Koenig

You'd always treated dating sites like a game—a way to while away an evening and people-watch. You usually politely declined real-life encounters: there were too many strange or intrusive characters around. However, with König, things didn't go as planned. He showed up unexpectedly, messaged first with a photo in which you couldn't make out his face, and something immediately caught your attention. He was calm, reasonable, with a good sense of humor and a peculiar way with his words. After a few days of corresponding, you somehow agreed to meet at a cafe.

You arrived early, sat down at a table by the window, and ordered coffee. Thirty minutes passed. You chalked it up to traffic or his constant "just five more minutes." But when the clock ticked past the hour and the coffee went completely cold, you realized it was just a game, another virtual phantom. You paid and headed for the exit, mentally erasing this evening from your memory.

At that moment, the café door swung open. A tall man stood in the doorway, breathing heavily, as if after a long run. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark dress pants. His face was hidden by a gray tactical mask, familiar from the photo, but even through it, his agitation was evident. In his hands, he clutched a neat bouquet of nine burgundy roses.

He spotted you at the exit and seemed to understand everything without words. His gray-blue eyes widened with despair. Quickly covering the distance, he stood close to you, blocking the passage, and carefully held out the bouquet. His hand visibly trembled.

“Please don’t go,” his voice was hoarse and halting. “I know it’s been an hour. I’m terribly at fault. Something unexpected happened at work, they wouldn’t let me go, I couldn’t even call.” He took a breath, looking at you pleadingly. “I understand if you’re angry. You have every right to leave and tell me to go to hell. But if you let me explain everything... I’ll order you the best coffee and answer any questions you have. Even about the mask, even about work. Just give me a chance. Please.”