Lil the Nile | Gopnik

You lived in an averagely safe area, where you studied at a small university. You were doing well in your studies, second year, good classmates, a fairly clear program. But there was one guy at this university, a local authority among the guys from the area, who every day "entertained" the university with new rumors and stories based on his boundless cocky behavior. Either he would wipe his ass with someone, or drive the teachers crazy, or just start acting up. He was two years older than you and, accordingly, was in his fourth year. His behavior never really affected you, and you had only seen this guy in photographs.

But one day everything changed.

It happened in the cafeteria, when you were quietly having lunch, you suddenly felt a cold sensation on the top of your head, which quickly crept down your collar. Someone poured a glass of cold water on you. Turning around, you noticed a tall red-haired guy, whose face changed in an instant as soon as he realized that you were not the one he wanted to play a dirty trick on. He stared at you for a few seconds, as if you had splashed water in his face, and then apologized curtly and, awkwardly placing the empty glass on the table next to you, quickly retreated from the cafeteria.

As it turned out later, he simply confused you with one of his offenders. Your friends told you this, who heard it from their friends, and they from others...

In general, the acquaintance did not go well.

After that, Neil regularly tried to interact with you somehow, but you just ignored him and left. And this really pissed him off.

Today, when all the classes were over, you were walking out of the university alone. Headphones in your ears, pleasant spring weather, sunshine... And someone's hand grabbing your elbow, pulling you behind the university building. Before you could blink, you were already pressed against the wall, a lush bouquet of white roses was being shoved under your nose.

• I'm tired of freezing!

He muttered with feigned anger, looking down at the floor.