A Little Guidance for A Big Heart

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<<ctp>> You sit down in the cafe <<ctpNext wait>> "What would you like?" the waitress asks, "spam, or eggs?" <<link "Spam">><<ctpGoto "spam">><</link>> <<link "Eggs, please">><<ctpGoto "eggs">><</link>> <<ctpNext id "spam">> "Sorry, spam's off" <<ctpNext next "give_up">> "Well, what isn't off?" you ask. <<ctpNext id "eggs">> "Sorry, no eggs." <<ctpNext>> "So, what do you have?" you ask. <<ctpNext id "give_up">> "Nothing." You give up. <</ctp>>

[img[shuffle24gt cover.png]] <<ctp>><big>A Little Guidance for A Big Heart</big> a game written & programmed by [[Norbez Jones|https://norbez.itch.io]] made for [[Shufflecomp 2024|https://itch.io/jam/shufflecomp-2024/]] starring [[Jessie Castro|https://heinousinvestigations.castos.com]], [[Ulysses Amadeus|https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYcfzUYZX6TSQQYNveQpAg?app=desktop]] & [[HattyVA|https://linktr.ee/hattyva]] with a cover by [[Vicki|https://linktr.ee/tsvicki]] Click on the blue text to advance the story, and the yellow links that appear at the end of the text to go to the next page. <<ctpNext>> [[Start|0]] <</ctp>> <<masteraudio stop>>

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<<ctp>> Normally, I wasn’t the type to go to a music club, because I had no idea how to flirt with people. <<ctpNext>>[[But this time, I had my little, five-inch friend Gabe in my front pocket.|1]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "e1_notsure" play>> "I’m not sure about this," I muttered, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e1_notsure" stop>>knowing Gabe could hear me through the Airpod in my right ear. Gabe had the left Airpod with him in my pocket, and that was how we would communicate through the night. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g1_relax" play>> "Relax," Gabe said, his voice loud & clear in my right ear. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g1_relax" stop>> <<audio "g2_tinyfolks" play>> "Nobody’s gonna know I’m here, remember? A tiny guy in your pocket? Nah, no one’s gonna think that’s happening! People will just think you’re talking to someone on your phone!" <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g2_tinyfolks" stop>> <<audio "e2_imeanyeah" play>> "I mean, yeah, I’m worried about that, but I’m also worried I can’t do this," I told my friend. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e2_imeanyeah" stop>> <<audio "e3_whatif" play>> "What if I’m not ready to go out and meet people? What if it’s too soon after leaving Em?" <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e3_whatif" stop>><<audio "g3_heyhey" play>> "Hey, hey, don’t worry," Gabe told me in a gentle voice. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g3_heyhey" stop>><<audio "g4_wingman" play>> "We talked about doing this because you thought it was the right time, remember? And with me as your wingman, you’re going to be great!" <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g4_wingman" stop>>I took a deep breath, and gathered my courage. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e4_alrightletsdo" play>> "[[Alright. Let’s do this. . .|2]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "e4_alrightletsdo" stop>><<audio "clubmusic"volume 0.05 loop play>>I stepped inside of the club, and smiled in relief as the sound of music washed over my ears. It wasn’t too loud, thank goodness. . . I had been worried about that. <<ctpNext>>People were scattered around, drinking and dancing as the band did their thing. <<ctpNext>>There was more of a crowd than I had been expecting. . . Nervous, I went up to the bar and asked for a cup of water. They gave me one, and I anxiously sipped it as I scanned the room. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g5_anyonecute" play>> "See anyone cute?" Gabe asked me from my pocket. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g5_anyonecute" stop>><<audio "g6_cuteblond" play>> "If not, that blond across the room looks pretty sexy!"<<ctpNext>> <<audio "e5_gabe" play>> <<audio "g6_cuteblond" stop>> "Gabe!" I hissed, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e5_gabe" stop>>resisting the urge to look down and draw more attention to my friend. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e6_getbackin" play>> "Get back in my pocket! I don’t want anyone to see you. . .!" <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e6_getbackin" stop>><<audio "g7_jazzcup" play>> "Sorry, sorry. But seriously, [[go talk to that blond guy!