Dana
“Man, the traffic in this city is something else! This isn’t Skvyra, or even Bila Tserkva. It’s a full-blown metropolis!” Dad was clearly on edge behind the wheel. Other drivers kept honking at us, but he paid them no mind. “If Dana hadn’t packed half a house worth of stuff, we could’ve taken the subway. Faster and way less stressful.”
“Anything for your darling daughter,” I quipped, glancing up from my phone for a moment to peer out the window. Kyiv really was a bustling giant. People here were always in a rush, getting annoyed at the slightest delay. I’d noticed that much when Mom and I came to submit my university application.
“You’re not wrong,” Dad agreed, while Mom let out a quiet sniffle beside him.
“You’ll call us, won’t you?” she asked, her voice trembling. “And visit?”
“Mom, it’s less than a two-hour bus ride back to Skvyra. I could come home every day if you wanted me to.”
Of course, I had no intention of doing that. I was itching to finally live on my own, to taste real adult life. Make new friends. Fall in love. Especially that last one—ever since Max betrayed me so cruelly at the start of summer, no one had caught my eye. Not that I’d been looking; I’d spent most of my time at home, buried in books.
But now, with a brand-new chapter of my life ahead, I felt a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint why.
“No, not every day,” Mom said gently. “You’ve got to focus on your studies, Dana dear. Traveling back and forth is just a waste of time. And money. Oh, it’s so hard to let you go. But at least I’m comforted knowing Zhanna will be there to look out for you.”
“Yeah, she’ll help me with everything.”
Truth be told, it was thanks to my cousin Zhanna that I’d decided to study history at this university in the capital. She’d raved about the program endlessly.
Dad suddenly swerved to the right, and another insistent honk blared behind us. Someone even shouted a curse or two.
“Looks like we’re here,” Dad said with a sigh of relief, ignoring the rudeness of the city drivers.
I glanced out the window at my new home. The dorm was a tall, nine-story building, surprisingly charming in its own way. A crowd of new students and their parents had gathered near the entrance, standing in small clusters and chatting animatedly.
“Hey there!” Zhanna came running toward us, waving both hands with a big grin. I stepped out to meet her, smiling back.
“Hey! I’m so glad to see you!”
After a warm hug, Zhanna clapped her hands excitedly.
“I can’t wait to show you everything! Hi, Aunt Lena!” She hugged my mom and waved at Dad, who had also gotten out of the car. “Come on! I’ve already arranged for you to skip the line and get settled in right away!”
Zhanna grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the entrance.
She was always so upbeat. I couldn’t recall a single time I’d seen her upset, let alone crying. Unlike me—I could tear up over anything, especially while reading my favorite books.
Though our moms are twins, Zhanna and I couldn’t be more different. My hair is light, almost white, falling halfway down my back, while hers is jet black like her dad’s, cut into a sharp bob. I’m tall and slender, while she’s shorter and a bit curvier. But there’s always been one thing that binds us: our love for books. And, well, cute guys. Zhanna also has a knack for falling head over heels for the ones who end up breaking her heart.
“Oh, Dana, there’s this super cute freshman over there,” she whispered as we stepped into the spacious lobby.
“Where?” I started looking around.
“Right there, by the pillar, glued to his phone.”
I spotted the pillar, gave the guy a quick once-over, and wrinkled my nose.
“Too short. And his hair’s too short too—I like it longer. Plus, he’s blond. I’m more into dark-haired guys.”
“Ugh! You’re impossible to please!” Zhanna waved me off and confidently pushed through the crowd of students toward an open door. “But if you do like someone, tell me right away! We’ll go introduce ourselves!”
“Hey! There’s a line here, you know!” A tall brunette with obvious hair extensions blocked our path.
“Back off, Vaska!” Zhanna hissed, sidestepping the rude girl. “She’s such a pain. Don’t mind her, Dana. Vasylina’s just a clueless idiot.”
“Got it, I won’t,” I smiled, always amazed by my cousin’s boldness.
An hour later, we were all sitting around a small table in a cozy room with soft pink wallpaper, sipping tea. The sense of big changes on the horizon grew stronger. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for my parents to leave so Zhanna and I could be on our own. We’d watch movies, meet new people, and explore the city.
