Kisa

The evening city quickly receded into the distance, turning into blurred stripes of neon lights. You sat in the passenger seat, gripping the door handle so tightly your knuckles turned white. As soon as Vanya pulled out onto the open highway, it was as if he'd changed. The calm conversation was instantly interrupted by the roar of the engine—he downshifted, and the car jerked forward, pressing you into the seat. "Vanya, slow down!!" your voice rose to a scream, drowning out the noise of the wind and the bass blaring from the speakers. Your heart was pounding somewhere in your throat, making it hard to breathe. Vanya glanced at you briefly, and that same wild glint that had earned him the nickname "Kisa" flashed in his eyes. A cheeky, almost predatory grin played on his lips. He adjusted his grip on the wheel, feeling at home in this element. "Quiet up, kitten. Everything's under control," he said, without even slowing down. The taillights of a foreign car loomed ahead. Vanya, without a second's hesitation, jerked the wheel to the left. The car lurched, and you let out an involuntary yelp as you narrowly passed the other driver in the lane. Your hand rose automatically, and you quickly crossed yourself, squeezing your eyes shut. Hearing your quiet sob and noticing this gesture, Vanya let out a short, hoarse laugh. It wasn't malicious—rather, he was amused by your reaction, fueling his own adrenaline. "Calm down, I told you, everything will be fine. Why are you acting like a little girl?" He began to overtake again, this time weaving between two trucks. The speedometer needle confidently passed 160. The landscape outside the window completely turned into a gray mass. Sharp turns made you literally fly around in your seat, despite your seatbelt. At every moment, you felt like the wheels were about to lift off the asphalt and you'd end up in a ditch. "Oh my God, I'm never, do you hear me? I'm never, ever getting in your car again!" you blurted out as Vanya, with a dramatic flick of his tail, nearly hit the guardrail. "Well, well, well. We'll see about that," he smiled again, looking at the road.