|3]] He’s totally your type, Eu. He’s at one of the booths, wearing a white hoodie with jazz cup colors on it." <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "g7_jazzcup" stop>>I looked around, and spotted the person that Gabe had been talking about. <<ctpNext>>He was definitely aesthetically attractive—I loved his long blond hair and stud earrings—but was he "my type"? What was a "type", anyway? <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g8_standthere" play>> "Don’t just stand there!" Gabe exclaimed, yanking me out of my own head. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g8_standthere" stop>> <<audio "g9_getoverthere" play>> "Go over there, Eu!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g9_getoverthere" stop>> I swallowed hard, gave the bartender the cup back, and forced my legs to move. <<ctpNext>>One step, <<ctpNext>> then another, <<ctpNext>>then another. <<ctpNext>>Across the floor until, <<ctpNext>>[[finally, I was standing in front of the blond guy.|4]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> He looked over at me, and a smile came on his face. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h1_ohheythere" play>> "Oh, hey there," he said, in a tone I recognized as flirtatious. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h1_ohheythere" stop>> <<audio "h2_liketo" play>> "I don’t think I know you, but I’d like to. What’s your name?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h2_liketo" stop>> Everything in my body was screaming at me to run. <<ctpNext>>Something in me didn’t like this, <<ctpNext>>and deep down, I knew why. <<ctpNext>>But trying to deny it, I smiled back at the guy and said, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e7_imeugeneyou" play>> "I’m Eugene. You?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e7_imeugeneyou" stop>><<audio "h3_harker" play>> "Harker," he replied, <<ctpNext>>holding out his hand. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h3_harker" stop>>I shook it. <<ctpNext>>He added, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h4_pronouns" play>> "He/him. And I see you use they/them pronouns. [[Are you nonbinary?|5]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "h4_pronouns" stop>> <<audio "e8_close" play>> "Close," I replied with a laugh. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e8_close" stop>> <<audio "e9_imagender" play>> "I’m agender." <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e9_imagender" stop>> <<audio "h5_ohcool" play>> "Oh, cool!" Harker exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h6_onlinefriends" play>> "One of my online friends is agender, too. That’s neat!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h6_onlinefriends" stop>> There was a moment of silence, which was a problem—<<ctpNext>>I certainly didn’t know what to say! <<ctpNext>>Luckily, Gabe didn’t miss a beat, and he said into the Airpod, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g10_knowsband" play>> "Ask him if he knows the band!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g10_knowsband" stop>> [[Follow Gabe’s advice|6y]] [[Just wing it|6n]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> I cleared my throat and asked, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e10_kwfan" play>> "So, um, are you a Kitty Whiskers fan? That’s the band who’s playing tonight. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e10_kwfan" stop>><<audio "h7_ohdidntknow" play>> "Oh, I actually didn’t know!" Harker said, nodding. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h7_ohdidntknow" stop>> <<audio "h8_prettyneat" play>> "That’s pretty neat." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h8_prettyneat" stop>> Curious, I asked, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e11_whycome" play>> "If you didn’t know the band, why’d you come down here, then?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e11_whycome" stop>><<audio "h8-1_laughed" play>> Harker laughed and said, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h9_greattunes" play>> "Well, I was supposed to meet some friends here tonight, but they bailed. I figured I’d stay for the great tunes though." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h9_greattunes" stop>>He gave me a smile and added, <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h10_greatpeople" play>> "[[And the great people.|7]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> I opened my mouth to try and say something, but suddenly, my mind was blank. <<ctpNext>>Thankfully, Harker filled the silence with a question: <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h11_comeoften" play>>"Do you come to this place often?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h11_comeoften" stop>><<audio "e12_notatall" play>> "Oh, not at all," I replied with a laugh. