Katrin, always so bold and rebellious, is now ready to stage a rebellion against a specific person, and I know there is no stopping her. I carefully place my hand on hers, which is still gripping the steering wheel. Her skin is hot from adrenaline, and her fingers tremble slightly.
"I believe in your victory, my Rebel Girl. Let's show him who he's dealing with," I try to sound as calm as possible, though I am on edge myself.
The girl turns her head, and a smile appears on her face—not the kind that comes from joy, but the kind that appears when you know your enemy is doomed. That smile makes her eyes shine even brighter, and I feel her determination transfer to me. My words encourage her, and now Katrin is ready to tear him to pieces. I want it just as much as she does.
There are only a few kilometers left to the finish line, but those kilometers feel like an eternity. The road twists before us like a snake, and my heart pounds in my chest as if trying to break free.
"Hold on!" she snaps sharply, without even turning her head.
I instantly grab the door handle, feeling my palms grow damp from the tension. Katrin hits the gas, and the car surges forward with such force that I am pressed back into my seat. Within minutes, Ivan's car is behind us, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest in anticipation of victory. We are one step closer to teaching that arrogant guy a lesson he will never forget.
We cross the finish line, and the world around us seems to explode with emotions. My heart is pounding so loudly that it feels like everyone around can hear it. Adrenaline mixed with joy pulses through every cell of my body. Katrin slows down, and the car comes to a smooth stop, like a tired but proud beast completing its run. We sit in silence, but around us, a storm of excitement rages. The crowd, like a single organism, shouts, laughs, and applauds. Their voices merge into a single roar, and then suddenly, clearly and distinctly, it rings out: "Rebel Girl! Rebel Girl! Rebel Girl!" It is like a hymn, like recognition, like something greater than just a victory.
Katrin turns her head to me, and I see her face lit up with the most genuine smile imaginable. I can't help but smile back just as widely, just as unrestrainedly. We are both breathing heavily, almost gasping, but it isn't from exhaustion—it is from the emotions overwhelming us. The girl reaches out her hand, and I take it in mine. Her palm is warm, slightly damp from the tension, but in that touch is all our connection, everything we have experienced together in those minutes.
At that moment, I notice Grandpa Vі. He approaches the windshield, his eyes shining with pride and joy. He draws a heart in the air and blows us a kiss. It is so touching and yet so funny that we can't help but burst into loud laughter. Katrin throws her head back, her laughter ringing through the car.
But the joy doesn't last long. Suddenly, Ivan's car pulls up, and the atmosphere instantly changes. Katrin, who had been so happy just a second ago, suddenly becomes serious. Her face tenses, her eyes narrow, and her lips press into a thin line. She gets out of the car, and I feel the tension in the air grow. Her voice, usually so soft and calm, now sounds sharp and angry.
"You bastard! Have you completely lost it, messing with my baby with your sick friend?" Her words are harsh and merciless.
I have never seen her like this. Yes, I know she can be angry, especially when I once called her a fraud, but this... this is real rage. She is literally burning, her eyes blazing, and her hands clenched into fists. I approach from behind, wrap my arms around her waist, and feel her body tense, as if ready to leap into battle. I hold her, trying to calm her down, but I can feel the anger boiling inside me too.
"This isn't a race anymore—it's attempted murder. Were you trying to kill her because you couldn't win?" Katrin's friend interjects, his voice cold and accusatory.
Ivan stands silently, his face like stone, but there is something incomprehensible in his eyes—regret or anger. We stand there, in the center of this emotional storm. I can feel Katrin trembling in my arms. The crowd is around us, but at that moment, it feels distant, as if we are alone in this world full of anger, pain, and misunderstanding. I don't know what will happen next, but I know one thing: I will be by her side, no matter what.
"I'm ready to fulfill any wish of yours. Tell me, what do you want?" Ivan says, his voice calm, as if he is offering something mundane, as if the nightmare he has just put us through hasn't happened at all.
What is he doing? He has started a dangerous game, risked everything, and now, as if nothing has happened, he is ignoring our grievances and talking about his loss as if it is just a game, not a matter of life and death. A sick bastard. I can feel the anger boiling inside me, but I try to keep myself under control. Katrin is next to me, and I can't let myself lose it.
"First, you'll fix my car, and that's not a wish—it's a demand! You wrecked it, so you'll fix it. I don't need you to do it personally, just pay for the parts, and you're free," she says, her hands clenched into fists, her eyes burning with a cold fire.
"Fine. I'll cover the damages. What about the wish?" The guy stands there, looking at us as if this is all just a show for his entertainment.
"I want you to never touch me again. No advances, no contact. Pretend I don't exist. That's my wish."
"I understand and accept that. But there's one condition," Ivan smirks, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes.
"And what's that? I thought I made myself clear."
Katrin frowns, her eyebrows drawing together, her lips pressing into a thin line. She can feel that something is off, and so can I.
"I won't touch you anymore. You're untouchable to me now. But him..." Ivan stretches out his hand and points at me. His gaze is as cold as ice, filled with hatred. "I've got a long-standing score to settle with him, and one day, he'll get what's coming to him."
"No, I'm changing my wish. Don't touch either of us," Katrin begins to panic in my arms. Her voice trembles—a mix of fear and anger. On the outside, I remain calm, but inside, an uneasy feeling is growing.
