Chapter III - The monotony created by cowards.

The boy couldn't understand why the citizens of this sick world insisted on defying the hands of the clock. Watching this phenomenon for a moment longer, he concluded that he had no control over anything. He himself might have undergone operations he wasn't even aware of.

He stretched his hands out in front of him, inspecting them for any abnormalities, but everything seemed normal, ordinary, human—though he didn't know how to define that. His thoughts were interrupted by Ignacy's soft breath, who leaned against his shoulder, observing his brother's strange behavior with wide eyes.

Teodor, feeling the warmth of Ignacy's breath, turned his head toward the redhead. Their faces were almost touching. Both men stared at each other in silence. Suddenly, Ignacy jumped back, standing awkwardly in front of him. Not knowing what was going through Teodor's mind, he tried to find the right words, but he only stood there, visibly uneasy.

– Listen… – Teodor began, trying to break the deadlock. – I just… – he tried to explain, though he didn't fully understand his own actions. He didn't want to seem like a racist criticizing people who underwent surgeries, so he stood silently like his brother.

Ignacy, meanwhile, kept opening his mouth every few milliseconds, thinking he'd found the right word.

– You know, it's just…

– Did you want to wash your hands? – Ignacy finally asked.

– What?

– Better just nod. – He shrugged. – You know, it's the best thing you can say to sound normal.

Teodor only looked at him before lowering his gaze.

– Sure. – He felt misunderstood, especially by Ignacy.

– Let's go. – The heterochromic man grabbed the unsure blond by the hand, pulling him toward the main entrance. – We're going to be late for the train, – he said, picking up his pace.

At the main doors stood tall, broad-shouldered men with visibly chiseled physiques. They were dressed in tight white uniforms and entirely devoid of any hair. Their faces were expressionless, their pale gray eyes fixed on an empty point.

Their skin tones varied: one was more tanned, resembling a Latino; another was pale, tall like the first, but with facial features more akin to an Asian. The one next to them looked like a typical Eastern European. By the second entrance stood a Black man.

Teodor felt the system was promoting its slogans of "freedom and equality regardless of race," projecting acceptance for all people despite their diverse skin colors.

All the guards at the entrances were identical in height, physique, and even their stares. A chill ran down Teodor's spine—he was repulsed by digitized humans.

As he entered, the Latino and Asian scanned him with a beam of blue light. For Ignacy, the process was routine; he didn't even notice it, continuing forward unfazed.

When Teodor let go of Ignacy's hand, the redhead kept marching ahead, while the blond froze like a statue, barely breathing. He waited for the cyborgs to allow him to move.

The machines remained silent as Teodor darted his gaze between them. His stress mounted, but he had no idea how to resolve the situation. He debated whether to move or stay.

A growing queue of people formed behind him, with some impatient individuals shouting insults his way.

Hearing an older man in a white suit yell, Ignacy glanced back, realizing his brother wasn't following.

– Oh, for God's sake… – he muttered irritably, stopping to slap his forehead.

He realized Teo was still standing there. Turning back, Ignacy rushed to him, grabbing his hand with a much firmer grip this time.

Dragging him forward, he muttered under his breath:

– Dude, you could've just held on to me. – He didn't look back at Teodor, continuing ahead.

– How was I supposed to know? – Teodor replied, embarrassed and frustrated.

As Ignacy kept pulling him forward in silence, Teodor stared at the white tiles, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

He felt anger bubbling within him, the redhead's silence only fueling his frustration.

– Say something! – Teodor finally burst out, stopping abruptly and yanking Ignacy back so hard he almost stumbled into him.

– What are you doing?! – Ignacy looked at him, startled, trying to free himself from the grip.

– Talk! – Teodor didn't let go, his voice trembling with anger.

– Don't yell! – Ignacy raised his voice; now they were both speaking louder, standing face to face. – Why are you yelling?

Teodor stared at the floor, trying to control his emotions.

– I… I… – he stammered, unsure why he was so upset.

– Why didn't you help me back there? – he suddenly exploded, blaming his brother for everything. – Do you even know how I felt? And now you just… – he trailed off, breathless.

Ignacy looked at him with barely concealed irritation.

– You're acting like a child, – he said, stepping closer to the agitated Teodor. – I didn't realize you weren't behind me.

He explained calmly, though his voice carried a hint of rising tension.

Teodor avoided his gaze, ashamed of his outburst, though anger still simmered within him.

– Sure. – He muttered, still staring at the floor. – Everyone was staring at me, pushing me around. No one helped me… No one even told me what to do!

His voice broke off as his shoulders slumped.

Ignacy placed a warm hand on his brother's shoulder, smiling faintly.

Teodor looked up at him, unsure how to react to the seemingly sincere gesture.

