“Vika??”
“Yup! Rob, how are you?” she smiled, showing off her dazzling white teeth.
“Long time no see… And you’ve only gotten more beautiful,” he said with a lustful look and smiled back.
Less than an hour later, they stumbled into her dorm room, lips locked in a passionate kiss, and collapsed onto the bed.
Early in the morning, straight from the hospital, Lana returned to the dorm to pack her things. Her mother had asked her to stay at home for a while until her father recovered. The bathrooms and showers were shared on each floor, just like the kitchen. Usually, a line formed there in the mornings—but that was on weekdays. Today was Sunday, and everyone was still asleep. Everyone except Vika and her guest, who walked into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist to get dressed. Vika remained in the shower.
When the man entered their room, he came face-to-face with Lana, standing there with her travel bag at her feet. Her mouth slightly open, she stared at the nearly naked stranger who had appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed—he even winked at her. Approaching the bed, he grabbed his clothes and began dressing, dropping the wet towel to the floor.
Lana remained frozen, staring at the movement of muscles across the completely naked man’s back. Even though he was facing away, this was the first time in her life she had seen anything like it. Finally, after pulling on his trousers, he turned around and began buttoning a shirt—still damp with a stain on the chest. He gave her a smile. Meeting his piercing gaze, Lana snapped out of it, quickly lowered her head, and turned away.
“Sorry about that. We thought you’d be back later. I didn’t get a chance to clean up,” he said with a mocking tone.
Without looking at him, she mumbled something unintelligible in response.
Soon after, the door closed with a dull thud and a polite, “Have a nice day.”
Lana sat down on the bed and let her arms drop. It’s him… she thought bitterly. The good-smelling brunette. The one she had wanted to see again. The one who had already taken root in her secret fantasies and girlish dreams. Damn it. Once again, she missed her chance. As always, her perfect friend had scooped up all the cream—like a greedy cat.
“Lanushka?” came Victoria’s gentle voice as she entered in a bathrobe, a towel wrapped around her head. She walked closer, looked at Lana’s face, and asked, “Are you okay?”