The cafe was Leo's favorite escape from the world's noise. In its quiet corners, he felt safe from life's complexities. But today, the meeting was different.
Leo sat waiting anxiously, rehearsing his greetings for the hundredth time. "Marcus" – the man he admired so much – was about to arrive.
"Hello Leo, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Marcus appeared with a warm smile and a calm voice. He sat down quietly and listened intently to every word Leo said. He asked the right questions and showed admiration at the right times. Leo felt at ease, as if he had found the big brother he'd always been looking for.
"Tell me more about your new project; it sounds exciting."
Leo launched in enthusiastically, explaining his idea, full of passion. But suddenly, he noticed Marcus's smile become slightly strained. Marcus didn't say anything, but his gaze became less focused, and his voice cooler when he replied.
"An... interesting idea."
Leo felt a strange wave of anxiety wash over him. Why had Marcus's tone changed? What had he done wrong? He began to feel uneasy, as if he had lost something precious.
"Is... is everything okay, Marcus?"
"Everything's perfect, why do you ask?"
But Leo couldn't shake that overwhelming feeling of fear. Suddenly, it seemed to him that the friendship with Marcus, which he had just begun to cherish, was on the verge of disappearing.
"Actually, maybe the project idea isn't as developed as I thought. I can postpone it if you want."
Marcus smiled again, and the warmth returned to his voice.
"Don't worry, my friend. I'm here for you, always."
A wave of relief washed over Leo. Everything was back to how it was. What he didn't realize was that, at that very moment, he had fallen into a snare he couldn't see.
In a far corner, another man watched the scene with expert eyes. He knew that some friendships were like gilded cages.