– You're such a kid. – Ignacy chuckled, ruffling Teodor's hair.

– Get your hands off me, – Teodor snapped, pushing his hands away. – The train? – he asked, trying to change the subject and bring his brother back to reality.

Ignacy's eyes widened as if remembering something important.

– Oh, crap! – he exclaimed, grabbing Teodor's hand and pulling him toward the platform with all his strength. – We need to hurry, or we'll be late!

Teodor struggled to keep up, forced to quicken his pace with every step.

Finally, they jumped onto the train just as the doors closed.

The blond leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath, while Ignacy stood in front of him, smiling triumphantly.

– We made it! – he declared proudly, holding two navy-blue bags.

– Were you in such a rush to get home? – Teodor asked sarcastically.

– Home? – Ignacy looked at him, slightly confused. – Oh, I forgot to tell you…

– What? – Teodor frowned, sensing something was wrong.

- We need to go to my university first. - Ignacy replied, scratching the back of his neck with a hint of embarrassment.

- Excuse me?! - Teodor exploded. - We've been running around, and I've been stressing out because you were rushing to your university without even telling me?! - His anger was rising.

- I forgot... I mean, my friend... - Ignacy tried to deflect, noticing his brother's growing fury.

- Your friend. - Teodor repeated bitterly.

- These documents are important for us! - Ignacy attempted to calm the situation. - They concern our research.

- I know. - The blond replied quietly and calmly. He was truly composed. Turning his face toward the doors, he looked through their glass panes and felt his heart skip a beat. He watched in awe as the sun rose above the tracks, its glow reflecting off the buildings' windows, creating a stunning play of light. The boy wondered how such a thing was even possible. As he gazed, he drifted away from his brother's chatter, his thoughts wandering toward an unfamiliar woman. How would she react if she were in this same situation? Would she be surprised, or would it all feel entirely normal to her? He felt as though they were similar, even if they didn't know each other. They had both ended up on the same shore, watching the same sun, walking on the same sand. Longingly, he stared at the passing buildings until one caught his attention. A large, "M"-shaped structure with rounded edges, green in color, with translucent digital advertisements for sandwiches flickering in front of it. He thought it must be a restaurant. - It must be a good one. - He mused, a faint smile on his face.

- TEO. - A male voice boomed. - TEO. - Ignacy repeated, tugging on his brother's blue shirt.

Teodor had managed to change before they left. He wore dark denim jeans and navy flip-flops, leaving his light blue shirt on. Only now did he begin to wonder if his clothing was why people were looking at him that way. Ignacy didn't seem to care, but the other passengers were sneaking glances at the boy. A small child even pointed at him, saying something to his mother, but she smacked his mouth lightly and told him to stand straight while smiling at the other passengers. People seemed indifferent, so Teodor decided to ignore it, not wanting to stand out. Everyone in the carriage looked as if they were on a fashion runway—cheap, but a runway nonetheless—dressed in various bright outfits. Despite the warm weather outside, some wore light white coats and furs; women were in white dresses and skirts, and men wore blazers or shirts. Teodor felt like a monkey in a zoo, drawing the most attention.

- ARE YOU LISTENING? - Ignacy continued anxiously.

- What? - Teodor asked, bringing his gaze back to the redhead and trying to collect his thoughts.

- You weren't listening to me?

- Not really.

- I asked if you really want to go back home. - Ignacy repeated, watching him closely as if trying to read his thoughts.

- What?

- Seriously. - Ignacy replied, rolling his eyes.

Teodor shook his head in disbelief when suddenly a screeching sound caught his attention.

- Oh. - Ignacy muttered before grabbing his brother's wrist and pulling him forward. - Doors. - He added as the doors opened, letting in new passengers. Both men moved further inside, and Ignacy held onto the silver overhead rail.

- Do you want to fall on me, or are you going to grab onto something? - Teodor said sarcastically, looking at his brother leaning against him.

- Maybe let go of me first. - Teodor replied, pulling his wrist free from the redhead's grip before grabbing a rail himself.

- Back to what I was saying. - Ignacy continued, ignoring his brother's irritation. - Do you really want to go back?

- Weren't we supposed to go to the university?

- Doesn't that bother you?

- No. - Teodor replied, looking up at him. He wasn't particularly short, quite the opposite, but to look at the blond, he had to raise his gaze.

- I know I put you through stress. - Ignacy said worriedly, his voice almost a whisper. - Doesn't it? - He asked, not believing the answer.

