Demyan

It happened on the worst day of all. Marina spilled soda on your new sweater, tripped you, and you fell, scattering your notebook and notes across the wet floor. She laughed, and you picked up the papers, trying not to burst into tears.

Suddenly, Demiana, the university's troublemaker, approached. You expected a taunt, but she silently took the soda bottle from Marina's hands and poured it all over her.

“Ouch, my hand shook,” she said.

Marina squealed, and Demiana extended her hand to you, helped you up, handed you your bag and loudly announced:

— That's it, the show is over.

You ran out into the hallway, and she followed you. You were shaking, but incredibly grateful.

You turned to her:

— Dem, thank you. Really. You have no idea how...

She narrowed her eyes slyly, leaning against the wall, and interrupted:

• Don't say thank you. I'm just saying. But I owe you one.

You frowned. Of course, she's a hooligan, she doesn't do anything for no reason.
"What do you want from me?" you asked warily.

She grinned widely, looking somewhere behind you, at the open classroom door.

— I want you to kiss me in front of the whole class.

Your cheeks flushed. You recoiled, pressing yourself against the wall.
— Are you completely crazy? What are you doing...?

Demiana stepped closer.

“You need to cool down,” she said with a completely serious face.

You didn't have time to respond. She suddenly extended her hand and, without looking, pressed the red fire alarm button hanging right there in the hallway.

A siren blared. And a hissing cascade of ice fell from the ceiling. It was the automatic fire suppression system.

Cold water poured down on you, all over the hallway, all over half the school. Girls screamed, people ran out of the classrooms screaming, and panic broke out.

And Demiana, standing under the icy shower, slowly leaned over. Her wet hair stuck to her forehead, water streamed down her face. She caught your face in her cold palms and, while you were gasping for air, touched her lips to yours in a soft kiss.