We enter the apartment, and Katrin immediately heads to the bedroom, grumbling about how much she hates the outfit she is wearing. Her dissatisfaction sounds so genuine that I can't help but smile. I like her in any look, but this new style makes her even more special—exactly the way I want to see her.
I go to the kitchen to make her some coffee, trying to ignore her indignant exclamations from the other room.
"Ugh, finally, I got that horror off me," she announces with relief and joy, appearing in the doorway in her usual oversized sweater and jeans. Her face is glowing, as if she has just been freed from a heavy burden.
"It's not for long, little one," I say, handing her a cup of coffee. "Tomorrow's Monday, and you're coming with me to the institute in your new wardrobe. Don't forget, you're my girlfriend now."
Katrin lets out a dramatic wail, as if I have just announced the end of the world. She flops onto a chair and sighs.
"Maxim, please, have some mercy. Can I just not go tomorrow?" she pleads, looking at me with her big, hopeful eyes.
"Not a chance," I reply with a manic smile. "Tomorrow, I'll personally wake you up and take you there."
"Fine, I'll go," she gives in, but then immediately tries to bargain for some concession. "Can I at least wear my old clothes?"
I stay silent, stubbornly staring into her eyes. Rebel Girl smiles sweetly and bats her eyelashes, trying to soften me up, but it doesn't work. After a minute, she realizes the scale of the tragedy and that I'm not going to budge.
"No, I shouldn't have felt sorry for you. I should've taken you to that illegal fight club. Maybe if they beat you up good, you'd be kinder to me," she huffs, pouting like a child. Her face is so funny that I want to laugh, but I hold back to avoid making her even angrier.
"Will coffee help you survive this tragedy?" I joke, sliding the cup closer to her.
"Coffee is the only thing saving me right now," she says with exaggerated seriousness, bringing the cup to her lips. Her tone is so dramatic that I can't help but laugh.
"You know you're the cutest, even when you're pouting, right?" I walk over and wrap my arms around her shoulders.
"Don't try to sweet-talk me," she grumbles, but I notice the corners of her lips twitching into a smile. "You're still a villain."
"The villain who cares about you," I kiss the top of her head. "And who wants you to be happy."
"Happy? In that dress? Are you joking?"
"Well, maybe not right away, but you'll get used to it," I say, smiling. "And who knows, you might even like it."
"Don't count on it."
I know she has already resigned herself to it.
We sit there, enjoying the moment, and I can feel our mood lightening. Katrin is stubborn and capricious, but that's what makes her special. I know that despite her protests, she will come with me to the institute—because she is my girlfriend and she trusts me. And that is enough.
"Wait, are there really places in our city where they hold fights?" I ask with interest, not quite believing such a thing could exist. My eyes widen in surprise, and I look at Katrin, expecting her to laugh and say it's a joke. But her face remains serious.
"Yeah, they hold men's fights and, on certain days, women's fights too. I even participated once," she says in the calmest tone, as if she is telling me something completely normal.
I am terrified just imagining my fragile girl fighting in such a place. Images immediately pop into my head: her, so small, against someone much bigger and stronger. My heart clenches with anxiety.
"Don't you have anything better to do? How could you agree to something like that? It's dangerous—you could've been killed there!" I start shouting indignantly, my fists clenching as anger and fear mix inside me. How could she take such a risk?
"Stop yelling, or I'll go deaf," she says, leaning away slightly. "It only happened once, and they wouldn't have killed me—just hurt me badly. There are people who make sure no one dies because it would cause too many problems. So, they keep an eye on things."
"Why did you do it?" I still can't understand her motives. It seems so out of character for her.
"I was just bored and wanted to try it," she replies evasively, but I can see her gaze becoming distant. She's hiding something.
"I don't believe you. Tell me the truth."
"Fine," she sighs, lowering her eyes. "I was in a bad mood, and I'd been drinking. That's how I ended up agreeing to the fight."
"What put you in a bad mood?" I already have a feeling the reason is serious.
"I found out about my father. About his death," she says, her voice catching on the last word, as if the memories are still painful. Her voice trembles, and I feel my heart ache for her.
I walk over and, wrapping my arms around her from behind, kiss her on the cheek. I want to protect her from all those memories, from all the pain she has endured.
"I hope you won, since you started such a dangerous thing?" I change the subject to keep her from getting sad. I want to see Katrin smile again.
