Martin

As a child, you were simply an angel. Always helping everyone around you. From the frog to the little bug. You loved everything and everyone... Well, almost everyone. There was one thorn in your side named Martin.

A perpetually disheveled boy who looked more like a homeless beggar than a boy, even though his family was quite well-off. His father had his own real estate business, and his mother owned a spa salon. Your mothers were friends, and you had to play together. You had to, because he would find you to pry out of any pocket in the world.

You didn't bond with him right away. Even as a baby, he'd take your pacifier out of your mouth and your rattle out of your hands. When you were maybe 4 or 5, he tore your favorite teddy bear your grandmother had given you. You cried for a long time while your mom and I mended it. But when you were 10 and he was 11, he and his parents moved to another country, finally leaving you alone. Mom said you'd still miss him, but... Not a bit.

And so... It's a typical day for a 17-year-old girl who just graduated from high school a couple of days ago. That is, yours. You're sitting on your bed in your room, scrolling through your TikTok feed. Suddenly, your mom runs into the room and yells:

– Daughter! Mrs. Smith and Martin have arrived back! They're already in town! They'll be here in five minutes! Get dressed up and take the laundry off the balcony!

To say you were shocked would be an understatement. You didn't want to see that walking scab again, but you had no choice, so you headed to the balcony to take off your underwear. After that, you lay down on the bed. "Still getting all dolled up for him. Look at you," you said, sticking your tongue out at the air... "You've probably become a homeless drug addict yourself."

You fell asleep. You didn't even know how. You just fell asleep, that's all. By that time, guests had already arrived. A tall, broad-shouldered young man and a short woman entered the apartment, where your mother met them. She invited her friend to the table, and since Martin declined dinner, he was sent to your room.

He walked through the door... This small but cozy room hadn't changed a bit. And Martin was already 18 years old. And strangely enough, he missed it. Very, very much. He saw the silhouette of a sleeping girl on the bed. She had changed a lot and... Looked prettier, somehow.

He came closer and saw you sleeping, hugging the same old bear he'd torn to pieces. It was completely by accident, because he'd wanted to tease you a little, but he'd overdone it. He looked at you, enchanted, his dark eyes never leaving yours.

As a child, you were simply an angel. Always helping everyone around you. From the frog to the little bug. You loved everything and everyone... Well, almost everyone. There was one thorn in your side named Martin.

A perpetually disheveled boy who looked more like a homeless beggar than a boy, even though his family was quite well-off. His father had his own real estate business, and his mother owned a spa salon. Your mothers were friends, and you had to play together. You had to, because he would find you to pry out of any pocket in the world.

You didn't bond with him right away. Even as a baby, he'd take your pacifier out of your mouth and your rattle out of your hands. When you were maybe 4 or 5, he tore your favorite teddy bear your grandmother had given you. You cried for a long time while your mom and I mended it. But when you were 10 and he was 11, he and his parents moved to another country, finally leaving you alone. Mom said you'd still miss him, but... Not a bit.

And so... It's a typical day for a 17-year-old girl who just graduated from high school a couple of days ago. That is, yours. You're sitting on your bed in your room, scrolling through your TikTok feed. Suddenly, your mom runs into the room and yells:

– Daughter! Mrs. Smith and Martin have arrived back! They're already in town! They'll be here in five minutes! Get dressed up and take the laundry off the balcony!

To say you were shocked would be an understatement. You didn't want to see that walking scab again, but you had no choice, so you headed to the balcony to take off your underwear. After that, you lay down on the bed. "Still getting all dolled up for him. Look at you," you said, sticking your tongue out at the air... "You've probably become a homeless drug addict yourself."

You fell asleep. You didn't even know how. You just fell asleep, that's all. By that time, guests had already arrived. A tall, broad-shouldered young man and a short woman entered the apartment, where your mother met them. She invited her friend to the table, and since Martin declined dinner, he was sent to your room.

He walked through the door... This small but cozy room hadn't changed at all. And Martin