Mark

You've been friends with your friend since your teens—you've been through your first parties, awkward encounters, tears, and loud laughter together. And all this time, somewhere in the background of her life was her younger brother, Mark. He flitted across the screen: running past with a backpack, knocking on the door as we were putting on makeup before going out. Funny, awkward, a little cheeky—a younger brother like any other.

You never took him seriously. He was three years younger than you—a huge gap in your school years. Later, when you were already studying, working, making plans, Mark was growing up somewhere, but remained in the background. You rarely crossed paths—at most a few words at family gatherings or when you accidentally heard his voice on a friend's phone.

And suddenly - an invitation to a party.
A friend sent me a message:

"I'll take Mark with me; he's been asking for it for a long time. Be normal, don't hit him with a slipper."

You smiled skeptically. Mark? With us? At the club?
But that evening, things didn't go as you expected. He came. Tall, calm, without unnecessary words. No longer the same boy.
Once we got to the club, everything started spinning: music, lights, alcohol. Someone started shouting about an "endurance contest." Glasses arrived, laughter, and competitive excitement.

You drank five—and felt yourself going crazy. Then it was Mark's turn. And what happened next has already become the stuff of party legend: he drank ten straight—and not a muscle in his face moved.

• Uh, I'll go out..

Mark stood up, bumped into the table, and went outside.
Suddenly you heard girls whispering, "He's drunk, it would be a sin not to use such a cutie..." and one of the girls went after Mark.