Mantis

4. New perspective

We had barely taken a few steps away from the restaurant when Victor's phone rang. He took it out of his pocket, and when he saw who was calling, he declined the call. He smiled broadly and seemed like he wanted to say something, but he didn't have the chance because the ringtone sounded again. It was the same number displayed, and Wiktor let out an audible sigh.

- Sorry, just a moment - he said. - I need to take this.

He walked away a bit, and I looked around.

The street was almost empty. Only on the other side of the road, not far from us, there was a small group of young men, or rather, teenage boys. Nothing noteworthy. I shifted my weight to one hip and focused my attention on Wiktor again.

- No, I can't right now - he said into the phone, quickly glancing in my direction.

I examined him more closely. His gaze darted around the sidewalk, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He looked nervous.

- Busy? - I heard a male voice from the side.

I turned to its source. It was one of the boys from the group that was passing on the other side of the road. When he caught my inquiring gaze, he nodded towards Victor.

- Can't you discreetly ask her yourself? She'll definitely tell you something. Even faster than me - Wiktor continued his conversation, nervously pacing back and forth on the sidewalk. – Seriously - he muttered, lowering his voice. - Do I have to teach you how to talk to a woman?

Impatience tinged Victor's voice. Once again, he glanced in my direction and ran a hand through his hair. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, placed it between his lips, and while still holding the phone, nervously flicked a lighter with his other hand. As the tip of the cigarette began to glow faintly, he took a deep breath and calmly exhaled a puff of smoke.

- I guess it's not worth waiting, huh? - the boy standing beside me remarked in a cheeky tone.

I looked at the boy with a weary expression. He couldn't have been more than nineteen years old and seemed very pleased with himself, while his friends in the background watched us with curious expressions.

- Can I help you with something? - I asked in a relatively polite tone because he stood there, grinning at me from head to toe as if someone were about to hand him a Christmas present, and he seemed like he was waiting for something.

- Don't you remember me? - he asked, baring his teeth.

- No - I replied shortly, forcing a smile onto my face. - You must have me confused with someone else.

- No - the boy's voice held absolute conviction. - I remember you very well. It's just that the last time we saw each other, you were wearing less clothing. So was I. I even took some off for you.

The pieces in my mind connected.

- We met at Mirabela's? - I stated more than asked, and my interlocutor's face lit up.

- So you do remember? - the boy exclaimed happily.

I gave him a critical look and didn't return the smile.

- No - I replied in a frosty tone. - Excuse me, I'm busy.

I turned back towards Victor again, so the boy wouldn't have any doubt that our conversation was over, and I wanted to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist.

- I think I deserve some explanations for last time, don't I? - he said in a pretentious tone, still holding my wrist.

My patience ran out instantly.

I turned to the boy, shooting him an angry look, and yanked my hand from his grip. I grabbed his shirt at the chest, and with my other hand, I clenched onto his balls and looked deep into his eyes.

- Listen to me, kid... - I barked, forcing myself to adopt a calm tone. - You don't want to piss me off. Be glad I didn't get close to your dick back then, and thank God it's hidden in your pants now, because otherwise, it wouldn't be so pretty anymore. Go back to your friends and forget you ever met me, so you can keep jerking off to it for the rest of your life. And never grab something that doesn't belong to you without asking. Understand?

The boy remained still for a moment, his eyes widening, but when I intensified my grip on his groin, he winced slightly, then nodded subtly. There was no doubt he got the message. Satisfied, I released his shirt and his balls and casually patted him on the cheek.

- Any problem? - Victor asked, apparently done with his phone call and materializing behind me.

He tensed up, giving the boy an unfriendly look. If he had any doubts about whether he had won something after my performance, he immediately shook his head in denial and hurried away, nervously looking back several times.

- Everything okay? - Victor turned to me, making sure the boy, nudged by his friends, wouldn't come back.

- Absolutely - I replied calmly, as if I had just had a pleasant chat with the boy instead of threatening to harm his cock by grabbing him by the balls.

- That's good - Victor said, watching the departing group. - Listen... - he began, rubbing the back of his neck and looking uncertainly at me. - I know we haven't really talked, but I have to go now. I need to sort something out quickly.

He looked at me as if he felt sorry about it.

- No problem - I said, because what else could I say in this situation? - If you have something important, go ahead.

A shadow of relief passed over Victor's face.

- I'll walk you to the car - he announced, pushing me towards the red Mini, scanning the parking lot vigilantly as if he expected a lurking tiger to attack me in the dark.

As I opened the car door, his phone rang again. He hesitated, not entirely sure whether to answer, but I let him know it was fine, and waved cheerfully goodbye. He waved back apologetically, smiling.

- I'll call - he said to me before answering the call, and as he walked away, I caught a snippet of the conversation. - Where are you? - he asked his interlocutor, hurrying towards the white BMW. - I'm on my way - He slammed the door and slumped heavily into the driver's seat. - Marcel, for god's sake! - he exclaimed, settling in behind the wheel. - You have to do everything to make sure she doesn't move from there! Do you understand?!