As Long As You're Happy

I stood there, awkwardly shifting my weight from one foot to the other, as Joaquin rubbed his temples. The tension from my ill-timed question about Clarise still hung heavily in the air.

Joaquin sighed deeply. “Alright, let’s get ready to head to the mall,” he said, his voice strained but calmer.

I hesitated. “What should I wear? My clothes from last night are office wear, and I don’t really want to put those back on.”

Joaquin, clearly still affected by my earlier question, responded with a hint of irritation. “Just make do with what you find in my closet.”

I let out a sigh, recognizing that I had overstepped and that he was dealing with his own emotions. Without another word, I turned and went back to his room. I knew his reaction was valid; I had asked something deeply personal that he clearly didn’t want to share.

As I rifled through his closet, I noticed an oversized white hoodie. It looked comfortable, and I decided it would work as a makeshift dress. I pulled it on, finding that