lead.""What?" She was quite confused."So, it turns out we're working with a somewhat unconventional script... the main couple in 'Seven Warriors' will be two men!" he said, his face showing a nervous smile.Upon this announcement, a burst of murmurs and a somewhat scandalized protest came from Sandee. Wave remained in place, his expression calm, as he had already seen the script a few days ago thanks to Marco's email. After all, being an Assistant Director had its perks. It didn't change anything for him whether it was two men, a woman and a man, or two women; what mattered was the performance. He glanced discreetly to his side and found Dan, who, surprisingly, was paying attention to his uncle's words. Dan's face showed a hint of surprise, and upon noticing Wave's gaze, he quickly looked away, staring at the grass below him.After a few minutes of confusion, complaints, and a dramatic moment where Sandee threatened to throw herself into the lake, everyone finally calmed down and refocused on Marco:"Anyway, getting back to it... the main reason I called this meeting at the park is to break the ice in a more relaxed setting. So, we're going to do a simple activity to help you get to know each other better, especially since we have some new members this season."As Marco said this, Sandee stood up:"I can start! My name is Sandee, but you can call me San. I'm a sophomore in the art school, and I...""Not like that, San," Marco interrupted, clearing his throat slightly. The girl was taken aback and, feeling a bit awkward, sat back down. "Alright, we're going to do an exercise to get to know each other in a different way... without using words!"Murmurs swept through the group again. Wave, who already knew exactly what type of exercise Marco was referring to, stood up to calm everyone down:"Alright, everyone, pick a partner to start the exercise and sit in front of them. For example, I'll choose Dan and sit right here in front of him," he said, positioning himself in front of the tattooed guy, who looked surprised and started to move away, only to be stopped by Wave, who held his legs and whispered, "You have to do the exercise. It's better with me, since you've at least exchanged a few nods, than with someone else you don't know, right?"Dan looked at him seriously. He seemed to stop avoiding eye contact with Wave and relaxed into his position. Wave continued with the explanation while everyone had already taken their spots:"Now, without speaking a word, you need to look into the eyes of the person in front of you for three full minutes. After that, you'll write on this board Marco is handing out" — the director was walking around distributing boards and pens — "a word that captures something you feel about the person in front of you, the first thing that comes to mind. But remember, no talking, okay?""I'll start the countdown now," Marco announced."This exercise should be pretty easy for you, right?" Wave whispered to the guy in front of him, who looked a bit confused. But Wave knew that a silent activity would be the most comfortable zone for the guy at the moment."Well... you can start!"With the director's command, silence began to take over the area. The only sounds were the chirping of birds and a few kids playing in the distance. Wave took a deep breath and, without realizing it, kept his hands resting on Dan's knee, who remained still, shoulders relaxed, and eyes fixed ahead, as if concentrating on a distant point. Occasionally, Dan would slightly shift his gaze and meet Wave's face. The tattooed guy stared at his senior with an initially enigmatic expression, as if he were trying to shield himself from the exercise. He would frequently look away for a few seconds and then, likely realizing he had broken the exercise, return to meet the curious eyes in front of him.Wave was intrigued, eager to understand and unravel the look before him. In the first few minutes, it seemed aggressive and imposing, but he soon noticed a growing sense of vulnerability, almost like a silent request. Without realizing it, he began to lean slightly forward, trying to get closer to uncover the mystery.Wave's gaze started to wander, first moving to Dan's dark, neatly styled hair, which perfectly matched the guy's firm posture. Then his attention shifted to Dan's slender nose, which complemented his well-defined jawline. Finally, he focused on Dan's mouth, which was slightly parted and had a hint of pink on his lips, adding the finishing touch to his striking and unique appearance.Realizing he was drifting, Wave looked back into Dan's eyes and was surprised to see they were completely different from just moments before. It seemed that Wave's simple act of observing every feature had left Dan completely exposed, now looking almost desperate, unsure of how to act. But there was something deeper that was even more intriguing. Unknowingly, Dan had revealed a characteristic he had likely been trying to hide until now."Time's up, everyone!" Marco announced, startling both Wave and Dan, who immediately