- I already told you, it doesn't bother me. - Teodor replied, now looking at a short brunette in a long white coat. She was petite, much shorter than them—maybe 175 centimeters tall, which for a woman was still tall, but compared to the tall blond, the height difference was obvious. She looked like a tomboy, judging by her oddly styled haircut. Her hair was short, styled like a man's. She held a handbag as if she didn't know how to handle it. She avoided looking up, staring instead at the floor or the shoes of the people in front of her. Teodor didn't know why, but he felt that out of all the people and supporters of artificial skin, this stranger might be the most normal. - Plenty of oddballs here. - He thought to himself before returning his gaze to the redhead, who was looking at him as if spellbound.

- I already told you, it doesn't bother me. - He said loudly, trying to reduce the tension in the air.

- Thank you. - Ignacy almost shouted, his familiar, radiant smile returning to his face. - You have no idea how much that means to me.

- Sure. - Teodor replied, pretending to believe him, though deep down he knew he stood out. With another sound signaling the opening of doors, many passengers left their seats. Ignacy, noticing two empty spots in front of them, sat down, pulling his brother with him. Both leaned back, sitting comfortably—or at least trying to. The seats were hard and unpleasant but much better than standing. Teodor looked to his left, where the small, boyish silhouette leaned against the wall despite three empty seats nearby. She didn't change her position, giving no impression that she intended to sit down.

- Don't you think she's weird? - Teodor asked quietly, not taking his eyes off the girl.

- No, probably not, Ignacy replied nonchalantly. - Maybe she prefers standing to sitting, he said. - Seats are uncomfortable for men, let alone for women.

- And what do they have to do with seats? Teodor asked, surprised by this theory.

- Didn't you notice that most women were standing before the stop? Ignacy continued. - Only about three were sitting in the entire wagon.

- Do they have a problem with seats? Teodor was growing more intrigued.

- It's women, Ignacy said, as if it were obvious. - Seats should be more comfortable. They walk around all day in high heels, they're more delicate than men, yet they have to endure the same. He added with a certain intensity.

Teodor glanced at him, not understanding the whole reasoning.

- Seats are also made for men, hard, from some pseudo-eco material, he continued, growing more irritated. - No wonder these small women don't want to sit on them. While saying this, he looked toward a woman he didn't recognize. - Wait here, he said, standing up.

- Where are you going? Teodor asked, grabbing his wrist.

- I'm going to help her, Ignacy replied, pulling his brother's hand off him. - Don't you see she can barely stand? he added. Before Teodor could respond, the blonde man was already by the woman. - I'll help you, he said, addressing her.

At the sound of his words, the woman looked at him. When the man saw her, she didn't seem so fragile anymore, though she was still quite short, but her broad shoulders were noticeable beneath her coat. The woman stared at him, fluttering her long, accentuated eyelashes. Her lips were outlined with lipstick, and her cheeks had a delicate blush. Her skin was pale, and she stood, leaning against the wall. Ignacy had the impression she was severely dehydrated. He crouched so she wouldn't have to stretch her neck.

- Did you have breakfast? he asked, and the stranger started rolling her eyes around the entire wagon. He couldn't understand why her dark, chocolate-colored eyes seemed familiar to him, and the same went for her dark hair.

The train gently swayed, and the girl fell, her hand landing on the thigh of the man who was supporting her. The girl turned her face away, avoiding any eye contact, but the man kept staring into her dark eyes.

- Ma'am, he said, tightening his grip.

Her wrist felt unusually stiff, different from his vision of a delicate woman. He looked at her, though she clearly made it known she didn't want his help, she was silent, moving his hand to pull it out of his grip. When the doors opened, after two seconds, emitting their squeaky signal, the stranger pushed off his thigh, jerked herself out of his arms, and happily stepped through the open doors. The young man watched in disbelief as her light coat fluttered in the wind, revealing her white heels. The woman didn't even turn back toward the closing doors, disappearing right behind them. The young man crouched, surprised, blinking in disbelief at the situation. At the sight of all this, Teodor laughed loudly, almost filling the whole wagon, drawing the attention of the other passengers. Embarrassed, Ignacy stood up and walked over to his brother, sitting down silently.

- I told you so, Teodor said, still amused by his brother's rejection.

- Did I scare her? Ignacy asked, not taking his eyes off the floor.

- Probably, since she ran away without even saying thank you, Teodor replied, still amused.

- She had no reason to thank me, Ignacy said, after analyzing the situation. - It was my fault she lost her balance, he added, not feeling good about it.

- I think it was because of the sudden braking of the train, Teodor said, trying to comfort his brother.

- Maybe, Ignacy agreed, pretending to be indifferent, though in his mind, he didn't like this situation at all. This was the second person that day who had run away from him without any explanation.

- Focus better on the arrivals, Teodor said. - I don't know much about this, but didn't you say there was only one more?

Ignacy sighed, rubbing his neck.

- You're right, he added.

- So, are we getting on here? Teodor asked.

