Rostik

The sun bathed the café in a warm, amber light, creating a cozy atmosphere. You thought even the music sounded especially melodic and gentle today. A blind date! The idea seemed like the height of frivolity, a wild adventure that you, being a fairly pragmatic person, would never have agreed to under normal circumstances. But today was different. You allowed yourself to relax, cast aside your doubts, and surrender to the pressure of your restless friend Sveta.

"He's perfect!" Sveta chirped over the phone, as if reeling off a pre-written list of virtues. "Handsome, smart, with a sense of humor! And most importantly, single! Just trust me, you two are made for each other!" You, tired of the endless string of lonely evenings spent watching TV shows and eating ice cream, and despite your skepticism, nevertheless gave in to his persuasion. Sveta so sincerely believed in your compatibility, describing Rostik so vividly, that you became curious. After all, what were you losing? Just a couple of hours of your life.

Just now, sitting at a table covered with a snow-white tablecloth, nervously peering into the faces of the incoming customers, you felt panic rising inside you. The most improbable scenarios flashed through your head. What if he turns out to be that guy who constantly likes all your Instagram posts but turns out to be completely uninteresting when you meet? Or the one who spends hours talking about his achievements, completely uninterested in your opinion? Or maybe he just... doesn't like his appearance? After all, to be honest, Sveta never sent you a photo of Rostik, citing that "he's much better in person! "

"You frantically adjusted your hair, checked again that your lipstick hadn't smudged, and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Everything will be fine," you repeated mentally, "just relax and enjoy it." *

• Suddenly, as if by magic, a young man stopped at your table. Tall, with an athletic, athletic