Shopping Mall - Afternoon
Matteo walked through the bustling mall with determination in his eyes. He had a mission. A very important mission.
After the hypnosis disaster, he needed to do something right. Something that would prove his love was real and not just a YouTube tutorial gone wrong.
His eyes scanned the shops until he found what he was looking for: a small custom T-shirt printing store tucked between a bubble tea shop and a phone accessories stall.
"Excuse me!" Matteo called out, his Italian accent thick with excitement. "I need a shirt! A special shirt!"
The shop owner looked up from his computer. "Sure, sir. What do you want printed?"
Matteo grinned widely. "I want it to say... 'MATTEO'S'!"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6Kho52c3u
The owner shrugged. "Alright. Color?"
"Pink! Wait... no... blue! Like her eyes... no, her eyes are brown... okay, PINK! Because it's romantic!"
"Size?"
Matteo paused. He had no idea what size Naila wore. "Um... medium? She's small and cute and sleepy... medium should work!"
The owner typed something into his computer. "Ready in 30 minutes."
Matteo practically bounced with excitement. "Grazie! Thank you! You are the best!"
***
Campus Courtyard - Late Afternoon
Matteo had gathered everyone in the campus courtyard. Fatimah, Chima, Wony, Alice, and Naila were all sitting on a bench, looking at him with varying degrees of suspicion.
"Matteo," Fatimah said carefully, "you said you had something to show us. What is it?"
Matteo stood before them, holding a neatly folded pink T-shirt behind his back. His face was beaming.
"I have a gift! For my one true love!"
Chima groaned. "Oh no. Not again."
"Don't worry, Chima!" Matteo assured her. "No hypnosis this time! Just... love!"
Wony whispered to Alice. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Alice whispered back. "Same. But I'm here for the chaos."
Naila was half-asleep on the bench. She hadn't even noticed Matteo standing in front of her.
Matteo took a deep breath. Then, with dramatic flair, he presented the T-shirt.
"Naila! For you! A symbol of my eternal love!"
He unfolded the shirt.
Everyone read the words printed across the front in bold letters:
"MATTEO'S"
Silence.
Chima blinked. "Did he just..."
Wony covered her mouth. "He did."
Fatimah pinched the bridge of her nose. "Matteo..."
Alice burst out laughing. "HAHAHAHA! 'MATTEO'S'?! LIKE SHE'S PROPERTY?!"
Matteo looked confused. "What? It's romantic! It means 'Matteo's'!"
"It means you're claiming ownership over her!" Chima shouted. "Like she's a dog with a collar!"
Matteo's face fell. "No! No, that's not what I meant! It's... it's a declaration of love!"
"It's a declaration of CREEPY!" Alice laughed.
Naila finally opened her eyes. She looked at the shirt, then at Matteo, then back at the shirt.
"You want me to wear that?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes!" Matteo nodded eagerly. "So everyone knows you're loved by Matteo!"
Naila stared at the shirt for a long moment. "Too much effort."
"What?"
"Wearing a shirt. Too much effort."
"But... but it's for love!"
"Love is effort. I'm lazy. Sorry." Naila closed her eyes again.
Matteo dropped to his knees dramatically. "NOOOOO!"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSptgQu616L
Alice was still laughing so hard she was crying. "He bought a shirt that says 'MATTEO'S'! Like Naila is a car! A very sleepy car!"
Wony was examining the shirt with curiosity. "The font choice is... questionable. And the pink is too bright. It clashes with Naila's natural palette."
Chima grabbed the shirt from Matteo. "Matteo, you CANNOT give a woman a shirt that claims ownership of her. That's not romantic. That's possessive."
Matteo looked genuinely upset. "But I just want everyone to know she's special to me!"
"Then give her a shirt that says 'NAILA IS AMAZING' or 'I LOVE NAILA'! Not 'MATTEO'S'!"
Matteo considered this. "Oh. That's... that's actually a good idea."
"Of course it's a good idea! I'M the one who said it!"
Fatimah stepped in. "Matteo, what did you think was going to happen? Did you think she'd put it on and declare undying love for you?"
Matteo looked down sheepishly. "Maybe..."
"Matteo, that's not how love works."
"Then how does it work?"
Fatimah opened her mouth, then closed it. "You know what? I don't have time to explain love. It's too complicated."
Wony patted Matteo's shoulder. "Love is like a fine wine. It needs time. And proper storage. And sometimes it gives you a headache."
"That's the most confusing metaphor I've ever heard," Alice said.
"It's elegant. You wouldn't understand."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mZfsoaP5O
Naila had been watching the chaos with half-open eyes. Finally, she sat up and stretched.
"Matteo," she said calmly.
Matteo perked up. "Yes, Naila?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything!"
"Why do you like me?"
The question caught everyone off guard.
Matteo froze. "Why do I... what?"
"Why do you like me?" Naila repeated. "I'm lazy. I sleep all the time. I barely talk. I don't do anything interesting. So why?"
Matteo was silent for a moment. Then his face softened.