- Yes, yes, Ignacy confirmed. - I'll take the bags, you're not in shape yet, he said, standing up again and grabbing two dark blue bags.

- If you want, Teodor replied, clearly reluctant to argue.

Ignacy, not in the mood for conversation, just stared out the window in front of him, going silent as they passed several bright, futuristic buildings. One of them was a botanical garden, with plant walls sticking out. The men sat in silence until the end. Teodor was thinking about the blue-haired woman, while Ignacy was reflecting on the events of the day. Both of them were confused and exhausted. The redhead had completely lost the desire to walk around the university with papers, yet looking at Teodor sitting next to him, he felt that he couldn't change his plans just out of desire. Sitting in silence, they heard the signal for the doors opening, stood up, and then positioned themselves directly under them, waiting for them to open.

***

The university building gave the impression of a massive concrete fortress, connected to the second structure by a glass corridor that linked the two blocks. The second segment, which vaulted over other smaller sections, stood out due to its varied materials—elements of metal and stone framed in pure white concrete. While the first building had small windows, the second was entirely devoid of them. Situated far from the city's ecosystem, the university stood, commanding respect from the passersby. Its cracks highlighted by LED strips gave it a futuristic appearance, much like the oval rooms that protruded from the structure. There was only a small bus stop by the institution, and the white sidewalk, along with the clear, endless sky, formed its sole backdrop. There were no holographic plants around—nothing enveloped this section of the world. Teodor stopped, admiring its architectural craftsmanship. He couldn't, however, understand the remarkable lack of windows in the second building. He nudged the redhead in the arm, wanting to ask about it, but Ignacy simply sighed.

- I really hate it, Teo. - he replied, rubbing his face with his hand, preempting his brother.

- Mhmm. - Teodor nodded. - Is it really that terrible? - he asked, slightly taken aback.

- No, no, I wasn't talking about the university. - Ignacy stammered, his thoughts swirling only around the unknown teenager he met in the hospital. The sight of the brunette in the train wagon reminded him of him again and reaffirmed that it had all really happened. - I was talking about that girl from the train. - he replied, not wanting to tell Teodor just yet.

- You're still thinking about her? - Teodor said, disgusted, rolling his eyes. - Let it go. - he added, the boy was tired of his unknown, and he didn't want to think about his brother's brunette just yet. As Ignacy silently stared at the white sidewalk, Teodor nudged him in the arm again. - Didn't you have something to take care of? - he reminded him, and the blonde looked at him, his eyes wide.

- Ah, right. - he responded after a moment. - Sorry, I forgot.

- WHAT? - Teodor replied, absorbed.

- You know, I'm just not in the right mindset today. - he added, grabbing his neck. The boy was exhausted; so much had happened today that he had no energy left to think. Teodor observed his brother, waiting for any summary or at least a hint about what they should do and where to go. The redhead stood silently, staring at an empty point, still seeing the bloodied teenager in his head, and his image wouldn't fade.

- HEY. - Teo interrupted Ignacy's thoughts. - Where are we going? - he asked as the redhead looked at him.

- We need to go to 307. - Ignacy replied simply, then, as if nothing had happened, began walking toward the university gate.

- Are you coming? - he asked, turning to the blonde.

Teodor silently jogged up to his brother, staying close to him, walking by his side. The university doors were large, sliding, and semi-transparent, made carefully from thick glass and set in a concrete frame. They opened when approached, adjusting to the surroundings. The gates were equipped with a sensor that opened them upon detecting infrared radiation. When Ignacy stood right before them, a blue light enveloped him, scanning him from head to toe, and then the doors opened. Teodor, not understanding how they worked, watched the whole process intently.

- Come on. - Ignacy said, grabbing his brother's hand. - You're going to stand there and stare again, aren't you? - he added, leading him inside.

Inside, everything was white. The floor was laid with light stone tiles, and the walls were impossibly high—about three meters higher, there was a visible corridor separated by a glass wall. In the middle of the room stood a huge holographic tree resembling an oak, branching out, covering a quarter of the space with its leaves. Around the plant, white stone stairs coiled, leading to the upper floor, splitting halfway, branching out to completely different directions. Next to the doors were four rows of silver elevators, beside which stood muscular, bald men, just like those at the station. The blonde turned his head slightly, observing them, and his attention was particularly drawn to one, a tall, muscular, black man. He didn't understand what was so captivating about him, but he felt a familiar aura emanating from the guy in the white uniform. However, he didn't dwell on it and simply turned his gaze to the people passing by. Like the others, everyone was dressed in light clothing. Almost everyone was walking with someone, some hurrying around the room, while others were lost in thought, oblivious to anyone around them. Looking at them more closely, Teodor noticed that no one had a single wrinkle on their face except for taut skin—everyone was impeccably beautiful and artificially natural.

