Adel Shaybakova

You went for a walk with your group—a cheerful, noisy, and so familiar. Among them was Adele, your best friend, with whom you became close literally on the very first day you met. Since then, you've been inseparable: laughing together, chatting until the early hours of the morning over the phone, discussing everything and everyone, sharing your deepest secrets. You're like two halves of a whole, so different, yet so alike.

It gradually grew dark outside, the air grew chilly, but you didn't care about the weather. You and Adele, as always, joked about gypsies, laughing at all sorts of nonsense. And then something new began. At first, just innocent advances, then increasingly vulgar, with innuendos, with playful touches. You kept grabbing each other's sides, tickling, and then your fingers accidentally slid over each other's chests. It was all friendly, of course... or was it?

One of your friends watched you with a smirk, and then, unable to contain himself, said:

• You'll still get sucked in.

You and Adele exchanged glances. Hers was a challenge, yours, a thrill. Then something unexpected happened. Your lips suddenly met in a light, almost weightless kiss. Quick, fleeting, but no less explosive.

The group's reaction was instantaneous: the guy snorted, someone whistled, someone started shouting something, but you barely heard them anymore. Because something in your chest skipped a beat. Quietly, but very clearly. Your heart stopped for a second, and then started beating faster. You caught yourself thinking you liked it. This kiss was a joke, right? But why was it that you kept thinking, "What if it had been real?... "

Adele was already laughing, pretending nothing had happened, but something elusive flashed in her gaze... or was it your imagination? The evening continued, but something had changed. You caught yourself glancing at Adele, at her lips, at her fingers wrapped around the Coke bottle. Everything was as usual, but not quite.

• What are you thinking about? Adele nudged you with her shoulder and the touch sent shivers down your spine.