"Did you doubt me? I love winning, and I do it often. But my body hurt for over a month afterward—though it was worth it for the victory," she says with a proud smile. Her eyes sparkle with that fire I love so much, and I feel the tension ease a little.
"Alright, fine. Let's get back to our conversation by the waterfront. What were the questions again?" Rebel Girl says, steering us back to a lighter topic.
I start recalling everything I had asked her then. My thoughts return to that moment. My heart beats faster, and I try to focus on her words.
"Just go through the questions in order, okay?" she asks, her voice soft but with a hint of insistence.
"Do you like me... as a man?" The words slip out, and I immediately feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Her eyes widen, and she can't hold back a light giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. Her laughter is so genuine and carefree that I can't help but smile, even though I still feel uncertain inside.
"Do you think I'd kiss you and do such intimate things with you if I didn't like you? Of course, I think you're a man. A very handsome man, and I like you. As a man," her words are so confident that I feel a weight lift off my chest. Her voice is tender but firm, as if she wants to dispel all my doubts once and for all.
"I guess I'm just not very confident, and that's why I asked such a weird question," I admit, lowering my gaze.
"With me, you can be honest, just like I am with you," Katrin says, now without a trace of laughter. Her eyes look straight into mine, as if trying to reach the deepest part of my soul. Her gaze is so sincere that I feel the tension slowly start to fade. She's right—I need to doubt myself less and trust more.
"I know. I also asked about it being my first time..." I begin, but she interrupts me, her voice soft but with a hint of curiosity.
"And?" Her eyebrows raise slightly, and a small smile touches her lips.
"Does it bother you that I don't know what I'm doing in that regard?"
"Are you serious? Judging by what happened at the club when I danced for you on the pole—or rather, what happened after the pole—you're doing just fine," her words make me remember that night, and I feel a slight shiver run down my skin.
"I'm worried that at the most important moment, I'll do something wrong or hurt you."
Katrin moves even closer to me and kisses me on the lips. Her kiss is tender and calming, as if she wants to convey all her confidence and warmth. Her lips are soft, and her hands rest on my shoulders, as if to say, I'm here with you, and everything will be okay.
"I'll be there, and if anything happens, I'll help. So don't worry for no reason. Any more questions?" My girlfriend pulls back slightly, but her hands remain on my shoulders. Her eyes look at me with such warmth and support that I feel my fears beginning to fade.
"When will it be?" I save the most interesting question for last.
"Like I said, I was thinking around the middle of the month, when your... desire is coming to an end. Until then, let's keep going on our dates. What do you think, for or against?"
"Honestly, I don't care when it happens, as long as you want it and are ready. I don't want a repeat of that night you mentioned earlier."
"This time, I trust you completely, so I won't push you away. Let's change the subject, since we've talked about everything? We'll figure out the rest of the details closer to the time," her voice is light and carefree.
I nod, feeling my heart fill with warmth and gratitude. Her presence always stirs a mix of excitement and calm in me, as if she's the anchor keeping me afloat.
"Alright. What did you want to talk about?" I ask her.
"When's our next date? And where are you taking me this time?"
"It's already on Tuesday. Tomorrow we're busy: in the morning, I need to go to the dorm to pick up my things and clothes. And then we have classes," I explain, trying to sound confident.
"Just don't tell me you're going to dress like a disaster again," she crosses her arms, her eyebrows raised and her lips forming a slight smile. Her tone is playful, but I know Katrin takes my appearance seriously.
"No, I've decided to fully switch to the style you gave me," I reply, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. But inside, I'm proud of myself. I really want to change, and her approval means everything to me.
The girl gently strokes my cheek, and a mischievous smile appears on her face.
"That's my Nerd, keep it up!" she praises, and her words sound so warm that I feel my heart fill with joy.
I'm on cloud nine. My girlfriend has complimented me, and it doesn't even matter what for. I want her attention and approval. Yes, it might sound strange, but I need to feel needed, to know that I matter to her, that Katrin likes me just the way I am.
The style she has suggested really appeals to me. I even think about adding something of my own, but without changing the overall vibe. I want Rebel Girl to be proud of me and see that I'm trying for her.
"Thank you," I whisper, feeling her touch warm me. Her presence, her words, her smile—it all makes me happy. I know that with her, I can be myself, and that's the most important thing.
"So, where are we going on our next date?"
"It's a surprise," I say, trying to maintain an air of mystery. But inside, I'm already making plans to make this date special. For her. For us.