looked away. "Now, write down on the board a feeling you found in your partner."Without hesitation, Wave took the board and wrote down what he had seen in the depths of his partner's eyes. As Dan, with a concentrated expression, began to write without hesitation, Wave felt his hands trembling slightly. His eyes were fixed on the board, his heart racing as if expecting a secret revelation. He bit his lower lip, trying to contain the anxiety bubbling in his chest."Alright, now show your boards and let's read them. Remember, it's just for reading, not for judging, okay?"As he said this, all the boards were turned over, revealing that Wave had written the word 'loneliness' on his board, as that was the feeling he had sensed in Dan's eyes. There was a profound loneliness there, a feeling that made him want to simply hug the guy and not let go. He usually did that with friends without issue, but he felt he might be quickly attacked if he tried it with his junior.To his surprise, Dan's board showed the word 'nuisance' which made some people laugh when they read it. Wave's gaze fixed on Dan with an almost tangible intensity, his jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed, while Dan, oblivious to the storm of emotions he had caused, continued to watch the birds with a disinterested smile, his eyes locked on the sky as if it were the most fascinating spectacle in the world."'The most appropriate board I've seen here," Jay's voice rang out as he pointed to the sign in Dan's hands. "We have to admit, he really is the biggest nuisance to everyone."Some people laughed openly while others tried to suppress their laughter. It wasn't that they really believed it, but they enjoyed the ongoing banter between Wave and Jay and found it easier to just laugh at the teasing than to take sides."Well, yours would only be accurate if it said 'idiot' or 'bitter,'" Wave reploed, replacing his annoyed expression with a forced smile."Guys, guys... Wave, please," Marco urged, making everyone stop talking. "Very interesting, right? Now, let's do it again, but I need you to switch partners."Before Wave could start thinking of another person, a girl with short hair and round glasses sat down in front of him. It was Yaya, a friend who had been with him in the group since they were kids. Her eyes sparkled with barely concealed excitement as she leaned slightly forward, her hands trembling a bit as she whispered something in Wave's ear."Please, protect me." She looked around as if she were fleeing from something."What's wrong?" Wave asked, scanning for any potential pursuer."It's Sandee. I was her partner, and I couldn't write anything on her sign except...""What?" Wave asked, looking at Sandee on the other side of the circle, giving them a sharp and almost murderous look."Madness. I wrote 'madness' on her sign," she admitted, hiding her face in her hands. "I couldn't help it; I was being honest!""I can't believe it!" Wave couldn't hold back his laughter, finally understanding why Sandee was glaring at them both. "You know that crazy people don't like having their craziness exposed, right?"While still laughing at his friend's reaction, Wave's cheerful expression was completely wiped away when he saw Jay sitting in front of Dan."What?" he whispered to himself, finding the sudden act and Jay's strange smile disconcerting. "What is he planning?""What are you talking about?" Yaya asked, following Wave's gaze and focusing on the pair next to them. "Aren't you and Jay ever going to stop with this madness?""You know Jay; he must have some reason for wanting to pair up with Dan.""He might want to get to know the new guy? He's being a good senior in the group? There are so many possibilities, Wave!" She shook her friend's arms. "Stop being paranoid!""Alright, everyone! In three, two, one... start again!" Marco announced, cutting off their conversation.Despite the signal, Wave continued to watch the pair next to him. Dan was serious, returning Jay's gaze, who still had that peculiar smile on his face. It felt very odd and sparked an irritation in Wave's stomach. After staring at the scene for several seconds, he felt a pinch on his leg."Ouch, damn it, Ya!" he complained to his friend, who looked quite annoyed."Look at me!" she ordered through clenched teeth, making him take a deep breath and follow her direction.Though he was technically looking at his friend's almond-shaped eyes, Wave's thoughts and concern were on the pair beside him. After all, he was trying to get closer to Dan to complete the task Marco had assigned, but having Jay in the mix created almost a wall between him and anything else. Was he being paranoid? Maybe, after all, it was just an exercise, clearly nothing bigger."Time's up!" Marco announced. "Now write on the board."Without thinking twice, Wave wrote 'enthusiasm' on Yaya's board, as it was the trait he most admired in her. However, his eyes couldn't stay away from the signs next to him. His mind was racing as he observed Jay and the tattooed guy, trying to figure out what each