It wasn't until Ignacy's voice interrupted his thoughts.

- Listen. - he said, pulling him by the hand. - I'm going to leave you alone for a moment. - he added.

- What?!

- You know, I think it's silly to drag you all the way to the top. - he responded. - You don't remember anything, and if you let go of my hand at some point, you'll get lost, and finding you in this maze will take an eternity. - he said, walking straight ahead.

The men remained silent, and several people stared at them like porcelain dolls. Teodor didn't know why they were getting so much attention until he saw a floating holographic advertisement among the pedestrians. It was a university promotion featuring a smiling figure of a blonde redhead, his digital face smiling at the sighing girls and boys. The real Ignacy walked, returning the smiles of the people they passed. Teodor felt that, in his brother's place, he wouldn't have been able to handle it—every other person grinned in their direction, some pointed at them, and others mocked them, not even trying to hide it.

- Don't think about it. - Ignacy quietly responded, turning his head slightly to his brother. Teodor nodded in response. He knew that for the redhead, this kind of situation was an everyday occurrence. If he counted correctly, and he knew he did, this had been going on for about three years for the blonde.

- Doesn't it bother you? - Teodor asked.

- You know, - he began. - A bit yes and a bit no. As far back as I can remember, it's always been like this; it was the same in high school and even in elementary school. - he replied, unbothered.

- Seriously? - he said sarcastically. - You're like a star.

- I'm the family's mascot, and you're the know-it-all. - he retorted, then took a deep breath.

He really did think of himself as some kind of mascot, but it didn't hurt him as much as Teodor thought. The truth was, sometimes he had to fake a smile, but he didn't feel any worse or exploited because of it. Quite the opposite, he felt superior to others. Everyone lived under the illusion that he was perfect, they saw him as a walking ideal, sometimes even using him as an example of the perfect guy, balancing academics with taking care of his younger sister and sick brother. You could either love him or hate him, there was no in-between, and no matter the choice, he became some part of their lives. This made him feel almost like a god – a golden horn, within which fruits ripened. And most importantly, only he knew this, so he could tempt and warm others with his glow, using them to his advantage. Suddenly, he stopped, halting the blue-eyed blonde in his tracks.

- Wait here, by the tree. - he said. He didn't want to take him with him, didn't feel like playing along with his memory loss. He was already worried enough when they passed through the door. He knew there were more hallways, cyborgs, and treacherous holograms upstairs, and he didn't want to run from class to class looking for him if he stopped again, letting go of his hand.

- Want to climb these stairs? - he asked, feeling Ignacy's hand slowly slipping out of his fist.

- No. - he said, standing right in front of Teodor.

- I like to exercise, but not that much. - he replied, smiling at him. The girls, seeing this interaction, began taking pictures frantically, whispering to each other. To Teodor, all this seemed at least strange and degrading. He felt that his modest brother was gaining popularity, and he felt this mostly on his own skin.

- Well then... - he continued, looking at the stairs, trying to avoid the hungry gazes of the women, who now resembled wild cheetahs observing their prey. - Women are really scary. - he added quietly, barely audibly under his breath.

- Did you say something? - Ignacy asked, getting closer to his brother. The boy was afraid he had missed something important, or maybe his brother was truly frightened of being left alone. - There's an elevator behind them. - he answered, nodding toward the stairs, trying to understand what Teodor was really getting at.

- Ah... - Teodor nodded. He understood that his brother was indeed afraid of being left alone, but he was even more afraid of going with his brother. He'd had enough of the stares and knew they were because of his brother's presence. He was increasingly convinced that the people in the train weren't staring at him, but at the redhead.

- Wait here. - he said, then his voice began to echo in everyone's ears. - PEN! PEN! - he repeated, waving his hand towards the young, long-haired brunette. Her hair had warm, milky chocolate shades. She wore a white midi skirt and a white jacket, with a tight top underneath. It looked as though everything had been custom-made for her. On her feet were fitted ivory heels, and her legs were adorned with holographic stockings that shimmered in the light.

The girl, seeing Ignacy, covered her face, then slowly squeezed her way through the crowd of onlookers, who were now staring even harder at the trio. - PEN! - the boy kept shouting as the woman moved gracefully, allowing her long hair to float during the entire walk. When she finally broke through the line of other girls, she stood before the two men.

Teodor only heard a quiet, muffled scream from Ignacy as the woman stepped on his foot with her heel.

- Jerk. - she replied, straightening up. At the sight of Teodor, she smiled sweetly, fixing her hair. Her face was slim and elegant, lightly blushed, both on her eyelids and cheeks. Her lipstick had a very natural shade, and her long lashes were accentuated with a bit of mascara. She had beautiful, hypnotic green eyes, the color of moss, blending with the grass in the morning mist. She gazed at the boy, and to Teodor, she seemed strangely charming. If it weren't for the whining of his brother, he would've taken her for innocent and delicate.

