I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

against his nature. He’s already apologized to the cafeteria
attendants three times for my thievery. When I ask him where this
compulsion comes from, he says his parents never stood for it and
would ‘beat his ass’. I tell him that misbehaving
is a part of being human. He tells me this particular part of being
human makes him want to vomit with guilt.
I end up stealing most of the apples for him. C never eats them.
Instead, he brings them to Neo, Sony and I’s advice in mind.
The first day:
“Hi.” He shuffles into Neo’s room like a parent trying not to disturb a
child doing homework. “I brought you an apple.”
He sets it on the side table.
“Thanks?” Neo says, picking it up warily.
C smiles curtly, hands cupped in front of him.
“Can I sit?”
“Uh–No,” Neo says, like his answer is more than obvious.
C is unphased by it. He nods and exits with his resolution intact.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
The second day:
C opens the door, puts the apple on the side table, stands with his
hands cupped in front of him, and that same eager smile.
“Hi,” he says.
Neo squints his eyes. “Coeur.”