Paris didn't slow down for anyone.
Not for tourists staring up at buildings like they held secrets. Not for street performers drawing crowds out of thin air. Not even for two people walking side by side, pretending everything between them was normal.
Wut shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes scanning the street ahead like he had a destination in mind.
He didn't.
"…You know where we're going, right?" Phol asked.
Wut didn't look at him.
Seriously? I'm a pro at navigation
"Obviously."
A pause.
"You've checked your phone three times in the last minute."
"I'm just making sure we're going the right way."
"Are we?"
Wut stopped walking.
Maybe back home. But still… what's the difference
"…Yes."
Phol raised an eyebrow.
Wut turned slightly, squinting at the street signs.
Everything looked the same.
So this is French. RUE DES AP-- Wait. This doesn't ring a bell...
Foreign words. Narrow roads. Too many people.
"…Okay, maybe not exactly this way."
Phol said nothing.
Which was worse.
They kept walking.
Or more accurately, Wut kept walking and Phol followed like he already knew how this would end.
The city buzzed around them. Music from a violinist drifted through the air. A group of tourists laughed loudly nearby. Someone brushed past Wut's shoulder and didn't apologize.
Wut exhaled sharply.
"…This place is too crowded."
"You said it was nice."
"It is. From a distance."
Phol glanced at him.
"You don't like being out of control?"
Wut frowned.
"I'm not out of control."
"You're lost."
"I am not lost."
Phol stopped walking.
Wut took two more steps before realizing, then turned back.
"…Why did you stop?"
Phol looked at him, calm as ever.
"You don't know where we are."
Wut opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…Okay, fine. Maybe a little."
Phol didn't say anything.
Didn't mock him.
Didn't even react.
Which, somehow, made it worse.
Wut pulled out his phone.
Low battery.
No signal.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
"What?"
"No internet."
Phol glanced around, then back at him.
"We'll figure it out."
"We?"
"Yes."
Wut stared at him.
"…You're way too calm about this."
"It's not a problem."
"We're literally lost in another country."
Phol shrugged lightly.
"Then we'll be lost for a while."
Wut blinked.
"…That's your solution?"
"It's not urgent."
Wut looked at him like he'd just said something insane.
But then—
He exhaled.
Because… somehow, it didn't feel urgent.
Not really.
They moved again.
Slower this time.
Less like they were trying to get somewhere.
More like they were just… there.
Wut glanced sideways.
"…Have you been here before?"
"Yes."
"Of course you have."
Phol didn't respond.
Wut kicked lightly at the pavement.
"…Then why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"You seemed confident."
"I was pretending."
"I know."
Wut looked at him.
"…You're annoying."
Phol's lips curved slightly.
"I've been told."
The crowd thickened as they reached a busier street.
People moved faster here, brushing past without looking.
Wut tried to keep up, but someone bumped into him from the side.
Then another.
Then—
He lost sight of Phol.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
"Wait—"
The crowd shifted.
Voices overlapped.
Wut turned, trying to find him—
A hand closed around his wrist.
Firm.
Steady.
He stilled.
Phol.
Right there.
Closer than before.
Too close.
"Stay with me," Phol said quietly.
Wut blinked.
"…I was."
"No, you weren't."
His grip didn't loosen.
Didn't rush to let go either.
Wut's heartbeat did something strange.
Too fast.
Too loud.
AM I going in a coma. Please Nooo
He looked down at their hands.
Then quickly looked away.
"…You can let go."
Phol didn't.
Not immediately.
A second passed.
Then another.
Then slowly—
He did.
They stepped out of the crowd.
The noise faded slightly.
Wut rubbed his wrist without thinking.
"…You didn't have to do that."
"You were getting pushed away."
"I could've handled it."
Phol looked at him.
"I know."
Wut frowned.
"…Then why—"
"Because I didn't want to."
That stopped him.
Whaaaat?
"…Didn't want to what?"
Phol didn't answer.
Just looked away.
"Excuse me," a voice said.
Wut turned.
A girl stood nearby, smiling.
She said something in accented English, gesturing lightly.
Wut blinked, confused for a second before realizing—
She was talking to him.
"Oh—uh—"
He straightened slightly.
"Yeah?"
She smiled again, asking another question, something about directions… or maybe where he was from.
Wut wasn't even sure.
He answered anyway.
Awkwardly.
Politely.
Phol watched.
Silent.
Still.
Too still.
The girl laughed softly at something Wut said.
And then—
"She doesn't need help."
What?
Wut blinked.
The girl paused.
Phol stepped forward slightly, his voice calm but colder than before.
"She's asking unnecessary questions."
The girl hesitated, then nodded quickly.
"…Oh. Okay."
She left.
Just like that?
Wut stared at him.
"…What was that?"
Phol didn't react.
"She wasn't lost."
"So??"
"So you didn't need to talk to her."
Wut frowned.
"That's not your decision."
Phol looked at him.
Something unreadable in his eyes.
"…No?"
Wut crossed his arms.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"…Why do you care?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Phol didn't answer immediately.
Just held his gaze.
Long enough to make Wut regret asking.
Then—
"I don't."
Wut scoffed.
"Yeah. Sure."
Phol didn't correct him.
They walked again.
Quieter now.
The city still buzzed around them, but something had shifted.
Wut glanced at him.
Then away.
Then back again.
"…You're weird."
"I know."
"…And confusing."
Phol didn't respond.
Wut exhaled.
"…And annoying."
A pause.
Then—
"You keep staying."
Wut blinked.
"…What?"
Phol looked ahead.
"You could've left."
Wut frowned.
"…And go where? I'm lost, remember?"
Phol's lips curved slightly.
"That's not what I meant."
Wut didn't answer.
Because he knew.
Exactly what he meant.
The fact that you keep bumping into me 'coincidentally' and now you want me to leave?
Yeah not happening .
By the time they found a familiar street, the sky had started to shift.
Golden light stretching across buildings.
People slowing down.
The city softening.
Wut walked beside him.
Not rushing anymore.
Not pretending.
Just… there.
He glanced at Phol one more time.
Then looked ahead.
"…Next time," he said quietly, "you're choosing where we go."
Phol didn't hesitate.
"Okay."
Wut nodded.
Silence settled between them again.
But this time—
It didn't feel heavy.
Because Wut wasn't sure anymore if getting lost had been the problem.
Or if the real problem was—
He hadn't wanted it to end.
" Wait. Where's your Phone?"
" What?"
" Yeah, why was I the only one using Maps? You could've helped "
"OH"
Ooohhh? I need to find Pheet.