"No, sweetheart. The first word is worth more than the second. I've said my piece. I'll give the money to Viktor in a few days."
Ivan turns and walks away, leaving us in tense silence. His back is straight, his steps confident, as if he has just won a victory.
"No, wait! I want to change the wish! Don't touch him! Do you hear me?!" Katrin struggles fiercely in my arms, her fingers digging into my skin, her breathing ragged.
Her voice is filled with desperation, breaking into screams laced with fear and pain. I hold her tightly, knowing that otherwise, she would chase after him. She keeps fighting until she sees his car disappear around the corner. At that moment, all the tension seems to drain from her body—she goes limp, her arms falling weakly to her sides. Katrin covers her mouth with trembling fingers, as if trying to hold back sobs, and then slowly turns to me. Her eyes are filled with tears, her gaze full of pain, hurt, and a terrible emptiness, as if her entire world is crumbling at that moment, and I stand beside her, not knowing how to hold it together.
"Everything will be okay," I whisper, holding her tighter.
I know this is only the beginning, and that Ivan won't stop. But I also know that I will protect her, no matter what.
The girl turns fully into the circle of my arms and cups my cheeks with her hands. Her touch is gentle, but there is anxiety in it, as if she is afraid I might disappear at any moment. Her eyes, usually so bright and confident, are now filled with fear and determination at the same time.
"I won't let him do anything to you, do you hear me? I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't hurt you," her words sound like a vow, a promise she is ready to fulfill at any cost.
"Anything?" Does that mean she is willing to go to extremes? Even to the point of... No, I can't let that thought take hold. My girl wouldn't go that far. I won't let her sacrifice herself for me.
"Don't do anything. I can handle myself. I've beaten him once, I can do it again."
It is a lie. A bold, shameless lie. I know Ivan is stronger, that he is dangerous, but I can't tell her the truth. She is already on edge, and my job is to calm her down, not add fuel to the fire.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think my little stunt would put you in danger," the girl presses herself against me, and I can feel her body shaking with sobs.
"There's nothing to forgive. It's because of who you are that I fell for you in the first place." I have never said it out loud before, though of course, she knows how I feel. But now, in this moment, it is important. I want her to know what she means to me.
Vі approaches us. His arrival is like a breath of fresh air in this tense atmosphere.
"How are you guys holding up? Why the long face? Chin up, everything will be fine! Didn't I teach you that, or was it the other way around?" He laughs, trying to cheer her up. His voice is full of warmth and care, and I can see Katrin relax a little in his presence. "Come on, let's go smoke, have a drink, and calm down," he suggests, and we, still in each other's arms, follow him.
Vі hands us each a beer, which he has already opened. Then he pulls out a pack of cigarettes and offers them to us. Katrin takes one and lights it, her movements familiar, but I can see her hands trembling slightly. Then he offers one to me, but I decline.
"What's this? Come on, take it!" Vі looks at me with genuine surprise.
"He doesn't smoke. Maxim hasn't done a lot of things since he met me. If he doesn't want to, don't force him," Katrin interjects, her voice protective.
"Where did you find such a good guy?" Vі smiles, winking at her.
"More like he found me. We're in the same group at the same faculty."
"Really? And how did you meet?" Vі asks, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, as if he is already anticipating an interesting story.
"I was bored and decided to liven things up for myself and the students. But this guy clearly didn't appreciate it and decided to go to the dean with a complaint. But since I'm a valuable asset, they didn't kick me out," Katrin begins, her voice slightly playful, but there is a shadow of embarrassment in her eyes.
"You left out half of it. It wasn't just fun—it was bullying a professor," I interject, unable to hold back.
"What did you do?" Vі raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"I thought being a professor was hard, and I wanted to give him a little break. I covered his chair with glue, and he sat on it the entire time until the bell rang," Katrin admits, her voice quieter now, but there is still a hint of pride in her "prank."
"Well, I'll be damned! You're definitely my girl, my kind of mischief!"
"She's not your girl," I snap, unable to hold back. My jealousy flares up like fire, and I immediately regret my words.
"Wow, he's really jealous," they both laugh, and I feel my cheeks flush.
"Don't get the wrong idea. To me, she's like a daughter. We're like family to each other. We support each other, help in tough times, share the good and the bad. She's my family, so yes, she's my girl because I see her as my daughter, even if not by blood." Vі says this with such sincerity that my jealousy instantly evaporates. His words are honest, and I realize I have been wrong. He truly treats her like a daughter, and it is clear.
"I'm sorry," I mutter, feeling foolish.
"Don't sweat it, kid!" He pats me on the arm.
"Vі, I'll take the car. It's still running. We'll go for a drive and I'll bring it back tomorrow evening."
"It's yours, baby girl. You can take it anytime," the man replies.
"Why do you take taxis if you have a car?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
"Because I don't have a license yet. You know they don't issue them until you're nineteen, and I'm only eighteen."
"Right, I forgot. But how are you going to drive without a license?"
"There are hardly any cops on the roads at night. So sometimes I take the car out for a drive after dark," she says, as if it is completely normal.
"Got it," I nod, though inside, I am still simmering with unease.
"If everything's clear, then let's go." She takes my hand, and we head to the car. I can feel my heart beating faster. I don't know what lies ahead, but I know one thing: with her, I am ready for anything.