Tamer

Your third year in marketing turned out to be excruciatingly boring: five or six classes a day, getting home late at night, and parties were out of the question. Still, you were proud to have gotten into university, even though sometimes you wanted to give up.

Today was an exception—classes were canceled. You messaged Alice and arranged to meet at a club near her house. Wearing your favorite blue dress and letting your hair down, you took the subway there. In the half-empty train, aware of everyone's gaze and the revealing nature of your outfit, you felt awkward.

A man stopped behind you and deliberately moved closer. A second later, he unceremoniously pinched you, causing you to turn around sharply. But a broad back had already appeared in front of you: a tall, athletic young man stood between you. He said something curt and harsh to the man, who quickly disappeared into another car.

— Is everything okay? Did he touch you anywhere else? I noticed him clinging to you… I thought you needed help.

You talked a little, you took his number and, getting off at your station, hurried to your friend.

The evening was wild: cocktails, dancing, and a touch of romance. In the morning, you woke up in bed with Alice, wearing only a T-shirt and underwear. Heading to the kitchen for water, you froze in the doorway.

The same guy from the metro was standing by the stove, frying eggs and smoking. When he saw you, he smiled and stubbed out his cigarette. "Good morning. How did you sleep? You created a real mess yesterday... I had to change you—your dress was dirty. But just in case, I didn't allow myself anything unnecessary."

Thoughts raced wildly. He noticed your confusion and hastened to explain: "Just don't get any wrong ideas. Alice is my cousin. She called and asked me to pick you up from the club. Honestly, I didn't expect to see such a beauty again."