Katrin, always so bold and rebellious, is ready to stage a rebellion against a specific person, and I know that stopping her is impossible. 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. This smile makes her eyes shine even brighter, and I feel her determination transfer to me. My words have encouraged her, and now Katrin is ready to tear him to pieces. I want this just as much as she does.
There are only a few kilometers left to the finish line, but these 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 again. In a couple of minutes, Ivan's car is already left behind us, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest from the anticipation of victory. We are one step closer to teaching this arrogant jerk 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 a real hurricane of excitement rages around us. 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 an anthem, 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 answer her with the same. My smile is just as wide, just as unrestrained. We are both breathing heavily, almost gasping, but it is not from exhaustion, but 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 this touch is all our connection, everything we have experienced together in these minutes.
At this moment, I notice Grandpa Vi. 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 at the same time so funny that we can't hold back and burst into loud laughter. Katrin throws her head back, her laughter ringing through the entire 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 growing. Her voice, usually so soft and calm, now sounds sharp and angry.
"Bastard! Have you completely lost your mind, smashing up my baby like that with your sick friend?" her words are harsh and merciless.
I have never seen her like this. Yes, I knew she could be angry, especially when I once called her a fraud, but this... this is real rage. She is literally burning, her eyes are blazing, and her hands are clenched into fists. I approach from behind, hug her by the waist, and feel how tense her body is, as if it is ready to throw itself into battle. I hold her, trying to calm her down, but I myself feel the anger boiling inside me.
"This isn't a race anymore — it's attempted murder. Were you going to kill her, unable to win?" Katrin's friend now interjects, his voice cold and accusatory.
Ivan stands silently, his face remains stone-cold, but something incomprehensible can be read in his eyes — regret or anger. We stand there, in the center of this emotional storm. I feel Katrin trembling in my arms. The crowd is around us, but at this moment, it seems 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 happens.
"I'm ready to fulfill any wish of yours. Speak, what do you want?" Ivan says, and his voice sounds calm, as if he is offering something mundane, as if the nightmare we just survived, which he caused, hadn't happened between us.
What is he doing? He started a dangerous game, put everything on the line, and now, as if nothing happened, he ignores the complaints and starts talking about his loss. As if this is just a game, and not a matter of life and death. Sick bastard. I feel the anger boiling inside me, but I try to keep myself in check. Katrin is right here, and I can't allow myself to lose it.
"For starters, you'll fix my car, and that's not a wish, but a demand! You ruined it — you fix it. No need to do it personally, just the money for the parts, and you're free," her hands clench into fists, and her eyes burn with a cold fire.
"Fine. I'll pay for 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 hitting on me, no touching. Pretend I don't exist. That's my wish."
"I understand and I accept it. But there's one 'but'," Ivan smirks, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes.
"And what is that? I believe I made myself completely clear."
Katrin frowns, her eyebrows draw together, and her lips press into a thin line. She feels that something is going wrong, and I feel it too.
"I won't touch you anymore. You have untouchable status for me. But him..." Ivan stretches out his arm and points a finger at me. His gaze is cold as ice, and hatred can be read in it. "I have an old score to settle with him, and one day he's going to get it from me."
"No, I'm changing my wish. Don't touch either of us," the girl begins to grow nervous under my hands. Her voice trembles — a mixture of fear and anger. On the outside I am calm, but inside an unpleasant 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 around and walks away, leaving us in a tense silence. His back is straight, and his steps are 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 fiercely breaks free from my arms, her fingers digging into my skin, and her breathing is ragged.
Desperation sounds in her voice, it breaks into screams filled with fear and pain. I hold her tightly, knowing that otherwise she will rush after him. She continues to struggle until she sees his car disappear around the corner. At this moment, all the tension seems to drain from her body — it goes limp, her arms drop powerlessly. Katrin covers her mouth with trembling fingers, as if trying to hold back sobs, and then slowly turns to me. Her eyes are full of tears, her gaze is filled with pain, resentment, and some terrible emptiness, as if at this moment her entire world is collapsing, and I am standing near, not knowing how to hold it together.
"Everything will be fine," I whisper, hugging her tighter.
I know that this is only the beginning, and that Ivan won't stop. But I also know that I will protect her, no matter what happens.
The girl turns around completely within the circle of my arms and cups my cheeks with her fingers. Her touch is gentle, but anxiety can be felt in it, as if she is afraid that I might disappear at any moment. Her eyes, usually so bright and confident, are now full of fear and determination at the same time.