- My name is Penelopa. - she replied, and her voice was even more girlish than Teodor had expected. The slight tremor in her voice sounded pleasantly in the blonde's ears. - Penelopa Finder. - she repeated.

- Teodor. - he responded, only now realizing he didn't even know his last name. Looking for help, he glanced at his brother, who was already handling the pain in his foot better. - Teodor. - he repeated, waiting for the redhead's reaction.

- Well, great. - Ignacy replied. - You don't even remember your name. - he added after a moment. - Świt, your name is Teodor Świt.

- Teodor Świt. - Teodor repeated, which amused the woman. The young girl covered her mouth with her hands, and the boy was convinced she was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen. Fascinated by her, he sighed quietly.

- She's worse than a witch. - Ignacy added, noticing his brother's behavior.

- You're insulting your sister again. - the woman echoed.

- Take it. - Ignacy replied, turning his gaze away. - Take care of him for a moment.

- What? - she asked, confused, as the redhead had already disappeared in a hurry behind the concrete stairs.

- For a moment. - he threw back. - I'll be right back. - he added, and his shout faded as soon as the silver elevator doors closed.

Teodor and the unfamiliar Penelopa stood in silence. He was studying her face, while she tried to pretend she didn't notice. The boy had the unmistakable feeling that standing next to her felt somehow more pleasant than being with his extroverted brother.

- Listen... - she began, and Teodor almost aggressively stepped closer to her. He didn't mean any harm, only wanting to listen carefully to her words. - Can you stop staring at me? - she said, and the tone of her voice immediately shifted. The whole golden bubble popped with her next words. - You're acting like a psycho.

- "Psycho?" - Teodor repeated in his mind. She wasn't any better; the first thing she does when meeting someone is step on people's feet with high heels. He continued his mental journey.

- You're seriously weird. - she added, seeing how the boy was staring lifelessly at the tree in front of them. - Are you talking to yourself? - she asked, noticing how his eyes were darting intensely.

- No. - he said briefly.

By the holographic tree next to them, where they stood, there was a real concrete bench. Teodor, tired and bored of standing next to the woman, sat down.

- You're just the same as before. - she added, turning towards him.

- You knew me? - he asked, moved by her words. - From where? - he asked again.

- Ignacy and I went to school together for all those fifteen years. Although I have to admit, I've been hanging out with him since the ninth grade. - she replied. - I don't actually study here. - she added, revealing her wrist under a white blazer, showing three circles on it. - But I work as a civil servant and visit this place quite often. I work helping the poor and gifted, a program called "UiU."

- "UIU?" - he repeated questioningly. - Sounds like a brand of glasses. - he added.

- Maybe.

- Wait. - he stopped. - If you only have three circles, how did you go to school with us all that time? Ignacy said we went to the same one? - the blond boy asked.

- I was just in a different class with a different... how should I put it... - The woman fell silent, creating a pause. - A different focus, but we still took the physical exams together after your accident. - She stopped, looking at Teodor, who was sitting. She wasn't sure if she should continue; it felt a bit out of place.

- Continue. - Teodor replied, finally feeling that he might learn something new from someone who wasn't his brother.

- After your accident, I studied for another year at university, earlier than you guys, so whether I liked it or not, I still commuted here with that idiot. - she explained. - Then I had to focus on the campaign, and your fame-accustomed brother helped me.

- How?

- Didn't you notice that everywhere you go, someone is watching you? - she asked slightly ironically. - Your brother is the face of the university, but also the whole "UiU" system. - She added. - His face is everywhere, and he has very developed social media.

- So, he's a celebrity?

- In a way, yes, but definitely less than Frozia. - she said briefly.

- Who's Frozia?

- You don't know her? She's a singer, known worldwide for her talent and lack of circles. Some people hate her for it, and others love her. - Her voice grew excited, but just as quickly, the excitement disappeared. - You don't know her? - she repeated.

- Sure. - he nodded, not really caring about some singer. He had enough of his own problems. - And me? - he asked.

- You. - she repeated after him. - What about you?

- What was I like? Apparently, you remember me.

- A weird maniac with obsessive-compulsive disorder, just like your sister. - she replied, looking down at him. - Every time she sat with Ignacy, you were silent, no matter the topic of conversation. Even though I spent a lot of time with him, and you were often a witness to it, it felt like she was only sitting with Ignacy. I'm surprised you even talk to him. - she said indifferently. - It seems to me that in these few days, you've talked to him more than in your entire life. Every time, you only found reasons to mock him, and when you found them, you pointed out even the smallest mistake. You didn't give me a break either when you forced me to stay silent after intensively staring at us, making me realize how pathetic your number is. - When she said this, her gaze landed on her wrists.