had written.When everyone turned their signs, Wave saw that Jay had written 'mystery' on Dan's sign, while the tattooed guy's sign read 'interesting'. The impact of the words was like a punch to the gut. How could Jay find Wave a nuisance and, at the same time, consider Dan interesting? The sense of betrayal and displeasure was clear on his face, muscles tensed and jaw clenched. Jay, noticing the change in Wave's expression, widened his smile, his eyes sparkling with a clear challenge."I can't believe it..." Wave murmured, staring at the grass below him. "I don't care, I really don't," he tried to convince himself while shaking his head, struggling to shake off the thoughts.The rest of the activities passed without many other incidents. Wave decided to bury his irritation, as it didn't make sense in his mind, and spent the rest of the time with his usual smile and enthusiasm. However, over the hours, he didn't speak to or make eye contact with Dan.No matter how much he tried to hide it, deep down, we all know what he was feeling, don't we? Some things are impossible to conceal. Especially from me, who's narrating this whole story, and from you, who are seeing everything from Wave's point of view. It wasn't full-blown jealousy, more like the seed of that emotion. After all, every feeling has to start somewhere. And Wave, who loved nature so much, didn't realize what he was starting to cultivate inside himself. If you don't get rid of it, it's like you're watering it, right?The sun was already setting when Marco ended the meeting, and everyone started to disperse to leave. Wave was already in the parking lot when he began searching his pockets for his car keys, without success."Damn it!" he muttered, patting down every part of his outfit but still not finding the keys. "Don't let this get to you, Wave. You probably dropped them somewhere in the park, just redo your steps. Okay? Okay!"He retraced the route he had taken to the parking lot, using his phone's flashlight to illuminate the area, which was now dark with the absence of the sun."When was the last time I saw them?"He tried to recall the moment he parked and took Dan's bike out of the trunk. The image of putting the keys in his pocket was clear in his mind. It was evident that the keys had fallen somewhere between the parking lot and the meeting spot. The area was large, and the darkness didn't make it any easier to search, but he was determined not to give up.He was so focused that he barely noticed when he crossed the bike path cutting through the park. As a result, his heart raced in shock when a bicycle suddenly braked just inches from his bent-over body. Instinctively, he closed his eyes, bracing for impact, but the bike stopped in time. When he looked up to apologize, he was surprised to see an uncommon-looking boy in front of him, breathing hard and clearly shocked."Sorry for... Dan!" he exclaimed, confused. "What are you still doing here?"Dan's hands were trembling, and his face was pale, his wide eyes fixed on the spot where the bike had stopped. The tense expression and distant gaze clearly showed the shock he felt from the near-collision and the effort needed to avoid the accident. Breathing unevenly, he pulled out his phone and began typing. The notification sound from Wave's phone caught his attention, and he quickly checked it:[Dan Zanon]What's your problem? I almost killed you!"Almost..." Wave laughed, still looking at the screen. "Don't overreact, at worst, you would've just scratched me up."Dan continued staring at him, so Wave added, "But sorry for the scare. I lost my car keys and can't find them. Anyway, you can go home; I'm going to keep looking."He turned on his phone's flashlight again, leaving Dan behind. He still hadn't gotten over the irritation from seeing the word 'interesting' written on Jay's board while his own had 'nuisance'. After pushing those feelings aside, he refocused on searching the ground."Focus, focus, focus," he repeated to himself as he continued to walk. He was taken aback when he felt a hand grab his wrist firmly."What the..."He turned to find Dan's enigmatic eyes locked onto his, holding him firmly without moving."What is it? Did something happen?" When Dan didn't respond, Wave continued, "Look, Dan... I really need to find these keys ASAP, so let me go, and—""I'll help you," said the boy in a low, naturally husky voice."I'll help you.""I'll help you.""I'll help you."The words echoed in Wave's mind in a strange way, like a slap to the face. He was stunned; Dan had spoken! He could hardly believe what he'd just heard and stared at the boy in surprise, as if seeing a ghost."You... you talked to me!"He couldn't help but smile and moved closer to Dan with an almost angelic expression. "You actually talked to me!"His eyes were shining with excitement, and a wide smile lit up his face, feeling like this was another step toward his mission. However, he had no idea where, exactly, these steps were leading him. He didn't know, but I do, and you all probably have a good idea too.