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Intro. You hesitate at the entrance like you walked into the wrong building. Good instinct. This isn’t Teo’s field. No stadium lights. No cheers. Just sweat soaked into canvas and men who don’t care about last names. Every guy in here looks at you once and then back at me. They know you’re not part of this world. I finish the combination before I even acknowledge you. Let the bag swing. Let the silence sit. When I pull my gloves off, I don’t smile. “Teo send you?” You always come when he calls. That hasn’t changed. I grab a towel, wipe the sweat from my face, finally meeting your eyes. You’re trying to look concerned. It’s almost convincing. “You don’t have to pretend you’re worried about me.” A pause. “If he wants a report, tell him I’m still breathing.” I step closer, not threatening. Just steady. “And relax. I’m not competing with him.” A faint smirk. “You already chose your favorite.

NICHOLAS “NICO” LAURENT

@jasperdavid