"I won't let him do anything to you, did you hear me? I'll do anything, just so you don't get hurt," her words sound like an oath, like a promise she is ready to fulfill at any cost.
Anything? Does this mean she is ready even for extremes? Even to... No, I cannot allow such a thought. My girl won't go through with that. I won't let her sacrifice herself for me.
"Don't do anything. I can stand up for myself. I've beaten him once, I can repeat it."
This is a lie. A blatant, shameless lie. I know that Ivan is stronger, that he is dangerous, but I can't tell her the truth. She is already on the edge, and my task is to calm her down, not to add fuel to the fire.
"Forgive me, I didn't think my prank would lead to you being put in danger," the girl presses against me, and I feel her body shaking from sobs.
"I have nothing to forgive you for, it's exactly because you are the way you are that I fell in love with you," I have never said this to her out loud, although she, of course, knew about my feelings. But now, in this moment, it is important. I want her to know what she means to me.
Vi approaches us. His appearance is like a breath of fresh air in this tense atmosphere.
"How are you doing here, guys? Why are you moping? Chin up, everything will be fine! Wasn't I the one who taught you that, or was it you teaching me first?" he laughs, trying to cheer her up. His voice is full of warmth and care, and I see Katrin relax a little in his presence.
"Let's go, guys, have a smoke, get a drink, calm down," he suggests, and we, still in an embrace, follow him.
Vi gives us both a bottle of beer, which he opens beforehand. Then he takes out a pack of cigarettes and offers them to us. Katrin takes one and lights up, her movements are familiar, but I see her hands trembling slightly. Then he offers a cigarette to me, but I decline.
"What's with you? Come on, take it!" Vi looks at me with genuine surprise.
"He doesn't smoke. Maxim generally hasn't done a lot of things before me. If he doesn't want to — then there's no need, don't force him," Katrin interjects, her voice sounding protective.
"And where did you find such a good guy?" Vi smiles, winking at her.
"More like he found me. We are classmates at the same faculty."
"Really? And how did you meet?" Vi asks, his eyes shining with curiosity, as if he is already anticipating an interesting story.
"I was bored, and I decided to entertain myself and the students. But the guy clearly didn't appreciate it and decided to go to the dean with a complaint. But due to the fact that I am a valuable asset, they didn't kick me out," Katrin begins to tell the story, her voice sounding slightly playful, but a shadow of embarrassment can be read in her eyes.
"You left out half of it. It wasn't fun, but bullying a professor," I interject, unable to hold back.
"And what did you do?" Vi raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"I thought that it's hard to be a professor, and I wanted him to rest a little. I smeared his chair with glue, and he sat on it the whole time until the bell rang," Katrin admits, her voice becoming quieter, but a hint of pride in her prank can still be felt in it.
"Wow, you're something! I can see right away that you are my girl, my school!"
"She is not your girl," I snap with anger, unable to hold back. My jealousy flares up like fire, and I immediately regret my words.
"Wow, how jealous he is," they both laugh, and I feel my cheeks flush with color.
"Don't get the wrong idea, to me she is like a daughter. We are like family to each other. We support each other, help in tough times, share the bad and the good. She is my family, so yes. She is my girl, because I consider her my daughter, even if not by blood," Vi says this with such sincerity that my jealousy instantly evaporates. His words are honest, and I realize that I was wrong. He truly treats her like a daughter, and it shows.
"I'm sorry," I mutter, feeling foolish.
"It's nothing, kid!" he pats me on the arm.
"Vi, I'll take the car, it's still running. We'll go for a drive, and I'll bring it back tomorrow evening."
"But it's yours, baby girl, you can take it anytime," the man replies.
"And why do you take a taxi if you have a car?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
"Because I don't have a license yet. You know that here they issue licenses from the age of nineteen, and I am only eighteen."
"That's right, I forgot. But how will you drive without a license?"
"At night there are hardly any law enforcement officers on the roads. So sometimes I take the car to drive at night," her voice sounds as if it is completely normal.
"Understood," I nod, although inside me anxiety is still bubbling.
"Since everything is clear, then let's go," she takes me by the hand, and we head to the car. I feel my heart beating faster. I don't know what lies ahead of us, but I know one thing: with her, I am ready for anything.