We talked for a few hours until it was time for dinner and I had to hang up because I was cooking. He called me again that evening. In fact, he called me every day that week. I wondered if something was wrong. Where were his friends? All those boys and those girls that always surround him. Why wasn't he talking to them? I hope nothing bad happened between him and his friends. I asked him if it did and he assured me that nothing was wrong,

"Then, why do you not talk to them?"
"Am I annoying you?"
"No, I'm just curious. I'm sure they are more fun to talk to...since they know you well,"
"You will know me well, I'll make sure you do. As per the fun, I think I like you more than you think I do. You are always the most fun to be around, Daff"
I laughed, "Alright, I'm glad you think that,"

"In Dutch with have a saying that goes "Soort zoekt soort." Basically saying that people always like people who are like them"
"Am I like you?"
"Yeah,"
"Do you like me then?"
"...Yeah, I do,"

"...Why did you hesitate?" I asked, "I know I like you. You're awesome,"
"Am I?" He asked, curiously, "You think I am awesome?"
"I always did. You've got a charm to yourself. You always attract people and you're always the centre of attention, no matter big a crowd is. It feels like you have a superpower to control the energy of a crowd, you can navigate people like maps and form connections so fast,"
"You noticed it?"

"I did. I am quite peculiar,"
"Well, so am I,"
"In Dutch with have a saying that goes "Soort zoekt soort." Basically saying that people always like people who are like them" I repeated what he had said a while back. It was satisfying hearing him laugh after that, "Honestly, crowds scare me,"

"Shut up, that's so untrue,"
"No, really. Controlling the crowd is a coping mechanism. Because I feel like if I don't, then I'll get lost in it. As a child, I was very outgoing and extroverted, I still am, it's just that...now it feels like I'm faking it all the time. How do I say it without sounding like a terrible person...

I don't actually care about people...

I used to...when I was younger. Now, it doesn't matter. Everything is temporary. Friendships would fade away, relationships would eventually break, mere anarchy could lose itself upon this world...and I wouldn't care if all my friends suddenly faded away under an atomic blast...And that makes me feel terrible. I want to care about people, I want to love them, but I can't,"

I don't think I should know this about him. I feel uneasy. My heart was beating so fast, my tongue was dry. I never thought he'd come at me so directly. I couldn't see his face, I could only imagine how his fingers were gripping his phone tightly, his eyes anxiously waiting for my reply, holding his breath, his stomach static, his chest uptight. Was he...waiting for a sign from me to show him that he was safe here, with me and him? Why did he tell this to me, we are not even close!

"What made you be this way?" I asked, finally.
He exhaled loudly, letting himself go, "High school. Which reminds me, there was this really hot girl in my class in high school,"

"Did you date?"
"No, we never even talked,"
"Did she make you stutter?" He laughed, "You were scared?"
"No woman has ever been able to do that. Women don't scare me, they fascinate me,"
"I wish you find a woman that scares you, and she confesses to you. Then, I can watch you suffer,"

"How about I confess to you and watch you suffer instead?"
I laughed, "I don't think I'm sexually attractive. I'm more of a...friendship material,"
"That's what you look like in YOUR eyes, but someone else might see something else"

"That someone else must be crazy. But honestly, I'm not the "romantic" type so I can't fulfil any girlfriend expectations. That's why I tend to avoid relationships now,"
"Not everyone looks for that stuff. Some people just like people for who they are, whether you give "girlfriend energy" or not"

"Oh, well, that's nice. You're not shallow."

"No, with you I don't have to be,"
"Why not?"
"Because... Back to you, by the way, why don't you talk to your other friends? Why do you pick up my calls every day?"
"Well, I don't have many friends. It's you and Casper,"

"Just us?"
"Just you,"
"I'll make sure not to leave you,"
I smiled, "Why thank you for that reassurance," I looked at the time, "I have to sleep now,"

"Wait, Daff...Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yeah, I should be,"
"My mother is hosting a small brunch. Would you like to come?"
"Isn't it for family?"
"No, she asked me to get my friends so I'm inviting some friends over. I thought of you too,"

I smiled, "I'll be there,"

-To be continued