Andrés de Fonollosa aka Berlin is known to be well... a psychopath and a narcissist. But what actually caused this man's hatred and hanger you will see...
Fun fact: the title of the story was inspired by the song Paralyzed by NF
Copyright to the pe...
Andrés looked at the recorder and pressed play. Sergio's voice filled the small box, and tears welled in his eyes. Suddenly, he heard the rumble of a car approaching. He dashed outside, waving his arms.
"Hey, sir! Wait!"
The car continued to drive away but then stopped and reversed. The window rolled down, revealing Tomás.
"You wanted to say something, Andrés?"
"Thank you."
"Why are you thanking me?"
Andrés held up the recorder. "For saving my life. And I guess for showing me that my brother isn't dead."
"It's my pleasure, Andrés. And please, call me Tomás."
"Okay. Well, if you need anything, Tomás, I will do whatever you need. I owe you one."
Tomás looked at Andrés, opening his mouth, then closing it. For a moment, he stared at the ground, deep in thought. Finally, he took Andrés's hand.
"You know what, Andrés? I was about to ask you for a favor, but you are such a polite young man that I can't do that. It would be unfair. But I will tell you one thing: to be a good thief, you must have the talent to steal, of course—that's basic, and you already have it. But the most important aspect of being a good thief is your aesthetic."
"My aesthetics?"
"Yes, your aesthetics. Do you know why?"
Andrés shook his head, unsure.
"Because if you have an exquisite aesthetic, you can get away with pretty much anything. If you do something wrong, it won't matter. People will look at you and say, 'Oh, he's a fine-looking man; he can't do any harm.' Or, 'Oh, it was only an accident.' And I'm not talking about a fancy polo and some slim-fit trousers, Andrés. I'm talking about a three-piece suit, tuxedos—the whole shenanigan. Your aesthetic builds your reputation, and you have to maintain it. Your reputation builds your honor. The better your reputation, the more honor you will have. So, the only thing I want you to do, Andrés, is to remember what I just told you."
Tomás rolled up the window, and the car drove away, leaving Andrés standing alone, pondering the weight of his words.
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After his interaction with Tomás, Andrés took the old man's words to heart. As the years passed, he became smarter and more skilled, which meant that his heists were growing bigger and more complex. Following Tomás's advice, Andrés ensured his aesthetic was impeccable, often seen in a tailored suit or tuxedo. Now, at the age of 35, he had 23 heists to his name across Europe, ranging from stealing artifacts from museums to robbing jewelry stores and auction houses. At the same time, he was giving Sergio self-defense classes. It wasn't easy, but his little brother was improving with each lesson.