"Because... you're honest. You don't pretend to be someone you're not. You're comfortable with yourself. And... you're kind. Even when you're too lazy to show it."
Naila blinked. "That's... actually sweet."
"Really?"
"But I still won't wear the shirt."
Matteo deflated. "Oh."
"Too much effort. And pink isn't my color."
"Would you wear a blue one?"
"Too much effort."
"How about a purple one? Purple is elegant!"
"Too. Much. Effort."
Matteo looked at his friends helplessly. "What do I do?"
Chima laughed. "Give up, Matteo. She's Naila. She doesn't do effort."
Alice jumped in. "But you could try a different approach! Like... a shirt for yourself!"
Matteo was confused. "For myself?"
"Yes! Wear a shirt that says 'NAILA IS MY QUEEN' or something! So people know YOU love HER, not that she belongs to you!"
Matteo's eyes lit up. "That... that's brilliant!"
"I KNOW!"
***
30 Minutes Later
Matteo returned from a quick trip to the printer. He was wearing a new T-shirt.
It read: "NAILA IS MY QUEEN"
He struck a proud pose. "What do you think?!"
Alice gave a thumbs up. "Better!"
Chima nodded approvingly. "That's actually not terrible."
Wony tilted her head. "The font could be more elegant. But the sentiment is acceptable."
Fatimah smiled. "Much better, Matteo."
Naila looked at the shirt. Then at Matteo. Then back at the shirt.
"That's... a lot of words," she said.
"I can wear it for you!" Matteo declared. "To show everyone how much I love you! Without making you wear anything!"
Naila thought about this. "Hmm. You'd do that?"
"Of course!"
"Even if people laugh at you?"
Matteo hesitated. "Will they laugh?"
"Probably," Alice confirmed. "I'm already laughing."
Matteo considered this. Then he straightened his back with renewed determination.
"I don't care! If the world laughs at me for loving Naila, then let them laugh! I will proudly declare my love for her every single day!"
Naila stared at him. Her expression was unreadable.
Then, very slowly, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Okay," she said softly.
Matteo's heart leaped. "Okay?"
"Okay, I'll... try. Not the shirt. But maybe... we can hang out sometimes. When I'm not too tired."
Matteo looked like he might explode with joy. "YES! YES! THAT'S ALL I ASK!"
Chima shook her head. "You've got to be kidding me. All this time, and Naila just needed him to wear a silly shirt?"
Naila shrugged. "He tried. That's more than most people do."
Alice was already posting on Instagram. "Caption: 'Matteo's love journey. From ownership to declaration. Progress!'"
Wony took a photo of Matteo in his new shirt. "This will be a great memory. Also, I'll show this to your future children."
Matteo beamed. "Grazie, everyone! You are the best friends a confused Italian man could ask for!"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPtgIDHTKj
Campus Courtyard - Evening
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Matteo was still wearing his "NAILA IS MY QUEEN" shirt, practically glowing with happiness.
Naila sat beside him on the bench, looking peaceful.
Chima, Fatimah, Wony, and Alice watched from a distance.
"Look at him," Chima said with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "He's so happy. It's almost annoying."
Fatimah smiled. "He's learning. That's what matters."
Alice was still scrolling through her photos. "I have SO much content. This will be my most liked post yet!"
Wony checked her reflection. "I need to tell Matteo that 'Queen' should be in a more elegant font. But... he tried. That's cute."
Chima snorted. "Cute? He's pathetic."
"Pathetically cute," Alice corrected.
Naila glanced back at her friends, then looked at Matteo.
"Hey," she said softly.
Matteo turned to her. "Yes, my queen?"
"Don't call me that."
"Oh. Sorry. What should I call you?"
"Just Naila."
"Okay. Just Naila."
A comfortable silence fell between them.
Then Naila spoke again. "The shirt is... nice."
Matteo's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Don't get excited. I'm just saying it's not ugly."
"THAT'S THE BEST COMPLIMENT I'VE EVER RECEIVED!"
"Matteo, that's actually kind of sad."
"BUT IT'S FROM YOU!"
Naila rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
In the distance, the girls watched the exchange.
Fatimah sighed contentedly. "I think they're going to be okay."
Chima shook her head. "He's insane. She's lazy. They're perfect for each other."
Alice grinned. "I'm already planning their wedding."
Wony gasped. "Wait! I need to design the invitations! They need to be elegant!"
"You're planning a wedding for people who aren't even dating yet," Chima pointed out.
"Details," Wony waved dismissively.
The sun continued to set, painting their chaotic little group in warm golden light.
And somewhere in the distance, Matteo's voice could be heard: "NAILA IS MY QUEEN!"
"Matteo, I said stop calling me that."
"SORRY! NAILA IS MY FRIEND WHO I REALLY LIKE!"
"Better."
"SHOULD I GET A SHIRT THAT SAYS THAT?"
"No."
"OKAY, MAYBE LATER!"
Naila closed her eyes, still smiling.
She was too lazy to be angry at Matteo. And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EYdCMQu4k
and then Add to home screen.