Yet there he remained, sitting across from her, staring at her.

It was a first, Marie had never waited for someone for more than 30 minutes, but she had already been waiting for Marius for over an hour. They met on the internet, who would have thought it, having a relationship on a virtual platform, everything contrary to her motto. A hint of curiosity drove her. Yes, despite the barrage of negative testimonies, but she had decided to believe in it. What! And what about the exceptions? They lived in different cities, but the chemistry had been created at first contact. Maybe he was the one, she thought this time. Marie had come to the Black Screen festival in her virtual partner's city and wanted to seize this opportunity for a physical meeting. He must have had a good reason for being over an hour late. She decided to order a drink, hoping it would bring him. Marie turned her head in all directions, hoping to see Marius, but nothing. Yet she had the feeling that someone was watching her. The situation was starting to make her uncomfortable. She checked her phone, no message…. Marie's eyes suddenly met those of a man in his thirties sitting at a table a few meters away from hers. He stared at her without blinking. It was very unsettling. Who was he and what did he want from her? A friend of Marius? No, he wouldn't dare. The stranger was rising from his table and advancing towards Marie with determined steps. Where was he going like that, she wondered to herself? Here? He stopped in front of her table, hesitating for a moment as if waiting for an invitation, then he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. Marie kept her hands gripped tightly around her cup, frozen by the stranger's boldness and curious to know what would happen next. Sorry, I know you weren't expecting that but... I'm Marius The long-awaited boomerang effect had suddenly transformed into a real splash. This must certainly be a prank, Marie thought.