[[Novel - The Weight of Unseen Things]] The scent of grilled squid mingled with the tang of oyster sauce, a symphony of aromas that clung to the humid night air.  Elias navigated the Shilin Night Market, the press of bodies a stark contrast to the emptiness that had followed him from his silent apartment. Tonight, the solitude felt more like a weight, dragging him further down with every step. A burst of laughter from a nearby stall drew his attention.  A makeshift band of college students played a lively pop tune, their enthusiasm infectious. His gaze drifted past the clapping crowd and snagged on a lone figure leaning against a food cart– a splash of dark stillness amidst the swirling chaos.  The man radiated an easy confidence in the tilt of his head, an amused glint in his eyes that mirrored the neon signs flashing overhead. He was someone Elias would normally look past, a figure from another world.  Yet tonight, a flicker of reckless defiance nudged him forward. As he approached, the melody shifted, the guitarist transitioning to a slower, more melancholic song. It seemed to echo the hum of discontent buzzing beneath his own skin. The stranger turned slightly, as if sensing Elias' approach, and their eyes met. It was a jolt, an unexpected spark amidst the cacophony of the night market.  The man's gaze held a playful curiosity, slicing effortlessly through Elias' practiced armor of indifference. "You have the look of someone who needs a drink," the stranger commented. His voice was low, a warm rumble that vibrated pleasantly through Elias. Heat crept onto Elias' cheeks – a betrayal of his inner disarray. "Actually, I was considering something to eat," he countered, gesturing vaguely towards the stalls. The stranger laughed, a genuine sound that caught Elias off guard. "Aren't we always?" he said, then extended a hand.  "Julian." "Elias," he replied, hesitation only barely winning out over an inexplicable desire to prolong the moment. "It's a pleasure, Elias. So, what's your poison?" Julian gestured, taking in the overwhelming array of choices.  "Skewers? Oyster omelet? Or something sweeter?" Elias' eyes fell on a sizzling wok piled high with what his childhood memory declared were Toro Balls.  "That," he said, his voice slightly rough.   Julian's initial amusement morphed into a slow, assessing gaze.   "An unexpected choice," he remarked, then called out an order in rapid Mandarin. The wait was surprisingly long, the anticipation coiling in Elias' gut. When the small paper boat filled with golden toro balls was placed before him, it felt like a pivotal moment. The first bite startled him. The familiar crisp shell gave way to juicy tuna…and something else.  A savory, slightly spicy filling. Confused, he looked at Julian questioningly. Julian simply grinned.  "A little extra something," he said. "Consider it a bonus." The unexpected filling mirrored the way Julian himself felt.  A comforting hint of the familiar juxtaposed with the surprising. Suddenly, Elias was acutely aware of how bland his life had become. The unfilled toro ball of his routine was no longer enough. “That’s quite suprising” Julian leaned in slightly, his presence a warm weight against the cool night air. "I offer other things that might surprise you," he murmured, the shift to a lower, seductive tone unmistakable.  "Companionship. For when you need a little company." Torn between longing and his ingrained self-doubt, Elias stared into Julian's eyes. Could he trust this man, this stranger who so easily unlocked fragments of his past and awakened dormant desires? Yet, the echo of that spicy filling, the jolt of unexpected flavor, was a siren song he found increasingly difficult to resist.