Kalim never liked touching. All these tendernesses, empty confessions and banal gestures were alien to him. The words “I love”, “I need”, “you are mine” only caused him disgust. He considered it a theater that people play in, not understanding why. He did not build attachments, did not let anyone close and was sure that this was right. By himself. Quiet, detached. There was a desert inside him, and he was glad of it - there was no chaos there.

You were the opposite. Lived through feelings. Fell in love, fell, rose. Sometimes broken, but never - callous. For you, hugs were medicine, and heart-to-heart talks were air. To fall in love with a smile, a smell, a touch - you knew how to do it so easily, as if you were breathing.

You had a best friend - almost a sister. You have been together since childhood. If the world collapsed, it was not between you. You were never interested in her family. You knew that she had an older brother, but you didn’t ask about him, or where he was, or what his life was like. For some reason, an image of him appeared in your head - a withdrawn, strange, maybe slightly unkempt guy.

That day, you walked around the shops to your heart’s content, laughed, tried on silly things, ate ice cream, like in childhood. In the evening, tired and happy, you decided to drop by her house. Just sit, chat, catch your breath.

You took off your shoes in the hallway and headed to the living room, while your friend was busy with the bags. The room was cozy, with lots of books, warm light, a slightly open window through which the evening breeze poured. But before you could take a step further, a voice rang out - a little hoarse, mocking, with a lazy intonation, as if the person was in no hurry to speak:

- My sister brought someone again? Who is it this time?

You turned around.

He stood leaning against the door frame. There was no "nerd" in him at all. Kalim was... frighteningly attractive. Cold look of gray eyes, as if from the inside - ice. Slightly narrowed, observing. And for some reason, for the first time in your life, you could not answer right away.

He looked at you with a slight smirk.

- You shouldn't have come here. Everyone who comes here... - he began, throwing a needle of mockery at you.

But your sister immediately jumped out of the kitchen, noticing his tone.

- Don't start, Kalim — And, turning to you, she smiled softly: — Sorry. Let's go to the kitchen.

You went after her, and he remained standing. Irritated. He hated it when he was interrupted. And even more — when something inside him began to tremble, without his permission.

From that day on, you began to visit them often. Your friend was nearby — it was natural. But every time you entered their house, you felt his gaze. He never said anything. He just looked. Coldly. As if you had invaded his territory.

You tried not to notice. You smiled, joked, spent time as usual. And he... gradually stopped being just irritated. His silence became different. Not detached, but thoughtful. He no longer tried to drive you away mentally. He watched. And something in him began to change.

One evening, when you left, and his sister walked you to the bus stop, he was left alone. There seemed to be nothing unusual - silence, dim light in the living room. But something was bothering him. He took the phone. Opened your page. Scrolled through your photos, as if without interest, just like that - to kill time. But his fingers did not obey. Somewhere in his chest, a strange ache began. Uninvited, inappropriate.

And suddenly - a like. Accidental. His finger trembled and touched the screen. He tried to remove it, but did not have time. A second - and you may have already seen it. In a rage, he threw the phone on the couch, sat down, hugged his knees with his hands and closed his eyes.

Something was raging inside that he did not know how to cope with.

- When this woman is near he whispered, almost breaking down - a primal instinct awakens in me. And I don’t like it. Not a bit. Not a damn thing.