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e12_notatall" stop>><<audio "e13_onlycame" play>> "I only came, um, because a friend wanted me to. And because Kitty Whiskers are playing tonight." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e13_onlycame" stop>><<audio "h12_ohisthat" play>> "Oh, is that who the band is?" Harker asked, his eyes lighting up. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h12_ohisthat" stop>><<audio "h13_coolname" play>> "That’s a cool name. They’ve been doing a really great job so far." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h13_coolname" stop>>He thought for a moment, and then asked, <<ctpNext>><<audio "h14_wheresfriend" play>> "So, where’s your friend? The one who wanted you to come?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h14_wheresfriend" stop>> Shit shit shit! <<ctpNext>>Scrambling to come up with an excuse, I quickly said, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e14_bcwhynot" play>> "Um, he couldn’t come tonight after all! But, um, I decided to come down anyway, because why not, right?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e14_bcwhynot" stop>><<audio "h8-1_laughed" play>> Harker laughed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h15_ohyeahsame" play>> "Oh yeah, it’s the same for me," he told me. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h15_ohyeahsame" stop>><<audio "h16_theybailed" play>> "I was supposed to meet some friends here, but they bailed." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h16_theybailed" stop>>He gave me a smile. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h17_ranintoyou" play>> "[[I’m glad I ran into you, though.|7]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "clubmusic" fadeout>><<audio "h10_greatpeople" stop>><<audio "h17_ranintoyou" stop>><<audio "g11_oooohearthat" play>>"Oooo, you hear that?" Gabe exclaimed, sounding excited. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g11_oooohearthat" stop>><<audio "g12_hesintoyou" play>> "He’s into you!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g12_hesintoyou" stop>><<audio "lovesong"volume 0.05 loop play>> The Kitty Whiskers switched things up to a slower song, and I laughed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e15_theyreplaying" play>> "Oh, they’re playing ‘Melody To Remember Me By’," I said to Harker. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e15_theyreplaying" stop>><<audio "e16_smoochto" play>> "I remember the lead singer saying that at their concerts, this is the song most people smooch to."<<ctpNext>><<audio "e16_smoochto" stop>> I had meant to share a fun fact, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I fucked up. <<ctpNext>>Harker smiled and asked, <<ctpNext>><<audio "h18_smoochme" play>> "Are you saying you want to smooch me?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h18_smoochme" stop>><<audio "g13_yessssss" play>> "Yessssss!" I heard Gabe hiss. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g14_doitdoit" play>> "[[Do it, do it!|8]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "g14_doitdoit" stop>>Everything in me was screaming not to. <<ctpNext>>But I’d been ignoring that feeling so far—<<ctpNext>>I could just continue to do so, right? <<ctpNext>> [[Kiss Harker|8kiss]] [[Do not kiss him|8no]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "e17_umsure" play>> "Um, sure," I said, <<ctpNext>>forcing a smile. <<set $kiss to "yes">> <<ctpNext>><<audio "e17_umsure" stop>> Harker put his hand against my cheek and puckered up. <<ctpNext>>I leaned forward, and our lips met, <<ctpNext>>a gentle collision that felt <<ctpNext>>oh, so very wrong in my mouth. I couldn’t stand it, and I immediately let go, leaning away from him. <<ctpNext>> Harker frowned. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h19_thatbad" play>> "Sorry, was I that bad?" he asked with an awkward laugh. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "h19_thatbad" stop>><<audio "e18_noimean" play>> "No, it’s not. . . I mean. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e18_noimean" stop>>I felt tears filling my eyes, and I backed away. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e19_havetogo" play>> "[[I have to go.|9]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> <<audio "e20_wasntimplying" play>> "Sorry, I-I wasn’t trying to imply that," I stammered. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e20_wasntimplying" stop>><<audio "e20.1_idontimean" play>> "I don’t want to. . . I mean. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e20.1_idontimean" stop>> I felt tears filling my eyes, and I backed away. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "e19_havetogo" play>> "[[I have to go.