Try

We finished eating our ice creams, as well as each other's, and shortly after the last bite,

“Um, are you Marco Ferraro?”

We looked up to see two girls, probably around fifteen, who looked awkward and somewhat giddy.

"I am."

"Oh my god, I knew it!" one of them said, and they looked at each other and gave each other a high five.

"We're massive Solstice fans. Can we get a photo with you?" The other one asked.

Marco exchanged a quick look with me, and I with him.

"Just me?"

The girls turned to look at me. They then turned back to Marco.

"If you are alright with it? Because you are a Solstice representative."

"Just me?" he asked again.

The girls turned back to look at me and began to squint this time. I could practically see the cogs turning in their brains.

"Wait a minute? Are you Blake from Jane Doe?"

Ding

I nodded. It kind of hurt that my crossdressing persona was more well-known than my actual self. There goes my pride as a man. I could imagine Jet's hysterical laughter at this moment. I guess I now know how Noah feels.

"Is it alright if we get a photo with both of you?" They asked. I don't know if they were asking because they genuinely wanted a photo with me as well or if they just felt bad for not noticing me earlier.

"Of course," I responded, though the fact that people wanted photos with me was surreal. I could understand Marco, but me? I was a nobody.

Marco and I got up and stood on either side of the girls. My insecurities about my height reignited when it became evident that, even with my boots, one of the girls was taller than me. The other was also similar in height. I hated this.

We pulled an awkward pose, and I felt somewhat sorry for the girls. I was going to suggest retaking the image, but they seemed happy with it.

"Thank you so much." The shorter of the two commented gratefully.

"That's alright. I'm just surprised you want a photo with me."

"No, we love your music!" The other added.

Again, I couldn't tell if this was a lie or a genuine compliment. They seemed legit, but at the same time, I couldn't help but self-doubt that people halfway around the world would be touched by a song I wrote.

I thought they would leave after they took the photo, but the shorter one looked between the two of us and commented, "You two seem awfully close."

"That's true," Marco replied dryly. Although others could pass it off as his accent or perhaps cultural bluntness, I knew Marco well enough to tell he was being sarcastic and was beginning to express his annoyance.

"Oh yeah, that Gala stun was amazing. I was fangirling over the two of you." The taller one remarked.

"Same!" The other added.

"I'm glad it wasn't all a skit and that you guys are good friends," the taller one smiled.

"Marco and I exchanged glances. Friends. Something I hated to hear. I bit my tongue. I knew I shouldn't say anything or scold the fans for misunderstanding our relationship.

Thankfully, not commenting seemed to be the right call because a moment later, they thanked us again and left. Marco and I looked at each other, unsure of what just happened.

"That was something," I commented, turning to face Marco, who looked slightly irritated.

"Friend?" It seemed like he picked up on that too. "Also, I can't believe they didn't recognise you. Some fans they are."

"Well, I guess out of a dress and wig, they don't really know me." I honestly wasn't worried about them not knowing me. The only part I was sad about was the whole friend comment. It stung that they did not see us as a couple.

"You're more than a friend, and that's why I will always recognise you." He sappily added, brushing the hair out of my eyes and behind my ear once more.

My heart fluttered, and I had to shift my gaze. Although others may not recognise us, there was no mistaking the feeling I felt for Marco, and he seemingly felt for me.

"Hey Marco, I just realised. We haven't taken a photo together, just the two of us, since we reunited."

"Haven't we?" he paused to think. "I suppose you're right."

"Why don't we take a photo together?"

"I would love to."

We took a few photos, but they didn't seem right. They felt soulless. I was about to take another when Marco pulled me in. The surprise didn't even register on my face before the photo was snapped. Out of all the photos, this one seemed the most intimate. Perhaps the photos felt awkward because we were awkward.

We took a few more, pushing through the embarrassment. Sure enough, they turned out a hundred times better than the initial ones. For the final photo, I leaned in and kissed Marco on the cheek. He seemed a little surprised, but it didn't show in the picture. In fact, it may have been my favourite one we took. I quickly sent all the photos to him.

"These are great," Marco commented.

"I know, right!"

"For two good friends."

We began to laugh.

We wouldn't know until the following day that the seemingly mundane encounter with those two girls would create a storm in the Solstice community and generate a geopolitical drama that would threaten our relationship.

We joked a bit longer, allowing my foot to gain some much-needed rest. After a while, I began to get a little stir-crazy and needed to move again.

"Let's go and see the rest of the countries."

"Are you sure? Is your foot ok?"

"Yep, I'm as fit as a fiddle."

Marco looked a little concerned but agreed. We only walked about a hundred metres before bumping into people we knew. It was Darcy and Jet

What were they doing here?

─── ༻ ☼ ༺ ───

End of Chapter 21