"No."
No? What does this "no" mean? I come to him, ready for anything, almost begging on my knees, and he... just refuses. I'm overwhelmed with a mix of confusion, hurt, and even shame, as if I'm standing naked before him and he turns away. Why? Why does he say no?
"Hey, man. What do you mean, no? The girl's ready to give herself to you right here. And you're just turning her down for no reason?" His friend won't let it go. His words are crude, but I'm almost glad he asks the question.
"The truth is, you're no longer interesting to me. I promised I wouldn't touch you, and that's exactly what I'm doing," Ivan replies to me, ignoring his friend.
"Since when are you so principled? I told you I wanted to change my mind or negotiate different terms," I try to argue, but my voice trembles, betraying my confusion, my pain.
"No. I won't repeat myself," he flatly refuses.
"What changed? Why don't you want me anymore?" I blurt out.
"You ruined it yourself. You came here thinking you could decide everything on your terms. But I'm not a toy, Katrin. And I'm not your tool for manipulation," his words are sharp, and I stand there feeling the ground slip from under my feet. Everything I had planned, everything I had hoped for, is crumbling in an instant. And I don't know what to do next.
"I'm just that kind of person. If a girl is ready to throw herself at me, I no longer want her. I love causing pain and watching others suffer," Ivan steps closer to me, his voice quiet but every word hitting my nerves like a hammer. His disgusting hand grabs my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. They're cold, empty, as if there's nothing human in them.
"I enjoy watching you suffer because you can't protect him, and that gives me more pleasure than if I were to fuck you," the guy laughs.
I want to cry. Everything inside me tightens as if I'm trapped with no way out. I can't negotiate with him, and now he wants to cause even more pain, to hurt him. I take a step back and break free from his grip, feeling my body tremble with fear and despair.
"I'll give you a month, and then I'll come for him," his words sound like a sentence.
"Why a month?" I ask, not understanding his sinister plans.
"There are a few reasons. First, I'll be busy all this time. Business, you know," he shrugs, and from his smirk, I realize he's involved in something illegal. I could report him, but it wouldn't help, only make things worse.
"Second, I want to see you suffer all this time, knowing I'm nearby and will soon destroy your happiness," Ivan laughs even more, and his laughter is like poison, corroding my soul. I want to die from the grief that overwhelms me.
"Don't even think about hiding from me with him. I'll find you, and then it won't end with just a beating, but with his death. I'm warning you now."
He's right. He has many connections, and I know it. I know he's a dangerous man, and yet I kept being friends with him. And this is how it ends for me. I stand there, feeling the world around me collapsing. A month. Just a month. And what can I do in that time? Run? Hide? But he'll find us. Everything inside me screams in pain and fear, but I know I have to come up with something. I can't let him destroy everything we have. But how? How do you stop someone who enjoys others' suffering?
"Can I do something to stop this? I'll do anything you ask."
"You're already doing it. Just looking at your face, I'm already enjoying my plan. So no, there's nothing you can do to make me give this up. He's in for a good beating, and it will happen. And you know roughly when it will be."
I realize there's nothing I can do and am only humiliating myself in front of him and his friends.
"I'm leaving," I say, turning on my heel and walking toward the exit. My legs feel weak, and a lump of despair tightens in my chest.
"Where are you going? What about our plans? We can fulfill your wishes too, if you fulfill ours!" His friends' voices trail after me, but I don't look back.
I practically run outside, gasping for air, but it's no use. My breath comes in shallow bursts, and my mind races. I know I have to be strong—for him. For us. Because if I give up now, Ivan will win. And I can't let that happen.
We're doomed. That's the thought echoing in my mind. No one will help us—not the police, not Grandpa Vi. We're alone against Ivan and his gang. I don't know what to do or how to explain to Max why I've gone to see that idiot. But I don't want to think anymore. I want to cry, to let out the despair that's suffocating me.
I call a cab and light a cigarette, trying to come up with a way out of this mess. But my thoughts are tangled, like I'm trapped in a maze where every path leads back to him. I don't have much time to smoke or think before the car arrives.
I cry all the way home. Finally, I let the tears flow. Out on the street, where Ivan and his goons might have been watching, I hadn't dared to show any weakness. But now, in the backseat of the cab, I don't hold back. The tears stream down my cheeks, and I don't try to stop them. All I feel is fear, pain, and hopelessness. We're trapped, and I don't know how to escape.
Yet, somewhere deep inside, a faint glimmer of hope remains. The hope that I can figure something out. That I can protect him. Because if I give up, it will all be over. And I can't let that happen.
As I climb the stairs to our apartment, the weight of everything presses down on me harder with each step. It feels like I'm carrying an invisible burden that grows heavier the closer I get to the door. I know Max is home, waiting for me. I hope he's still asleep, that I can lie and tell him I haven't gone anywhere. But who am I kidding? He'll see through me in minutes.
I open the door and step inside. There he is, standing in the kitchen. My love. Yes, I love him, even if I don't want to admit it to myself. He's the most important person in my life, and that's exactly why I have to protect him from Ivan and his pack of hyenas.
I freeze. Max slowly turns toward me, a glass of water in his hand. He must have just woken up and come to the kitchen for a drink.
"Where were you?" His eyes burn with an anger I've never seen before. I hadn't even known he was capable of such rage. But I know it's not directed at me—it's at the man I've just left. "You were with him, weren't you?"
I stay silent, unable to find the words. My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure he can hear it.
"Answer me, Katrin!" In one swift motion, he slams the glass onto the floor between us. It shatters into a thousand pieces, the sound echoing through the apartment.
That broken glass feels like a reflection of me. I'm just as shattered after my encounter with Ivan. I stand there, tears welling up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Not now. I nod, feeling the tears spill over despite my efforts to hold them back.
Ivan won't stop. And we have to be ready for whatever comes next.