Morning. Spring was clearly on its way: birds chirped outside the window, the air felt light, bright.
Tomas woke up.
"I need to get up. Work today. Shower first, then I'll make breakfast while Laura is still sleeping."
At the same time, Laura began to stir awake.
"Work again… but I wish I could do something with Tomas. Just with him."
She glanced at her new phone — her heart skipped, a smile appeared on her lips all on its own.
"Time to get up. Maybe I should take a shower too."
She got ready, stepped out of the room — empty.
"Did he already leave for work?"
Suddenly—
THUD!
They bumped into each other in the bathroom doorway.
Tomas stood there with wet hair, droplets still rolling down his shoulders, wearing only a thin T-shirt, slightly damp from the shower, clinging nicely to the contours of his muscles.
He spoke calmly, but with a hint of shyness:
"Good morning."
Laura froze, speechless, her face burning.
"G-g-good… morning!" she stuttered.
"While you shower, I'll make breakfast," Tomas said with a warm smile.
"Thank you…" she whispered and, red as a tomato, slipped into the bathroom.
A few minutes later she came out — the kitchen smelled like pancakes.
Tomas stood by the stove, turning them with a spatula.
Laura stepped closer.
"Need any help?"
"No, I'm almost done," he replied.
"Next time, I'll cook!" she declared with determination.
"Alright. I really want to taste your cooking," Tomas answered sincerely.
Laura blushed again.
Tomas put a large plate full of golden pancakes on the table, set down two coffee cups, a bottle of syrup.
"We can eat."
Laura stared at the plate with shining eyes.
"I used to only dream of breakfasts like this… I never thought it would actually be my life."
They ate and talked warmly.
"I'll be working until evening today. What about you?" Tomas asked.
"Same here, but I'm not sure until what time."
Tomas hesitated for a moment:
"So… will we text each other?"
Laura's smile reached her ears:
"We will!"
He blushed even more and quietly added:
"By the way… do you know when you'll have a day off?"
"…Why are you asking?" she already sensed it.
"I found a nice restaurant… I've never been to a place like that, I'd like to try. And there's another beautiful spot in the city I want to show you… if you'd like to go together," he mumbled, cheeks blazing.
Laura's heart almost burst.
"He's asking me on a date?!"
"Yes! I would very, very, VERY much like to go with you!" she practically squeaked. "Today I'll find out my free day and text you!"
"Good," Tomas smiled wider than ever.
After they finished eating, he stood up.
"I have to go. See you tonight," he said warmly, put on his jacket, and left.
Laura remained alone.
A date? A real date?! What will I wear? What if it's too simple? What if it's too much?!
"Laura, calm down, you don't even know when!" she said out loud to herself, grabbed her things, and rushed out to work.
Tomas took the bus to the industrial district — he had been asked to help in the auto parts workshop because several workers got sick.
He walked down a narrow street when suddenly he saw a large pool of blood.
He looked around — a trail of blood droplets led into an alley.
He followed them.
A man was lying there. Around forty. A tattoo — a black spider near his fingers. A scar across his eye. A stab wound in the abdomen, a gunshot wound in the shoulder. Severe blood loss.
Tomas thought:
"First, stop the bleeding."
He tore his own T-shirt, made bandages, wrapped them tightly.
The man barely regained consciousness.
"I'm calling an ambulance," Tomas said.
"No ambulance…" the man rasped weakly. "Take me… to Old Foundry Street 3."
Tomas checked the address — 500 meters.
"Alright, but I'll be late for work because of you," he replied coldly.
The man gave a faint smile.
Tomas lifted him onto his back and carried him.
There — large stone gates. Two men smoking nearby.
They ran over the moment they saw them.
"Viktor! What happened?!"
They carried Viktor inside. Behind the gates — a large house, around 20–30 men in the yard.
They laid Viktor on a bed.
Tomas stood to the side.
One of the men said:
"We need a doctor, and ours is out of town!"
Tomas glanced at his watch — he could still make it to work.
"Then you don't need me anymore. I'm leaving," he said and turned to go.
All eyes shifted to him.
"And who the hell are you?" asked a large man.
"I found him in the alley. He asked me to bring him here. Besides, he won't live long if no one gives him a transfusion and stitches his abdomen," Tomas replied calmly and stepped toward the door.
Two men blocked his path.
"Looks like you know something about medicine."
Tomas looked at them coldly.
"Move. I'm late for work."
From the bed, a weak voice said:
"Help… I'll pay you."
Tomas turned back.
"Number 8 on the list… save a life."
"What's your blood type?"
"B+."
"Anyone with B or O — come here. And bring a needle, a tube, thread, some alcohol, a knife…" Tomas listed off quickly.
Everyone froze. A young man, cold as ice, giving orders like he'd done this all his life.
Two hours later, it was done.
Viktor had passed out several times but was stable now.
"You saved my life. What do you want? Ask for anything."
Tomas glanced at his watch.
"I probably lost my job at the workshop already. But number 8 is checked off. Pay me for the missed workday — and we're even."
Men glanced at one another.
Viktor chuckled through the pain.
"You're a strange guy… Give him what he wants. And my contact information. I'll owe him a favor. By the way, what's your name?"
"Tomas."
"I'm Viktor. I won't forget what you did today, Tomas."
Tomas nodded and left.
Outside, he counted the money — more than a month's salary.
"I could've asked for more," he smirked to himself. He tucked Viktor's business card into his pocket. "Who knows when it'll come in handy."
Suddenly he remembered Laura.
He took out his phone — a missed message:
"How are you? 😊"