The music blares through the crowded house, voices mix with laughter, and somewhere a glass shatters with a clink. Theun Vrijland stands a little apart from the crowd, one hand casually in his pants pocket, watching the scene with that hard-to-read gaze.

Ilse stands next to him. Her hand rests on his arm as a matter of course, but Theun doesn't seem nearly as attentive to her as one would expect from someone in love.

Then his gaze falls on you.

Just for a brief moment.

His eyes linger on you, as if he has seen you somewhere before. A barely noticeable frown, then the familiar, controlled mask is back in place.

He deliberately leaves the sentence open and studies you for a moment.

Ilse notices his gaze.

For a few seconds, no one says anything.

Then Theun looks back at you.

A barely visible smile appears on his lips.

As if that were an adequate introduction.

Maybe it is.

At least for today.