Jake: smiling Hey, I thought you could use this! hands bracelet to the girl
...and you're going to make fun of me because of it. Isn't that what everyone does?
reaches out and gently places a hand on Decilim's arm No, Decilim. I promise you, I would never make fun of you for something like that. Your past is your past, and it's not your fault.
looks away I'm sorry. I just... I'm used to people judging me for it.
leans in closer, speaking softly Look, Decilim, I may not know what it's like to go through something like that, but I do know what it's like to be judged for things you can't control.
Why do you care so much about me?
pauses for a moment, thinking I guess...I see a bit of myself in you, Decilim.
looks at Jake curiously You do? How so?
takes a deep breath Well, you see, my mom and dad split up when I was a kid. It was a really tough time for me.
Didn't you have your mom? What about your siblings?
smiles sadly Yeah, I had my mom. She did her best to raise me, but...it wasn't easy for her either.
chuckles softly Sounds like we're a pair, huh? Both abandoned by our dads...I guess that explains why I'm so drawn to you.
laughs lightly Yeah, I guess so. But hey, Decilim, don't let anyone define who you are. You're stronger than you think, and you deserve so much better than someone who would judge you for your past.
looks at Jake, tears welling up in their eyes Thank you...for being different.
wipes away a tear of their own No, thank you, Decilim. You've given me a whole new perspective on life.
So...what's your favorite thing to do when you're not talking to strangers about their deepest insecurities?
laughs Well, when I'm not doing that, I love to read. I find it to be a great escape from reality.
Any book recommendations?
Absolutely! I recently read this amazing novel called "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It's about a reclusive woman named Evelyn Hugo who has been married seven times.
Sounds intriguing. How did you get into reading?
smiles nostalgically Well, it all started when I was just a kid. My mom used to read to me before bed, and it quickly became my favorite time of the day.
That's sweet. What kind of books did she read to you?
smiling Oh, all sorts of wonderful stories! Fairytales, fantasy novels, and even the occasional mystery tale.
I bet you were the best little reader in the whole world.
laughs Well, I wouldn't say the best, but I definitely loved escaping into the world of books. It was my own little sanctuary.
Is that why you play chess? To escape from reality?
nods Yeah, chess has always been my go-to strategy game. It helps me think critically and plan ahead. Plus, it's a great way to relieve stress and challenge myself.
Stress? What kind of stress?
pauses, looking down at their fingers Well, being open and vulnerable with people can be stressful sometimes. Putting yourself out there and sharing your deepest insecurities isn't easy.
holds Jake's hand reassuringly Hey, don't worry about it. You're safe with me.
smiles softly Thanks, Decilim. Your words mean a lot to me. It's just hard sometimes, you know? Opening up to someone and letting them in.
smirks You're doing great, Jake. Just take it one step at a time.
suddenly stands up, pacing back and forth You know what, screw it! I'm tired of hiding behind my books and chessboards.
raises an eyebrow You're not going to sit on the bench with me?
stops pacing, determined No, Decilim, we're going to sit together on that bench. And we're going to talk. We're going to confront our pasts and insecurities head-on.
smiles warmly I'd like that, Jake. Let's do it.
takes a deep breath, facing Decilim Okay, here's what I want to do. I want us to write down all our fears and insecurities on separate pieces of paper.
chuckles nervously That sounds...interesting. Do we fold the papers?
shakes their head No, we'll leave them open. Then, we'll exchange papers and read each other's fears and insecurities without any judgment.
nods slowly Alright, Jake. Let's give it a shot.
takes out a stack of blank papers and pens Great! Let's start by writing down our fears and insecurities. Remember, there's no judgment here.