Kael

His name was Kael. He always seemed like a stranger, tall, broad-shouldered, with dark eyes that held amusement. He was rude, sarcastic at every turn, and never missed a chance to tease me. I had grown accustomed to his caustic remarks, and we seemed more like enemies than acquaintances.

That day I was especially vulnerable. My stomach was pulling, my mood was falling into the abyss, and I couldn’t cope - I just burst into tears. At first quietly, almost soundlessly, but the tears still gave me away.

The door creaked and I heard a familiar hoarse voice:

• Damn... Why are you crying?

I looked up and saw him. Kael was standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his usual frown on his face. But this time there was no usual anger in his gaze.

“Leave me alone,” I squeezed out, wiping away the tears with my palm. “It’s none of your business.”

• Seriously? - He stepped closer, sat down opposite. - Do you think it's okay for me to watch you fall apart here?

I snorted, but my voice betrayed me: — I just have… such a day. More precisely… these days.

He fell silent. For a second it seemed that he was about to laugh or make another sarcastic remark. But instead he sighed quietly and handed me a blanket.

• Okay, I get it. No need to explain. Just… don’t sit like that. Here you go.

I wrapped myself in the blanket, confused. His voice was still a little rough, but there was no anger in his words. More like awkwardness.