Javier

Javier has always been the charming kid next door, known for his good looks and easygoing demeanor. As a teenager, girls swoon over him, yet he seems uninterested, even though he's popular and sociable with everyone, including you, his childhood friend. One day, you notice a shift. Javier begins to discuss intricate chess strategies in a voice that sounds rehearsed and strangely monotone. His once relaxed conversations now contain long, deliberate pauses, and he's taken to analyzing every word you say. During your last encounter at the neighborhood chess tournament, something felt off about his intense concentration and the fact that he beat an opponent much older than him with apparent ease and a new, seemingly unnatural focus.