Time continued to slide by at its leisurely pace, a steady rhythm that defied the unsettled flurry within Evander. An hour, perhaps more, passed in this peculiar stalemate, a bizarre game of observation being played from both ends. The crowd around the pool ebbed and flowed, but the unusual interest in him remained a constant, an undercurrent of whispers and sidelong glances.

Just as he was contemplating his next move, the entrance to the pool area was graced by a woman whose air of command parted the throng as surely as a blade cuts through silk. She was older than most, in her fifties perhaps, her business suit stark against the sea of leisure wear that surrounded her.

As she stepped onto the scene, the pool attendant hurried to her side, leaning in to share a quick word. From his position, Evander watched as the attendant's arm lifted subtly, a gesture meant to go unnoticed, fingers pointed discreetly in his direction. The woman's eyes followed the signal and locked onto Evander with an unwavering intensity.

A strange sense of foreboding clenched at Evander's gut as the woman's gaze met his. The corners of her mouth tilted up in a mechanical smile that felt empty, her eyes devoid of the warmth that usually accompanied such a gesture.

What does she want? He found himself wondering as he watched her approach, her stride confident, unwavering. A knot of anticipation twisted in his stomach, uncertainty tingeing his thoughts. The balance of his day seemed to rest on this impending encounter, and he braced himself for whatever this stranger might bring. He maintained his relaxed facade, only the subtle stiffening of his muscles betraying his internal readiness.

The woman closed the distance between them with a grace born of many years navigating important meetings and high-stakes encounters. Her greeting bore the formal air of someone used to dictating the tone of the conversation, her voice carrying easily over the ambient noise.

"Man Evander," she began, addressing him with an unexpected gravity that hinted at some unspoken understanding. "I see that you have come outside."

Evander responded with a polite nod, his voice steady as he replied, "It's a warm day. I thought it would be pleasant outside." His gaze remained steady on her, trying to decipher the cryptic messages in her words and demeanor.

He had woken up in a world that was foreign to him, a stranger in his own skin. Every interaction, every clue was a piece of the puzzle that was slowly coming together. Yet, the woman before him was an enigma, her words laden with unspoken context he could not grasp.

The fixed smile returned to her face, the warmth of her words not quite reaching her eyes. "It's wonderful that you feel you are ready," she said, though her statement seemed less of a casual comment and more of a coded message.

Ready? Ready for what? Evander found himself pondering, the edge of confusion creeping into his thoughts. A pleasant, welcoming smile found its way onto his face as he nodded at her, giving nothing away.

The sudden shift in his demeanor seemed to jolt her, as if she had been expecting a different response. A flash of surprise rippled through her eyes, quickly replaced by her controlled composure. This, too, did not escape Evander's keen observation, leaving him more puzzled about the enigmatic woman and the cryptic world he had woken up to.

She seemed to gather herself, the threads of her composed facade knitting back together. "Well," she began, her eyes already drifting towards the busy entrance of the pool area as though preparing to take her leave, "I will leave you if you want."

Evander's mind spun, analyzing her words, her tone, her body language. He was a stranger here, and she was the first person to have directly interacted with him. There was a sense of power about her, a calculated confidence. He felt an instinctive urge to understand more, to unravel the enigma that was this world.

"If it's okay with you, could you stay and chat for a while?" he ventured, his words hanging in the air between them. The simple request seemed to startle her even more than his earlier response had. The woman’s body language betrayed a momentary vulnerability as if taken aback by his invitation.

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A few long seconds passed as she composed herself. He watched her, quietly patient, as the surprise etched on her face began to morph back into that practiced serenity. With a nod, she moved a chair closer to his, yet cautiously maintained a comfortable distance between them. The inscrutable smile returned to her face, and he couldn't help but wonder about the invisible lines he was unwittingly crossing. It was a dance of etiquette and hidden rules that he knew nothing about.

He drew from his past experiences, the countless interrogations that had tested his resilience and sharpness. His voice was smooth as a calm river when he asked, "What brings you here today?"

She responded with a smile, a curve of lips that carried a sense of careful rehearsed friendliness. "I had a report that you were out and about, Evander. Naturally, I was concerned about your wellbeing."

His brows knitted together in genuine confusion, "Why wouldn't I be fine?"

A ripple of confusion spread across her face, as if his words had disrupted a carefully laid out plan. She mentioned several sessions he apparently had with her, sessions where he’d revealed his discomfort at the intense scrutiny of the people around him. The more she spoke, the clearer the image became. She's a therapist. And I'm her patient.

A realization settled in him, like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place. The incessant stares, the odd distance maintained, they all pointed to one conclusion. He was the object of their collective concern, maybe even fear.

She spoke again, breaking into his thoughts. "It's wonderful to see you being so brave today."

His mind pulled at the word 'brave.' He was trained to associate bravery with acts of valor on a battlefield, not with taking a stroll around a picturesque environment. It was bravery running towards the booming echoes of gunfire, fighting for survival and duty.

Stepping out of a door into paradise isn’t bravery, he mused silently, casting a sidelong glance at the woman next to him.

After indulging in a bit of casual conversation about the sunny weather and the breathtaking surroundings, Evander decided to dig deeper. His gaze flickered towards the woman, as he calmly asked, "Could you remind me of the treatment I'm undergoing? I seem to have... forgotten."

Shock flashed across her face as if his question was an unexpected slap. She stammered, hastily assuring him that there was nothing wrong with him, that he was perfectly normal.

Normal? His mind spun in confusion, darting to the evidence that his body presented: the lethargic muscles, the veil of fatigue that constantly shrouded him. "But I feel weak, as if something is wrong with me," he said, his tone etching with a plea for an explanation.

The woman paused, her eyes sizing him up as if trying to figure out a complex riddle. "Of course, you're not unwell, Evander," she said, her tone soothing yet firm. "It just takes time for males to adapt to the demands the world places on them. And in my professional opinion, you're doing exceptionally well, especially considering your young age."

Evander's brows furrowed, his mind churning as he tried to make sense of her words. Demands the world places on them? Males? Young age? What the heck is she talking about? His thoughts were a tangled knot of confusion, each strand tugging him further into the labyrinth of uncertainty.

With a polite nod, Evander thanked her, a shadow of a smile gracing his features. "I'm glad to know I'm doing well," he commented, his gaze drifting past her towards the bustling pool area. "There seem to be quite a few women around the pool."

The woman's response was immediate, her words rushing out as if she had been bracing for such a request. "I can have the area cleared out if you prefer, Evander."

He shook his head almost instantly, the sharpness of his reaction startling her. "Why would I want that?" he asked, the corners of his mouth curling into a boyish grin. "They make for a rather pretty sight."

The woman regarded him carefully, her gaze sweeping over him with an inquisitive air. It was as if he had deviated from a script that only she knew, and she was trying to decipher the unexpected line he'd just delivered. For a time, they engaged in pleasant small talk, their conversation meandering through trivial subjects, a gentle stream of words flowing between them.

Eventually, the woman excused herself, rising from her chair with a grace that mirrored her sophisticated demeanor. "I don't wish to burden you any further with my presence," she said, her words carefully arranged in a bouquet of politeness. Before departing, she reassured him. "You won't be disturbed, Evander. The people here know how to behave."

Behave? What does she mean by that? He found himself questioning again, the string of enigma tugging at his curiosity. He halted her retreat with a quiet inquiry. "Is there anything I could take... for this weakness I'm feeling?"

She looked at him, shock lining her features. After a pause, she nodded. "Yes, I'll have something sent over." The promise was soft, and her eyes held a touch of concern that didn't escape his notice.