"I'm actually talking to you, Stas. Get out of my apartment! And don't forget your friend," fire blazes in her eyes, mixed with disappointment and anger. She is no longer going to tolerate lies and manipulation.
I stand motionless, unable to believe what has just happened. Did she believe me? Really? Did she actually do it? Questions swirl in my head, but I cannot utter a word.
"Sorry, girls, but the evening is ruined and finished because of this. So I will ask you to leave too. Thanks for understanding," Katrin adds in a commanding tone.
She is my Rebel Girl again, the one I know and love.
We stand motionless while the guests leave past us, silently and with heads bowed. Silence hangs in the room, broken only by the sound of footsteps and the soft rustling of clothes. I feel the tension gradually leaving, but emotions are still raging inside.
As soon as the door closes, Katrin removes her hand from my chest and hugs me. Her embrace is warm and firm, as if she is trying to convey all her support and regret to me.
"Forgive me, I shouldn't have let them stay," she apologizes quietly, her voice trembling. I feel her breath hitch slightly, and I realize that she is on the verge of tears too. But I am happy. Happy that she believed me, and not him.
"Do you really believe me? Why?" I finally let out the questions that have been spinning in my head all this time. I need to understand what made her change her decision.
"Well, of course I believed you. I knew from the beginning that you couldn't have started a fight just like that."
"I did start it. I hit him first," I confess, feeling a wave of guilt rising inside me again.
"I'm not talking about that, but about the fact that you didn't start it just like that, the way Stas described. At the very least, you had a reason," she doesn't judge me, but tries to figure out what happened.
"He said such nasty things about you that when I heard them, I just couldn't hold myself back," I explain, feeling tears welling up in my eyes again. I am ashamed of my weakness, but at the same time, I am grateful that she understands me.
Katrin silently hugs me even tighter, and I feel her warmth and closeness calming me. At this moment, she is my Rebel Girl again — strong, decisive, and loyal. I am ready to do anything to never lose her trust again.
"Did they hurt you badly?" the girl looks at me carefully, trying to see the traces of the fight on my face and body.
"They got it worse than I did," I answer her with pride, trying to smile despite the pain pulsing in different parts of my body. I want to show that I handled it, that I didn't let myself be offended.
"I don't care about them and their injuries. They won't be in my life anymore," she says firmly, her voice sounding like a verdict. Determination is read in her eyes, and I realize that she is truly ready to break all ties with those who betrayed her trust.
I am happier than ever in my life. Despite the wounds and bruises, I smile at her, feeling warmth spreading inside me. She believed me and chose me.
"Were you crying?" she presses her palm to my face. Her touch is tender, but care is read in her eyes.
"Yes. I was sure that since we haven't known each other long, you would believe him," I am ashamed of my weakness, but at the same time, I am grateful that she sees the real me.
"They never knew me as well as you know me. And it doesn't matter how long I have known them and you," a deep connection that arose between us is read in her eyes.
"Thank you for your trust in me. For me, this means everything."
"Come to me," with these words she hugs me by the shoulders. Her embrace is firm, but when her body touches mine, I involuntarily yelp from the pain. "Get undressed, I will bring the first-aid kit now and examine your body."
I sit on the sofa and take off my T-shirt, trying not to make sharp movements. Katrin quickly returns with the first-aid kit and begins to lay out things on the table. I look at her and suddenly I cannot hold back laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" she looks up at me. Perplexity is read in her eyes, but a smile is already playing at the corners of her lips.
"Just... here I am sitting, half-naked, and you are here like a nurse," I answer, continuing to laugh. The absurdity of the situation is funny to me, but at the same time, I feel the tension gradually leaving.
Katrin also laughs, her laughter is light and ringing.
"Well, then I will be your personal nurse," she winks at me. "But only if you will listen to me."
"I promise," I answer her, smiling. Despite the pain and the stress experienced, I am happy. Because she is nearby, she believes me, and we are together.
"All beaten up, and you still find it funny?" the girl cannot hide that she is also amused by this situation.
"Yes, we are such an interesting couple," I like how she reacts to my jokes, even when I am in such a state.
"In what sense?"
"The day before yesterday you were fighting, and I was treating your wounds. Today I was fighting, and now you are taking care of me. It's like we are taking turns getting into trouble."
"Maybe you will stop doing that until it becomes a habit?"
"If they stop insulting you in front of me, then I will stop getting into fights. I am ready to fight only for you," I declare with pride, looking her straight in the eyes. My words are sincere, and I want her to feel this.
Katrin decides to ignore this phrase, but her cheeks turn slightly pink. The girl continues to deal with the first-aid kit, or rather — pretends to, moving items from place to place to hide her embarrassment.
"So, patient, where does it hurt? Where were you hit?"
"I was hit on the head with something, I think it was a cutting board. A couple of good blows were to the stomach and face," I briefly tell about my condition, trying not to complain too much.
She examines me carefully, her fingers gently touching my bruises and abrasions. I feel how her touches relieve the tension, and it becomes easier for me.
"My verdict: if you aren't nauseous and your head isn't spinning, then it will pass by itself. You have a head injury, a bruised cheek with a cheekbone, and a stomach," she concludes, sounding professional, but care is read in her eyes.
"Everything is correct, doctor. How will we treat it?"
"With ointment and rest. So we aren't going anywhere in the near future. We are getting treated."
"Okay, my Rebel Girl. It will be done," despite the pain and bruises, I am happy.
We spend the next day at home, not going anywhere. Katrin takes care of me like a real nurse, strictly forbidding me to get out of bed without a reason. I haven't seen her so caring and attentive yet. She prepares food for me, brings water, checks bruises and injuries, and even reads to me aloud when I get bored. At some point, I catch myself thinking that I am almost glad for the received beatings — they allowed me to see her from a new side: tender, caring, infinitely close.
But time goes by, and the end of her wish is inexorably approaching. Friday evening comes, and I feel a slight excitement growing inside me.
Today one can already at least change the room — lying in the bedroom all day has become quite tiresome. We are sitting on the sofa, having dinner, and the atmosphere is calm, homely. Finally, having finished eating, I decide to start the conversation.
"Today is the last day of your wish. Thank you for these two weeks, I really had fun," I try to speak calmly, but a slight sadness is felt in my voice.
"You're welcome, I was glad that you liked spending time with me. If you miss me, then come at any time," sadness also sounds in her voice. She looks at me, and something unspoken is read in her eyes.
"As you remember, my wish is ahead," I steer the conversation to the necessary topic, feeling how my heart begins to beat faster.
"Yes, and I, as I promised, will fulfill it. What do you want?" she asks, looking me straight in the eyes. Her gaze is serious, but readiness to fulfill everything that I ask is read in it.
I silently show the peace sign, just as she did two weeks ago. My fingers fold into the familiar gesture, and I look at her, waiting for a reaction. Silence hangs in the room for a moment, as if time stops.
Katrin freezes, her eyes widen from surprise.
At this moment I realize that everything that happened during these two weeks — fights, tears, laughter, and care — all this only brought us closer. And now, when her wish has come to an end, something new begins. Something real.