“Dana, my little girl, you’re so grown up already,” Mom said, wiping tears with a handkerchief before pulling me into another hug. “It feels like just yesterday you were born… so tiny, so helpless. And now you’re almost an adult.”
“And a beauty too!” Zhanna added cheerfully. “We’ll find your little girl the best boyfriend out there, one everyone will be jealous of!”
“No boyfriends!” Dad cut in, furrowing his thick gray brows. “She’s here to study, not chase after boys! Zhanna, you’re older, so you’re responsible for keeping an eye on her!”
“Alright, alright, Uncle Tom, no boyfriends,” Zhanna nodded, batting her lashes with mock innocence. My parents didn’t catch her sarcasm. “I’ll make sure Dana studies hard. No boys! Though, you know, it’s more likely they’ll be chasing after her. Your daughter just draws attention wherever she goes.”
Dad’s frown deepened, and I looked away, pretending to be shy while nudging Zhanna under the table to stop embarrassing me.
“No boys!” Dad repeated sternly, and I just sighed inwardly. If he knew what had happened with Max, he’d probably hunt him down and lock me up for good.
Zhanna opened her mouth to say something else, but I beat her to it.
“Okay, Dad, no boys. I’m really here to focus on my studies, not guys.”
This time, Zhanna nudged me with her knee, but I ignored her.
“That’s right!” Dad’s lips, hidden under his thick mustache, finally curled into a satisfied smile. I felt a pang of guilt for no longer being his little girl, for hiding things about my relationships. He always reacted so strongly, but I just wanted to spend time with people I liked.
“Our Dana’s got her head on straight,” Mom winked. She knew a lot more about me than Dad did. She supported me and even gave advice.
When my parents finally left us alone, Zhanna gave me a sly look.
“What?” I laughed, starting to unpack my things.
“We’re going on a real manhunt!”
I nearly choked on my laughter.
“A manhunt? Are you out of your mind?”
“The real deal. You’re gorgeous, Dana. Guys will be falling over themselves for you. Maybe someone will notice me too. I don’t ask for much—just someone who looks at me with adoration, holds me close, and accepts me as I am. Oh, and tall. I want to look up at him.”
“Not too picky, are you?” I smirked, carefully arranging my clothes in the closet.
“You’re the one who’s always so choosy,” Zhanna waved dismissively and started pulling my clothes back out.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I protested. “I just folded those!”
“Picking out your manhunt outfit!” She tossed my things onto the bed. “Nothing too flashy… Here, these denim shorts, and this gray tee with the car on it. Guys love cars. And you can throw on my red plaid shirt over it—it’ll catch the eye. Plus, you won’t freeze tonight.”
“But it’s only lunchtime!”
“You think we’re coming back here before morning?”
“Hey! I’ve got classes tomorrow! It’s my first day! I’m not skipping!”
“Such a buzzkill,” Zhanna muttered, changing into jeans and a blouse with bare shoulders. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it!”
Half an hour later, we were sitting on the steps outside the dorm, eating our favorite strawberry ice cream. Zhanna was scoping out guys while I scrolled through a group chat my new class rep, Mary, had added me to a few days ago. All twenty-seven of my classmates, myself included, felt overwhelmed by the flood of information being thrown at us.
“Check the schedule,” Zhanna ordered, grinning at the nervous freshmen still arriving at the dorm.
“Prehistory, Professor Mykolenko, A.I.”
Zhanna waved a hand dismissively, as if prehistory was a total snooze.
“History of Ukraine (from ancient times to the mid-14th century), Associate Professor Yasin, O.M.”
“Oh, Yasin,” Zhanna sighed dreamily. “Such a sweetheart. Too bad he’s been married forever and has a son. Ugh… Keep reading, what’s next?”
“Information Technologies in…”
“Ooh,” Zhanna interrupted before I could finish. “Brodska?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re in for trouble with her. She’s a real piece of work. Yuliana Vsevolodivna,” Zhanna grimaced just saying her name. “Yulka won’t rest until she’s frayed everyone’s nerves. She got two of my friends expelled, even though they knew their stuff.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” I replied sarcastically.