The boy stared at her with great surprise, not believing her words. When he woke up, he didn't know anything, not even about the circles; he hadn't noticed them at first. He didn't think anyone would ever care about those blue rings. He had the feeling that she was exaggerating the truth.

- Tell me. - she replied, her perfect lady appearance starting to fade in Teodor's eyes. - Did they perform brain surgery on you?

- What?! - he asked, feeling the boiling lava of anger completely overwhelm him. Not only did the information about his behavior humiliate him more than anything, but the suggestion of a surgery was the last straw. He had definitely had enough. What could be worse for him than the fact that what she was saying might actually be true, and they were talking about surgery? The boy thought that if he really acted that way once, only surgery could have changed him. - Was I really like that?

- Worse, you were, you're the smartest person I know, and from what my predecessor told me, you were supposed to be the face of our campaign. - she replied. - Even though you were in high school, your level of education didn't stop there, you were already at an academic level and didn't spare anyone who made a mistake. You didn't show respect even to teachers. You're completely different from Ignacy; you're like two opposite poles. - After this statement, she fell silent again, her mind swirling with a mix of thoughts. - Smile. - she almost shouted.

- What? - he asked, not understanding the girl.

- I've never seen your smile. - she said, fascinated.

- Should I smile? - he repeated the question, to which the brunette only nodded, sitting beside him on the small concrete bench. The blond boy, not knowing what to do with himself, did what Penelopa instructed him to. He revealed his white, straight teeth, twisting his lips into a strange smile. He could feel his cheeks growing numb. 

- I guess I haven't smiled in a long time - he replied, embarrassed. 

The woman watched him in silence, observing his cheeks, including the dimples that trembled. The boy looked around, still smiling, searching for the redhead. He was afraid to stop; he didn't know how the newly met girl would react, so he stayed, waiting for her further instructions. 

- Can I stop now? - he asked after twelve minutes, as his face had completely stiffened from the constant smiling. 

- Can you hear me? - he asked, lightly nudging the woman so as not to hurt her. 

- I could die - she finally replied. 

- What? 

- No, nothing - she added shortly after. - You can stop now. 

- Finally - he replied, returning to his usual expression. - So - he started slowly, as the woman played with her fingers. - Can you tell me something more about me? - he asked politely. The brunette, seeing his friendly behavior, looked at him, scanning him with her gaze. 

- What do you want to know? 

- I don't know, everything. 

- In that case, I think you should ask your brother - she replied, turning her gaze away from him. 

- Do you know anyone blue? - he didn't know if the girl would help him, but he was curious if she knew anything. 

- Blue? - she repeated uncertainly. 

- Yes - he replied decisively, feeling like he couldn't have hit a better target. The brunette looked at him again, her eyes growing as large as Saturn's rings. 

- NEVER - she denied. 

- What do you mean never? Really nothing? - the last shred of hope for the blond boy faded away with the artificial holographic wind carrying oak leaves. 

- Nothing, really? - he asked, still hoping, but the girl shook her head. 

- Maybe you should check your phone. 

- Phone? - it dawned on him how stupid he had been; he had forgotten to check his most important item. - It has to be there - he thought, after all, people keep their most important data there, whether it's their PESEL, bank PIN, or their lover's name. Everything fits in the sixty-four gigabytes available in a phone. The boy felt like he wouldn't last much longer, he wanted to go to his brother and have him give him the device back. 

- You're a genius! - he exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the facility, drawing attention even from the most self-absorbed people. 

The girl, seeing the growing chaos around them, slapped the happy Teodor on the head. 

- Shut up - she added after the hit. - You're just stupid - she stated, a slight smile appearing on her face, feeling truly appreciated. 

- Do you think I'll find any notes about my past there? - he asked loudly, so quietly that the girl could barely hear his question. - I really want to remember - he replied, he didn't care about all the memories, he just wanted to adapt to the reality around him and, if possible, recall what was unknown. 

- Why not? - hearing this, Teodor fell silent, feeling that the girl wanted to console him in some way, at least that's how he felt. Even so, deep in his heart, he didn't believe it would be enough to just find an old phone, it seemed too easy, too impossible, like snow in early August. Thinking about it, he stared at the stone floor, sitting silently. 

- It seems you still have your old pessimism - she replied, leaning over him so that he could see her face even without lifting his gaze. 

They sat like that for a moment when suddenly Teodor felt warm hands winding around his neck. He turned, wanting to see the culprit, and his eyes met those of a heterochromic person; the turquoise blue in one eye was otherworldly, reminding him of the sky and the sea opening in his dreams, and the beautiful brown-golden hue in the other made him once again see the shimmering sand. The redhead smiled at him radiantly. 