|9]]" <<set $kiss to "no">> <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "lovesong" fadeout>><<audio "e19_havetogo" stop>>I quickly made my way to the front door and exited the club. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g15_heyheywhere" play>> "Hey, hey, where are you going?" Gabe exclaimed. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g15_heyheywhere" stop>> <<audio "g16_sowell" play>> "You were doing so well! What happened?!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g16_sowell" stop>> I went into my car and locked the door, feeling on the brink of tears. <<ctpNext>>Gabe poked his head out of my pocket, looking angry, <<ctpNext>>but his expression changed when he saw my face. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g17_heyheyeu" play>><<audio "carmusic" volume 0.05 loop play>> "Hey, hey, Eu, talk to me," he said. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g17_heyheyeu" stop>>He crawled out of my pocket and sat on my calf, cross-legged. <<ctpNext>> <<audio "g18_youok" play>>"You ok?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g18_youok" stop>><<audio "e21_badidea" play>> "I knew this was a bad idea," I sniffled. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e21_badidea" stop>><<audio "e21.1_comehere" play>> "I shouldn’t have come here. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g19_whynotgreat" play>>"Why not? You were doing great!" Gabe encouraged me. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g19_whynotgreat" stop>><<audio "g20_illbetyou" play>> "I’ll bet you anything that Harker would’ve totally gone home to fuck you tonight if you hadn’t bailed." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g20_illbetyou" stop>><<audio "e22_intome" play>> "I know, he was into me, but. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e22_intome" stop>><<audio "e23_sighedgroaned" play>>I sighed, then groaned. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e23_sighedgroaned" stop>><<audio "e24_thoughtwanted" play>>"Ugh, I thought that’s what I wanted, but when it started to become real, I just couldn’t take it, Gabe." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e24_thoughtwanted" stop>><<audio "g21_butwhynot" play>> "But why not?" my friend asked, [[sounding baffled|10]]. <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "g21_butwhynot" stop>><<audio "e25_toosoonafterem" play>>"For a lot of reasons, but part of it is that it feels too soon to be dating someone after Em," I replied. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e25_toosoonafterem" stop>><<audio "e26_reallyharddude" play>>"I know you want me to just move on, but . . . it’s hard. It’s really hard, dude." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e26_reallyharddude" stop>><<audio "g22_isee" play>> ". . . I see," Gabe said. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g22_isee" stop>><<audio "g23_sighed" play>>He sighed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g23_sighed" stop>><<audio "g24_mayberushing" play>> "Maybe I was rushing you into meeting someone new," he admitted. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g24_mayberushing" stop>><<audio "g25_eventhoughem" play>> "I don’t know. . . even though Em just made you so miserable in the end, you two were really happy in the beginning—I wanted to see you happy like that again, I guess." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g25_eventhoughem" stop>><<audio "e27_dummy" play>> "Dummy." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e27_dummy" stop>>I smiled and reached down, ruffling Gabe’s hair with one finger. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e28_happyenough" play>>"I don’t need a romantic relationship to be happy. Our friendship makes me happy enough! You know that, right?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e28_happyenough" stop>> Gabe looked surprised. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g26_really" play>>"Really?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g26_really" stop>><<audio "e29_yeah" play>> "Yeah," I replied. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e29_yeah" stop>><<audio "e30_alwaysbeenhere" play>>"[[You’ve always been here for me, especially since the breakup. That means so much to me.|11]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "e30_alwaysbeenhere" stop>>I hesitated, <<ctpNext>>unsure as to whether I should confess. <<ctpNext>>Finally, I said, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e31_shouldtellyou" play>>"There’s something important I should tell you, Gabe." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e31_shouldtellyou" stop>><<audio "g27_okwhatsup" play>> "Ok. What’s up?" he asked. