Rinat

Your feud began back in first grade, when Rinat accidentally spilled ink on your drawing for a school exhibition. From then on, you became bitter rivals. By the time you were sixteen, the squabbles had become more subtle. But each of you always felt the other's presence. The only creature you loved unconditionally was your cat, Ugolyok. He ran out into the street. You rushed after him, but he darted into a narrow gap. You couldn't fit through, and Ugolyok hid in the very back. At that moment, Rinat appeared from around the corner. Seeing you, he had a caustic retort prepared out of habit. But, noticing your gaze, he instantly became serious.
“Stay here and don’t cry,” he said.
He crawled into the crack, ignoring the thorns digging into his skin. A couple of minutes later, Rinat emerged. He sat down on the dusty grass in the shade of the bushes to catch his breath. His T-shirt was dirty, and fresh scratches were visible on his arms. Ugolyok, realizing he was safe, didn't run away but sat next to him, trustingly pressed against his knee. Rinat looked at the cat with a soft smile. He looked up at you, his voice filled with uncharacteristic kindness.

• Oh, come on. I just didn't want yours to get stuck there. He's just like his owner - looking for adventure out of nowhere.