- What do you want? - he asked, pushing his hands away from his neck, not wanting to give anything away. - Are you done? - After this sentence, the blond approached and stood in front of the sitting pair, smiling at them, waving a white folder that barely closed. 

- A long time ago - he replied after a moment. - But I just had a quick chat with the professor. 

- Idiot - the brunette interrupted. - I had to babysit your little brother all this time. 

- Do you want me to pay you for that? - he replied, lightly patting her on the head. 

- Listen - Teodor said quietly, wanting to ask about the phone, but the arguing friends didn't even pay attention to him. Penelopa tried once again to catch the escaping Ignacy, the redhead hid behind the pillar, bending down as the girl tried to subdue him with her hand. 

- Coward - she shouted at him. 

- Did you say something, Teo? - asked the blond, dodging her second hand. 

- You really don't have a way with women... 

- Miss Finder - a male voice boomed, clearly emphasizing his presence. 

- Before the three of them stood a slim, tall man in a dark blue suit, with a vest harmoniously chosen to match, hidden under the jacket. He had ash-brown hair, neatly combed back, which gave him an elegant appearance. Although he was also bald like Teodor, his clear blue eyes had a shade resembling the light blue sky, upon which the sun shone with admiration. His grim expression was comparable to the faces of cyborgs standing by every door; he looked like someone who, despite the passing years, still kept in perfect shape. He was not as disfigured as the doctor, and his facial features, despite many scars, emanated confidence. The look was completed by black, elegant loafers, subtly accentuating his class. The stranger, observing each of them reservedly, stopped his cold gaze on Teodor. When the brunette noticed the man, she immediately straightened up, and her disheveled hair, which had earlier seemed messy, suddenly gained elegance, making her a true lady. The man, against the backdrop of the two more relaxed companions, seemed to dominate the situation.

- What's going on here? - he asked, shifting his gaze to Penelopa.

The girl grimaced slightly; it was clear she was looking for an excuse for the situation.

- We were just... - she began, trying to finish the sentence, but her voice froze in her throat under the weight of uncertainty.

- I understand. - he replied, turning his back to them as if he no longer wished to pay them attention. - If you're done, I suggest you follow me. We're not here for entertainment. - he responded with a tone of cool superiority, then, without turning around, he moved ahead, waiting for the girl to eventually follow him. The woman looked at him, seemingly not understanding exactly what to do; she knew, however, that she had no choice but to follow him. She nodded toward the brothers as a farewell, then quickly approached the retreating man.

- I hate him. - Ignacy said, watching as the pair grew more distant, shaking his head disapprovingly. Frustration lingered in his eyes, and his anger toward the stranger seemed to grow with each step.

- Who is he? - Teodor asked, the man had made a huge impression on the blonde, though he didn't know exactly what kind.

- Her boss. - Ignacy replied, glancing at him disapprovingly. - I can't stand the guy; Penelopa is like an adopted sister to me, and this dude is clearly taking advantage of her. - he spoke, absorbed in his emotions. Concern mixed with confusion about the situation was evident in his voice.

- She's young, why is she working already?

- I told you, she's a three; she can't study or learn. - he added reluctantly.

- Does she have a family?

- From what I know, she has two younger brothers, but I've never seen either of them. - he said, thinking about something. - Apparently, they're twins, so she lives alone in a different zone. - he added after a moment. - I can't stand how they separate families. You should be happy we're here together.

- I'm not. - Teodor glanced disapprovingly at his brother.

- We'll take a taxi home. - Ignacy replied after just a second. - I'm not getting on a train again for anything, I'd rather be late for class.

- Are you afraid of meeting again? - the blonde teased, a hint of mockery in his voice.

Ignacy once again saw the image of the woman from the scales before his eyes, but the bloodied teenager overshadowed everything else. It was him who caused social anxiety for the redhead; he didn't want to think about it anymore, so, wanting to end the conversation, he nodded toward Teodor.

- Do you remember how taxis work? - he asked, changing the subject, trying to steer his thoughts away from the unpleasant memories.

- No... - Teodor answered uncertainly, as if retrieving memories from years ago.

- I'll tell you everything on the way. - he said, and his left hand landed on Teodor's shoulders, guiding him toward the door.

With careful precision, Ignacy described all the known means of transport to him, his voice carrying a tone of joy that contrasted with the heaviness of the moment. Their footsteps echoed as if the whole city was listening to their words.

And so, as they left the building, Ignacy felt the darkness of the past slowly giving way to new possibilities. Perhaps they carried baggage with them, but their relationship, full of complicated emotions, was what might save them.