xxxvii. quietude
"I thought I felt the same about Ludus, but… I realized he's more of an older brother to me."
She's staring straight into his eyes.
"There's someone else that matters more."
He swallows.
He doesn't want to know. It's much easier for him to stay oblivious. So he says something he knows he'll regret.
"By the way, I heard around town that everyone thinks you and I are real buddies."
"… They're not wrong."
"I appreciate it, but… I'm a wanderer, so we shouldn't be closer than this, woof."
They sit in silence for the remainder of their time together.