A gift and a kiss

The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting soft rays of light into the spacious bedroom. Emily sat up in bed, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her blanket. Her heart was a whirlwind of thoughts as she glanced at Viktor, who was getting dressed, his movements graceful but purposeful. There was something she wanted to ask him, something that had been on her mind for the past few days, but her shyness kept holding her back.

As Viktor finished buttoning his shirt, he turned to her, his usual stoic expression softening when he saw the hesitant look on her face. "Is something wrong, Emily?" he asked, his voice low, but filled with concern.

Emily bit her lip, feeling her cheeks heat up. She looked down at her hands, unsure of how to bring it up. "V-Viktor," she began softly, almost too quietly for him to hear. "Do you... do you have a phone? One that you don't use?"

Viktor paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to process her question. "A phone?" he repeated, almost puzzled. "No, I don't use one. I have other ways to communicate."

Emily’s gaze dropped to her lap, the words slipping from her lips in a whisper. "I’ve never had one. I didn’t... I didn’t need one."

The silence that followed felt heavy. Viktor’s expression shifted, a mix of shock and disbelief crossing his face as he realized the extent of what she was saying. "You... you don’t have a phone?" he asked, his voice quiet, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

Emily nodded shyly, her face flushed. "No. I’ve never had one. I wasn’t allowed, and when I was at the orphanage, I didn’t have the means to get one."

Viktor's heart clenched at the thought of Emily growing up without such a basic necessity, something that could have connected her to the world, to friends, and to opportunities. He couldn’t let her continue on like this.

Without another word, Viktor took a step forward, his hand gently cupping her cheek, lifting her face so she could meet his gaze. "We’re going to fix that," he said, his voice resolute. "You’ll have the best phone. You deserve it."

Emily blinked in surprise, her breath catching in her throat as Viktor helped her out of bed and led her down the stairs.

"Viktor, you don’t have to," she protested weakly, but her voice lacked conviction. She had never been given anything like this before. The thought of Viktor going out of his way to do something so simple but meaningful for her made her heart swell.

Viktor glanced down at her with a tender smile, the kind that softened his usually intense demeanor. "I want to. Trust me."

They arrived at one of the most exclusive phone stores in the city, a place filled with the latest, most expensive models. The sleek, glass walls and the immaculate display cases made Emily feel like she was stepping into a whole new world. Viktor led her to the counter, where the sales associates immediately recognized him, nodding in deference.

"Viktor, welcome," one of the associates said. "How can we assist you today?"

Viktor didn’t waste time. "I need the highest-end phone you have. A model similar to mine. And make sure to get a matching phone case with our names engraved."

Emily’s eyes widened at the request. She had never imagined she would have a phone like this, much less something that matched Viktor’s. She felt her cheeks burn as the associate quickly presented the options. Viktor carefully selected the most expensive model, a sleek black phone with an elegant design that matched his own. The matching cases were a simple yet thoughtful addition, both with their names engraved in gold.

As they left the store, Viktor held the new phone in his hand, smiling as he handed it to Emily. "Here," he said softly. "It’s yours."

Emily’s fingers brushed against his as she took the phone, a small, shy smile crossing her face. "Thank you, Viktor," she said, her voice barely a whisper, but full of gratitude. The weight of the phone in her hands felt foreign, but in a comforting way. It was hers, and it meant something more than just a material possession. It was a symbol of how Viktor cared for her in ways she hadn’t expected.

They left the store and made their way to the college. As they pulled up to the entrance, Viktor’s car came to a smooth stop, and Emily hesitated for a moment, her fingers clutching the strap of her bag.

As she got out, she noticed someone walking toward her—Sophia, the bubbly girl from her class. She was grinning from ear to ear as she practically bounced over to Emily.

"Hey, Emily!" Sophia exclaimed, her arms open wide. "You ready for class?"

Before Emily could respond, Sophia threw her arms around her, pulling her into an enthusiastic hug. Emily froze for a moment, not used to such spontaneous displays of affection, but she quickly relaxed and hugged her back, smiling shyly.

Sophia pulled away, looking at Emily with a wide grin. "So, I guess this is your boyfriend?" she asked, nodding toward Viktor, who was standing near the sports car, watching them with a calm but alert expression.

Emily’s eyes flickered toward Viktor, and then back to Sophia. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

Sophia’s eyes went wide when she realized who Viktor was. "Oh my God! she exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief and admiration.

Emily blushed, nodding her head shyly. "Y-yes... he is."

Sophia’s jaw nearly dropped, and she looked back and forth between Emily and Viktor. "He’s so handsome! I can’t believe it!"

Viktor simply raised an eyebrow, his posture still exuding his usual calm intensity, but there was a softness to the way he looked at Emily. He didn’t say anything, letting the moment unfold naturally.

Sophia then looked back at Emily with an impish grin. "Can I get your number?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Emily hesitated, feeling unsure. she said quietly, her cheeks turning pink again.

Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. "Wait But... you have that phone now!" she said, pointing at the sleek device in Emily’s hand.

Emily nodded, still feeling embarrassed. "I never had one before," she explained, her voice soft.

Sophia’s face lit up. "Well, you’ll have to give me your number then!" she said enthusiastically. "And when we’re back with Viktor, you should definitely ask him to buy you a phone case with my name on it!"

Emily giggled softly at the suggestion, and Viktor, who had been quietly observing the exchange, looked at the two girls with mild amusement. His lips twitched into a rare smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

As they made their way toward the entrance of the school, Viktor’s sharp gaze caught the movement of Sophia approaching them again. He stepped in front of Emily protectively, just as Sophia lost her balance, tripping on a loose stone near the entrance.

Without thinking, Viktor quickly caught both Emily and Sophia in his arms, steadying them both before they could fall. His grip tightened around Emily’s waist, holding her protectively.

"Sophia," Viktor said, his voice calm but stern, "You shouldn’t put Emily in danger."

Sophia laughed it off, saluting him as though it were a joke. "Don’t worry, Viktor! I’m good!" she teased.

Viktor narrowed his eyes, clearly not amused by her antics. He didn’t respond, only gave a subtle nod and took a step back, giving her space to regain her balance.

As they were about to leave, Emily paused and turned back, suddenly feeling an overwhelming impulse. She ran back to Viktor, catching him off guard. He stood there, a look of confusion on his face as he watched her approach.

"Emily?" he asked softly, wondering if she had forgotten something.

But before Viktor could ask, Emily stood on her tiptoes, surprising him completely. She reached up and kissed him gently on the right cheek, her lips soft against his skin. Then, without waiting for a response, she turned quickly and ran back toward Sophia, leaving Viktor standing in stunned silence.

His hand touched the spot where her lips had just brushed his skin. For a brief moment, he stood still, processing the warmth of her gesture.

A rare smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, though it faded quickly. He couldn’t understand why, but something about the kiss felt like a promise. A promise that, despite everything, Emily was slowly but surely becoming a part of his world.

And he would do anything to keep her there.