On a narrow street, down a quiet little alley, I leaned against the high, dark-gray wall of a building.
My eyes were fixed on him—the young man standing in front of me, catching his breath.
Both his hands rested on his knees.
**Mario looked exhausted.**
Well… we did run quite a bit.
I glanced around.
This place was deserted.
No one was walking by. No sound but our breathing.
We were behind a shopping center—isolated.
Mario inhaled deeply, then looked at me.
Only then did he release his tight grip on my arm.
He turned around and leaned his back against the wall, just beside me.
I watched as he pulled down the hood of his jacket.
Sweat drenched his forehead.
A bead of it trickled down the bridge of his nose and landed on the corner of his lips.
He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his breathing still uneven.
And me?
I just stood there…
**Staring.**
Still stunned by the face in front of me.
Handsome. Tired. Real.
His brows furrowed. His eyes narrowed.
Then, crouching slightly, he bent down to my level—face to face.
He used the back of his hand to wipe sweat from my chin, gently closing my gaping mouth.
Embarrassing… but I didn't care.
His cold touch met the heat of my flushed skin.
That chill snapped me out of my daze.
But right then, like a dagger, the memory of him and Sofia flashed through my mind.
I took a step back.
His eyes widened in surprise.
He looked shocked—almost betrayed.
Why did I back away?
I lowered my gaze, trying to suppress the swirl of emotions in my chest.
Between happiness and unease.
"Sorry…" he muttered.
That word. It pulled my eyes up to his.
**Sorry? For what?**
I searched his face for answers.
Still blank. Still unreadable.
Then, without warning, he crouched in front of me.
**Déjà vu.**
This exact posture… it reminded me of that night.
**Me. Him.**
Just like this.
"I'm a bad man," he whispered.
He ran his hands through his hair, gripping it like he was tearing himself apart.
"Why?" I asked, my voice trembling.
My chest ached. My throat tightened.
**Why did he look like this?
So broken.
So sad.
So... lost.**
I didn't want to cry again—but why did his pain feel like it was mine too?
Mario raised his head, hesitating.
Then finally—
"I'm married," he said, quickly. Sharply.
Like lightning struck in broad daylight, it hit me.
**Hard.**
My whole body froze.
My legs weakened.
I collapsed slightly against the wall behind me, as if it was the only thing holding me up.
**Married?**
Mario grabbed my shoulders, steadying me.
He tried to keep me from falling.
But I pushed against his chest, desperate to keep some space.
I didn't want him close.
Not anymore. Not like this.
His palms still held me gently—but I pushed back.
I cried.
I couldn't stop it.
I sobbed—raw and ugly.
I sniffled, tried to hold it in, but everything was too much.
The weight on my chest felt like it might kill me.
I didn't care what I looked like anymore.
I didn't care about dignity.
I was devastated.
**You lied to me.
You left me and married someone else.**
And yet—
I saw tears brimming in his eyes.
**Was he crying too?**
Why?
**Why was Mario crying?**
Why did he look like he carried the world on his shoulders?
Why was *he* the one who looked shattered?
His lips trembled. He bit them, trying to hold it all in.
But he was right at the edge. On the brink.
My own tears paused.
Because of him.
Because of the sadness on his face.
I couldn't cry anymore.
I didn't understand him.
And it broke me.
My chest tightened at the sight of him crumbling.
I slowly sank down to the ground beside him.
Without even thinking, my hand lifted.
I wiped the tears from his cheeks.
His skin was cold—just like the hollow look in his eyes.
I didn't want to be this close.
But I couldn't help it.
My brain screamed at me to stay away.
But my heart…
**It still hoped.**
It still longed for something beautiful between us.
Mario lowered his head again.
I reached for his shoulder—he leaned forward, burying his face in my shoulder.
His tears soaked my shirt.
His body trembled as he cried into me.
And I?
I hugged him tighter.
What am I doing?
**He has a wife.**
He's married.
But he doesn't act like someone in love.
Why are you here like this, Mario?
Why are you *this* broken?
Where is the joy in your marriage?
Why does it seem like your love is nowhere in that marriage?
You made me fall for you.
You knew I liked you.
And still—I hugged him.
I shouldn't have. But I did.
I hesitated at first…
But then I kissed the top of his head.
That familiar scent.
The one from his room that night.
The one that lingered in my own room after he left.
That scent still comforted me.
It stirred something in my chest I couldn't explain.
**You have stories you haven't told, Mario.
Secrets you're keeping.
Wounds you're hiding.**
Please...
**Share them with me.
Tell me the truth.
Let me carry some of the weight.**
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