“Don’t worry, just don’t get on her bad side. Who else do you have?”
After going through all my professors, my mood sank below zero. I wanted to go home. Not to the cramped dorm room, but *home*—where Mom and Dad were, where there were no problems. Or at least none we couldn’t solve together. Now, I had to face everything on my own.
“Don’t stress, Dana. The first semester is always the toughest. It gets easier, I promise. Oh! Look, there’s Stan!” Zhanna’s eyes lit up with excitement. “He’s a junior, and I’m pretty sure he’s single! You’ll like him! He’s got dark hair!”
Following her gaze, I gave the guy a quick assessment—maybe a three out of ten—and shook my head.
“Nope, he’s not my type.”
Zhanna looked at me, baffled.
“What do you mean? Stan’s adorable!”
“His ears stick out!”
“So what? Look at that smile! My heart flips every time I see him!”
“How about I just tell you when I like someone, okay?”
“Fine,” Zhanna huffed, turning away, clearly offended.
Truthfully, no one caught my eye. They were all just… not enough. I wanted the best. Someone who’d make me lose my mind.
Zhanna introduced me to all her friends. Their faces and names blurred together in my head, and by evening, I was even more homesick.
While Zhanna chatted with yet another classmate she hadn’t seen in months, I stood off to the side, arms crossed, bored out of my mind as I watched the endless stream of faces passing by. I felt drained and exhausted. If Zhanna planned to drag me on these “manhunts” every day, I’d lose it. My mood hit rock bottom.
But then, the roar of an engine caught my attention. I turned toward the sound. A sleek black-and-yellow motorcycle rolled slowly past us, driven by a man in a tinted helmet. It stopped about twenty meters away. The bike looked expensive and powerful, drawing eyes effortlessly—and mine were no exception. I stared, unashamedly curious.
The rider set the bike on its stand, removed his helmet, and ran a hand through his dark, medium-length hair, which fell back over his forehead. He was tall and strikingly handsome—so much so that my breath caught. He moved with confidence, ignoring the stares. He swiftly pulled the key from the ignition, grabbed his helmet, and strolled casually toward the entrance where we stood.
I couldn’t look away. I stared at him boldly, almost daringly. He looked older, maybe not even a student. His features were sharp and perfect—dark, thick brows, a straight nose, full lips that I bet could kiss until the world spun. He unzipped his black leather jacket with one hand as he walked, and then, finally, his eyes met mine.
My heart pounded like crazy. I desperately wanted to smile at him but held myself back with every ounce of willpower. I just kept looking as he approached. He didn’t smile either, his expression too serious, his gaze unwavering until the distance between us shrank to a mere meter. For a moment, it felt like time stopped, like something incredible was about to happen. But then he walked right past me, leaving behind a wave of a pleasant, masculine scent.
I felt flustered and a little disappointed. Clearly, I hadn’t made an impression if this gorgeous guy didn’t even bother to look twice, let alone smile or stop to talk.
“Dana!” Zhanna linked her arm through mine, snapping me back to reality. Her friend was gone.
“I think I like someone…”
“Really?” Zhanna, already beaming, grew even more excited. “Who?”
“Him,” I pointed at the motorcycle and gave her a conspiratorial smile.
“Oh no, sis, forget it,” Zhanna said seriously, her smile fading.
“Why? Is he a professor?” The handsome brunette did seem too mature to be a student. “Is that Yasin?”
“No, Nathan’s a grad student, already finished. And he’s with Yulka.”
“Yulka?” I echoed, trying to recall everyone Zhanna had introduced me to today. I felt a twinge of sadness but didn’t lose hope. Who knew what kind of relationship he had with this girl? Maybe they’d break up soon, and I’d at least have a shot at being noticed.
“Yeah, Brodska. The one teaching your Information Technologies class.”
“Seriously?” I asked, stunned, already hating this woman even more without having met her.
“Yup. They’ve been together since her freshman year. It’s serious. They don’t even hide it. You’ve got zero chance.”
“Yeah, I get it,” I nodded. No matter how cute I might be, my odds against a grown woman were pretty much nonexistent.
Nathan. What a beautiful, rare name.