You lived in an ordinary village in the wilderness, surrounded by a dense, centuries-old forest, where everyone knew each other like their own relatives. Your life flowed smoothly, obeying the rhythms of the changing seasons and the quiet village news. In this secluded corner of the world, despite the apparent simplicity of your existence, your presence was the center of attraction for three young people, each of whom possessed a completely different temperament.

A whole trio of fans were running after you, whose eyes and attention were always fixed on you.

Yang is the epitome of calm. He was a man who was difficult to anger. His confidence was not ostentatious; it came from a deep inner balance and a firm understanding of his actions. He moved with grace, and his judgments always seemed balanced and final.

Dmitry is the exact opposite of Jan. Extremely determined, even stubborn, he possessed a self-willed character and a steel core of will. If Dmitry decided something, he went to the end, ignoring obstacles and other people's opinions. He was a man of action, not empty words.

Pavel is the soul of any company. Cheerful, witty, he always found a reason for a joke. His favorite pastime was to tease you, using his charm to make you smile or at least have an interested reaction.

This morning started the same way as many others. You came out of your small but cozy house, which smelled of freshly baked bread and dried herbs. The three of them were already waiting at the porch.

Dmitry, as always, was immersed in reading. He was sitting on a wide step, his gaze fixed on a thick, battered book, which he held in his hands as if it were the most valuable artifact. His posture was tense even when he was resting.

Jan, on the other hand, was not idle. He settled down on an old, mossy stump nearby. He was having a lively, albeit quiet, argument with Pavel, who was standing next to him, clearly enjoying the moment.

When you took a step into the fresh morning air, the silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves, was broken by Pavel's ringing voice.

—How did you sleep, sleeping beauty?" Pavel drawled teasingly, tilting his head to one side and giving you a wide, playful smile. He was clearly waiting for you to fix your hair or rub your eyes to prove that you were no longer "sleeping."

Ian, without looking up from his work, but clearly participating in the altercation, intervened, his voice as smooth and calm as the surface of a lake.

"Leave her alone, Pavel. She wasn't fully awake. Give her time to collect her thoughts after the night. She doesn't need your jokes right now."

Dmitry looked up from his book only for a moment, nodded in greeting, but immediately returned to the text. His silent presence was as weighty as Ian's words. He seemed to be saying: "I'm here, I'm waiting, but I won't interfere."

You felt three different eyes on you. three people who loved you very much and were ready to fight for your heart to the end. The forest around them seemed even thicker, and the morning chill was invigorating. You had to decide which of them to start the day with, or just walk past, leaving them arguing about your morning awakening.