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g27_okwhatsup" stop>><<audio "e32_sighed" play>> I sighed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e32_sighed" stop>><<audio "e33_selfdiscovery" play>>"After I broke up with Em, well . . . I focused a lot on self-discovery. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e33_selfdiscovery" stop>><<audio "e34_redflagswaving" play>>I asked myself why I had stayed with Em even when things got bad, even when the red flags were waving in my face. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e34_redflagswaving" stop>><<audio "e35_evenafteryou" play>>Even after you told me time & time again that she was bad for me. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e35_evenafteryou" stop>><<audio "e36_tofindlove" play>> "I realized that I felt like I needed to find fulfilment & meaning in a romantic relationship. And that I’ve really felt pressured by so many things—society and my parents, mainly—to find love. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e36_tofindlove" stop>><<audio "e37_oneswithfriends" play>>But deep down, I . . . [[I don’t think I need romantic love to be happy.|12]] I’ve never experienced sexual attraction, and the best relationships I’ve had in my life have been the ones with my friends." <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "e37_oneswithfriends" stop>> I looked into Gabe’s tiny eyes <<ctpNext>>and swallowed hard, feeling nervous. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e38_aroace" play>>"Gabe . . . I think I might be aroace." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e38_aroace" stop>>It felt so weird to finally say out loud. <<ctpNext>>I continued, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e39_notbroken" play>>"And I didn’t want to believe that—that’s why I let you talk me into this, because I thought that maybe it wasn’t true, that I’m not . . . broken, I guess. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e39_notbroken" stop>><<audio "e40_butifanything" play>>But if anything, it just confirmed that I am." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e40_butifanything" stop>> Gabe nodded, taking this all in. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g28_aroace" play>> "Aroace. . . That asexual & aromantic, right?" he asked. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g28_aroace" stop>>I nodded and turned away, <<ctpNext>>feeing ashamed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g29_heyheylook" play>> "Hey, hey look at me," he said, gently but firmly. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g29_heyheylook" stop>><<audio "e32_sighed" play>> I sighed and turned back towards him. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e32_sighed" stop>><<audio "e41_knowwhatsay" play>>"I know what’s you’re going to say," I muttered. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e41_knowwhatsay" stop>> Gabe folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g30_ohreallywhat" play>> "Oh really? What am I going to say?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g30_ohreallywhat" stop>> I felt myself sinking into the dark corners of my mind. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e42_madatme" play>>"You’re mad at me for wasting your time tonight, no doubt," I mumbled. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e42_madatme" stop>><<audio "e43_hidingidentity" play>>"And for hiding my identity from you. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e43_hidingidentity" stop>><<audio "g31_whatnoway" play>> "What?! No way!" Gabe exclaimed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g31_whatnoway" stop>>He stood up, looking incredulous, and demanded, <<ctpNext>><<audio "g32_getyourhand" play>> "[[Get your hand down here and lift me up so we’re eye to eye.|13]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "g32_getyourhand" stop>> I obeyed, putting my open palm in front of him. <<ctpNext>>He stepped onto it, and I lifted him up to my face. <<ctpNext>>Gabe looked me in the eyes and said, <<ctpNext>><<audio "g33_lookeu" play>>"Look Eu, I’ve known you since we were, what, eight years old? So you can trust me when I say you’re not an easy person to get mad at." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g33_lookeu" stop>><<audio "g23_sighed" play>>He sighed and continued, <<ctpNext>><<audio "g23_sighed" stop>><<audio "g34_imsorryfor" play>> "I’m sorry for pressuring you to move on—I really wanted to see you with someone again, but maybe I was wrong for thinking you need that in your life. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g34_imsorryfor" stop>><<audio "g35_identity" play>>I’m sure I made you think you couldn’t tell me about your identity." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g35_identity" stop>> He walked forward and gently hugged my cheek. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g36_notmad" play>> "I’m not mad at you, ok? <<ctpNext>><<audio "g36_notmad" stop>><<audio "g37_ifanything" play>>If anything, I’m glad you know more about yourself. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g37_ifanything" stop>><<audio "g38_careaboutyou" play>>I care about you a lot, Eu; I want to see you happy. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g38_careaboutyou" stop>><<audio "g39_coolwithme" play>>If that means you’re not dating anyone, then hey, that’s cool with me." <<ctpNext>><<audio "g39_coolwithme" stop>> I sniffled, tears running down my cheeks. <<ctpNext>>I hugged Gabe back, wrapping my other hand around him. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e44_thanksdude" play>>"Thanks, dude. I appreciate that a lot." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e44_thanksdude" stop>><<audio "g40_yeahnp" play>> "Yeah, [[no problem.|14]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "g40_yeahnp" stop>><<audio "carmusic" fadeout>>We parted, and I lowered my hand onto the other car seat. As Gabe stepped off, he smiled and said, <<ctpNext>><<audio "g41_gohomeand" play>> "Now, what do you say we go home and—"<<ctpNext>><<audio "g41_gohomeand" stop>><<audio "knockknockknock" play>> Knock knock knock! <<ctpNext>><<audio "knockknockknock" stop>>The sound of someone rapping on my window interrupted me, and I turned around, startled. <<ctpNext>><<audio "harker" volume 0.05 loop play>>Harker was standing there, and he waved at me with a shy smile. <<ctpNext>> Trusting that Gabe had found somewhere to hide, I rolled down my window and said, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e45_umheywhatsup" play>>"Um, hey! [[What’s up?|15]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "e45_umheywhatsup" stop>><<audio "h21_tryingfind" play>>"I was trying to find you—you kind of rushed out earlier, and you looked kind of off. I was worried," Harker explained. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h21_tryingfind" stop>>A sympathetic expression came onto his face, and he remarked, <<ctpNext>><<audio "h22_werecrying" play>> "Were you crying? Are you ok? I hope I didn’t do something wrong. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h22_werecrying" stop>><<audio "e46_nononotatall" play>> "No, no, not at all!" I exclaimed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e46_nononotatall" stop>><<audio "e47_aughhard" play>>"You didn’t. . . I mean, it’s not you, it’s. . . Augh, it’s hard to explain." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e47_aughhard" stop>><<audio "h23_takeyourtime" play>> "Take your time," Harker said gently. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h23_takeyourtime" stop>><<audio "h24_icanlisten" play>> "I can listen." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h24_icanlisten" stop>> [[Try to explain|15explain]] [[Tell him you need to go|15go]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "e32_sighed" play>>I sighed, trying to find the right words. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e32_sighed" stop>>When they came, I looked into Harker’s eyes, <<ctpNext>>and knew I had to tell him the truth. <<set $harker to "yes">> <<ctpNext>><<audio "e48_mightbearoace" play>> "Look, um, I think I might be aroace," I admitted. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e48_mightbearoace" stop>><<audio "e49_trieddeny" play>>"And I tried to deny that, but I can’t ignore it anymore." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e49_trieddeny" stop>><<audio "h25_oh" play>> "Oh!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h25_oh" stop>>Harker looked surprised. <<ctpNext>> I turned away, <<ctpNext>>feeling ashamed and embarrassed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e50_sorryleadon" play>>"I’m sorry if I lead you on. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "e50_sorryleadon" stop>><<audio "h26_noumits" play>> "No, um, it’s ok. I mean, I get it," Harker replied. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h26_noumits" stop>>Surprised, I looked back at him, <<ctpNext>>and he gave me a sympathetic smile. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h27_aroacefriends" play>>"I have some aroace friends, and they’ve told me that finding out you’re aroace can be a bit awkward. Sorry I got caught in the crossfire, though. . ." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h27_aroacefriends" stop>><<audio "e51_nothingtobesorry" play>> "No, no, you have nothing to be sorry for," I said. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e51_nothingtobesorry" stop>>I hesitated, then added, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e52_friends" play>>"Look, I can’t give you a romantic relationship, but maybe the two of us, we can be friends?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e52_friends" stop>> Harker shrugged. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h28_surewhynot" play>>"Sure, why not!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "h28_surewhynot" stop>> I pulled out my phone, and the two of us swapped numbers. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h29_illtextyou" play>>"I’ll text you," Harker told me. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h29_illtextyou" stop>>He waved. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h30_talksoon" play>>"Talk to you soon." <<ctpNext>><<audio "h30_talksoon" stop>> I smiled and waved back, <<ctpNext>>[[relieved & happy.|16]] <</ctp>>

<<ctp>> I shake my head. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e53_noneedtogo" play>>"No, I’m sorry. I need to go. I think it would be best if you just forget that we met." <<set $harker to "no">> <<ctpNext>><<audio "e53_noneedtogo" stop>> Harker opened his mouth to protest, <<ctpNext>>but then he closed it again. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h31_ok" play>>"Ok," he said quietly. <<ctpNext>><<audio "h31_ok" stop>><<audio "h32_goodluck" play>>"[[Good luck out there.|16]]" <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "h32_goodluck" stop>><<audio "harker" fadeout>>I turned the window back up and started my car. <<ctpNext>>Then, I drove away. <<ctpNext>> I glanced over at the passenger side, and saw Gabe coming out from hiding behind the seat belt buckle. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e54_youok" play>>"You ok?" I asked. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e54_youok" stop>><<audio "g41_yeah" play>> "Yeah," Gabe replied. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g41_yeah" stop>><<audio "g42_thatsarelief" play>> "I don’t think he saw me. . . That’s a relief. <<ctpNext>><<if $harker is "yes">><<audio "g42_thatsarelief" stop>><<audio "g43_gladnice" play>> And I’m glad he was nice about things, too.<<else>><<audio "g43.1_abigrelief" play>> A big relief. . . <<endif>>"<<ctpNext>><<audio "g43_gladnice" stop>><<audio "g43.1_abigrelief" stop>><<audio "e29_yeah" play>> "[[Yeah,|17]]" I agreed. <</ctp>>

<<ctp>><<audio "e29_yeah" stop>><<audio "endsong" volume 0.05 loop play>>I felt relieved, like a weight had been lifted off of me. <<ctpNext>>Smiling, I asked Gabe, <<ctpNext>><<audio "e55_smashbros" play>>"Wanna play Smash Bros when we get to my place?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e55_smashbros" stop>><<audio "g44_bigcontroller" play>> "Oh come on, you know I’m bad with how big the controller is!" Gabe whined. <<ctpNext>><<audio "g44_bigcontroller" stop>><<audio "g45_gonnalose" play>> "I’m totally gonna lose!" <<ctpNext>><<audio "g45_gonnalose" stop>> I laughed. <<ctpNext>><<audio "e56_funthough" play>>"That’s what makes it fun though, right?" <<ctpNext>><<audio "e56_funthough" stop>> The two of us continued to go back and forth as the drive went on. <<ctpNext>>[[I couldn’t be happier to be spending this time with my best friend.|end]] <</ctp>>

The end. Thank you for playing! a game written & programmed by [[Norbez Jones|https://norbez.itch.io]] made for [[Shufflecomp 2024|https://itch.io/jam/shufflecomp-2024/]] starring [[Jessie Castro|https://heinousinvestigations.castos.com]], [[Ulysses Amadeus|https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYcfzUYZX6TSQQYNveQpAg?app=desktop]] & [[HattyVA|https://linktr.ee/hattyva]] with a cover by [[Vicki|https://linktr.ee/tsvicki]] [[Link to this game’s Shufflecomp playlist!|https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSdWVc9Omt5co2q3KZBNseCOoDPNOMAhy]] [[Music & Sound Effects Credits]] [[Restart game?|Start]]

Songs in order of appearance: [[L.E.D. Toys by EMAYTEE|https://emaytee.bandcamp.com/track/l-e-d-toys]] [[Travelling On A Keyboard by EMAYTEE|https://emaytee.bandcamp.com/track/travelling-on-a-keyboard]] [[Gaussian by Props|https://propsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/gaussian-2]] [[The Plains by Props|https://propsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-plains]] [[Bus Window by Props|https://propsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/bus-window]] All used under a [[CC BY 3.0 License|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]]. No changes were made to the material. Sound effect: [[knocking.mp3 by agaisgsbs|https://freesound.org/people/agaisgsbs/sounds/662900/]], used under a [[CC0 License|http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/]] [[(back to end screen)|end]] [[Restart game?|Start]]