Evening. The girls crossed the threshold of a café located on the same street as Anna's bar. The noise, laughter from the groups of patrons, and the lively music in the establishment created a vibrant and pleasant atmosphere. Looking around, Anna noticed five of her colleagues gathered at a table, enthusiastically discussing something.

Taking her friend's hand, she confidently headed towards them. "Here I am!" Anna playfully exclaimed. "But I'm not alone tonight. Meet Maria, my friend and roommate." Everyone greeted Maria with joyful and warm smiles.

Maria shyly smiled and surveyed the group. She had already met a couple of the guys present. Suddenly, one of them abruptly stood up, overturning cutlery from the table, and stood as if rooted to the spot. It was Derek, the security guard. He had a muscular build, broad shoulders, and was of average height. All attention shifted to him, and tension hung in the air.

"I-I didn't know you would come too," he stammered nervously.

"Yeah, the decision was spontaneous. So, I apologize if I disturbed you," Maria said, blushing with embarrassment.

"What, I'm just... glad," Derek practically whispered the last word. Laughter and whistles echoed around the table. "I never knew our tough guy could be so sweet," came a remark from the table, creating a light atmosphere and dispelling the earlier tension. Blushing slightly, Derek took his seat.

"Oh, gods, why did I agree to come here!" Maria thought to herself. Her face was as red as a tomato from embarrassment. And her reaction did not go unnoticed by her friend.

"Easy there!" Anna said with a serious tone. "You're embarrassing my friend." With these words, the girls took their seats.

Everyone immediately shifted back to their interrupted conversation. The group chatted loudly, sharing funny work stories, and glasses of strong drinks were raised. Maria listened to the conversations, smiled at the jokes, but as a non-drinker, she felt detached from the overall mood. Additionally, she constantly felt Derek's gaze, which seemed to intensify due to his nervousness. His persistent look occasionally focused on her, adding an extra layer of discomfort.

Feeling the escalating atmosphere, she decided to distract herself and stepped outside to breathe in the fresh air.

It was very late. Almost no one was on the street, and many establishments had already closed. The girl walked out onto the empty street. In the distance, the sound of passing cars could be heard, but here, in this moment, tranquility prevailed. She closed her eyes, inhaling the cold autumn air, and, feeling the chill, wrapped herself tighter in her coat. Finally, the tension weighing on her shoulders began to dissipate. She decided to enjoy a bit more of this moment of solitude before returning inside. Suddenly, a male voice behind her spoke up.