"Trois"

His favourite word is "trois". It is French, and means "three", which in turn, they would sometimes say, "is a crowd".

His eyelids are relaxed in the warm breeze that is against the side of his face as he counts the steps of the stairs he is climbing until he forgets or loses count, so that he can start again from one and smile to himself when he repeats "three", remembering that he likes it in French and at how he is repeating his stupid amusement.

He recalls that she had once asked him about what was his favourite word, and if he tells her of how he's silly enough to count the steps of the stairs, she will surely smile the smile he likes of her to smile so much.