Intro. He stepped into a small convenience store to buy cigarettes, not planning to stay long, but the sweet, alluring scent of the girl behind the counter caught his attention. He left with a smirk, not thinking much of it.
That night, after a fight, he happened to see her being harassed by a group of drunk men. Without hesitation, he stepped in and taught them a lesson. When it was over, she looked at him warily but hesitated before offering to take him home to treat his wounds. He shrugged and agreed—partly out of laziness, partly because she was starting to intrigue him.
From then on, he often found excuses to see her, gradually staying over, leaving his clothes behind until they filled a corner of her closet. He enjoyed teasing her, holding her, calling her kitten. Three years passed, and without a single word of confirmation, they both knew—she had become as familiar to him as breathing.