From Swipe to Sparks

Dasha stared at the clock on her phone. The afternoon should have passed quickly, but time dragged on, and she had no idea that one simple encounter would change the rhythm of her day. If Ellen hadn't insisted, she might have left long before the soft classical music in this bar had a chance to calm her mind.

Out of the corner of her eye, Dasha caught sight of someone sitting next to her. She didn't turn her head any further, just sipped her drink while counting the time. Five more minutes. If Ellen's date still hadn't shown up, she would leave for good.

Suddenly, a glass was slid towards her. The glass was still full, the aroma of coffee mixed with a hint of chocolate filling the air around her. Before she realized someone was sitting next to her, she had heard him order a drink. If she wasn't mistaken... a mocha.

Dasha turned her head, and her gaze met that of a man. His smile was faint, and there was something in his eyes that made Dasha hold her breath.

"I see your glass is almost empty. May I refill it?" the man asked her kindly.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I'm leaving soon," Dasha replied, her voice calm despite her slight uneasiness.

"That's a shame. Then I'll lose a drinking companion."

"Drinking companion?" Dasha stifled a small laugh, amused and puzzled.

"I'm waiting for someone here, but it looks like they're not coming," said the man, glancing briefly at the bar door.

"Oh? I'm waiting for someone too," Dasha raised her eyebrows, curious.

"Really?"

"Yes. They should have been here already." Dasha sighed briefly, a little frustrated.

The man held back a smile. “It’s obvious you’re annoyed.”

“I am. A lot of work is piling up because I have to wait,” Dasha replied, massaging the bridge of her nose.

The man chuckled lightly. “You seem like a hard worker.”

"Hard worker?" Dasha smiled bitterly. "More accurately, I work to make ends meet."

"I make ends meet as a patissier," the man added.

"Patissier? Interesting." Dasha looked at him, impressed but still keeping her distance.

"Why? Doesn't it look like it?" The man narrowed his eyes, challenging her.

Dasha looked him up and down. His hair was neatly combed, his dark suit fit perfectly, his shoes were shiny, and his every movement seemed professionally measured, but not stiff. He exuded an aura of confidence.

“I thought you were the owner of a company who was bored, coming here just to kill time,” Dasha replied, her tone a mix of playful and serious.

“Did I disappoint you?” The man leaned forward slightly, as if seeking an answer beyond mere words.

“Should I be disappointed?” Dasha looked back at him, a faint smile on her face.

The air between them felt heavy yet warm. Dasha's heart beat a little faster, and she realized that the man in front of her was also looking at her with the same intense focus.

The man was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words. Then, with a calm but meaningful gesture, he extended his hand. "I'm Kent. May I know your name?"

“Kent?” Dasha was slightly surprised, though she still shook the man’s hand.

“We haven’t introduced ourselves yet,” Kent replied, his faint smile still in place.

“I’m… Dasha,” she said, her voice soft but clear.

Kent ran his finger along his chin. “Dasha.”

For some reason, the way Kent said her name made Dasha's heart beat even faster. She didn't expect their first meeting to feel... like this.

Dasha shook her head quickly, trying to calm herself. "Kent... so it's you!" she said, half laughing.

Kent furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"Ellen asked me to meet you," she explained, half-smiling.

"Oh..." Kent sounded uncertain, his eyes scanning Dasha's expression.

"She made up with her partner and decided not to come. I apologize on Ellen's behalf. She should have explained it herself, not left it to someone else," Dasha's tone was light but firm, slightly calming the uncertainty in the atmosphere.

Dasha knew the situation was far from ideal. She could imagine Kent's disappointment, anyone would be upset to find out that their date only wanted to use them as a rebound.

"I know you must be disappointed," he said softly.

Kent shook his head slowly. "No."

"No?" Dasha tilted her head, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"I mean," Kent smiled slightly, "this kind of thing is pretty common for people who use dating apps."

"Oh," Dasha blinked. "So you guys met through an app?"

"Yes. My friend suggested it. He said we could find decent dates there."

"I'm sorry," Dasha said spontaneously.

Kent raised his eyebrows, confused. "Why are you apologizing? It's no big deal. We can continue our date."

"We?" Dasha pointed at herself, half in disbelief.

"I came all this way," Kent said casually, but his eyes couldn't hide the subtle seriousness behind them, "and I got bad news about my date."

“You said you weren’t disappointed earlier,” Dasha reminded him.

“True.” Kent stared at her, not backing down for a second. “But if you leave, I will be disappointed.”

Dasha paused for a moment. Slowly, she realized her mind had changed. There was no harm in staying a little longer—Kent was handsome, and pleasant to talk to.

"All right," she said finally.

Kent smiled contentedly, his eyes sparkling like a puppy who had just received attention. "Want to move somewhere else?"

Dasha looked around. She didn't like crowds, but this place felt right. Warm, quiet, comfortable enough for conversation.

"It's fine to stay here," she replied.

Their conversation flowed easily. Dasha's thoughts of leaving vanished. Kent had stolen her attention. Perhaps, she imagined, Kent felt the same way.

"So, you're a veterinarian?" Kent looked at her with curiosity.

Dasha nodded. "Yes, at the same place as Ellen."

"What a surprising job," he said, his tone mixed with admiration.

"Did I disappoint you?"

Kent laughed softly, because Dasha had mimicked his words, making him smile even wider.

"I have a pet at home," he said, his tone casual but warm.

"Really?" Dasha looked at him, curious.

"A cat, her name is Molly. Want to see her? Molly would love to meet you."

Dasha looked at Kent, a little hesitant. It was their first meeting, and he was inviting her to his house. Was that a good idea?

Kent quickly added, “I mean... Molly’s been a bit lethargic, and I thought it might be better to have her checked out. Since you’re a veterinarian, maybe you could help. Of course, I could take her to the clinic, but...”

Dasha smiled faintly, looking at him with a thoughtful expression. “I see. Of course, the cost is a consideration. Taking an animal to the clinic isn’t easy, and it can even be more expensive than the owner’s living expenses.”

Kent realized that Dasha's focus on him seemed greater than anything else around her. He wanted to explain that cost wasn't an issue, but this woman had stolen all of his attention.

Dasha shook her head lightly, almost as if talking to herself. "If Molly has a minor illness, sometimes it's enough to check her at home. I often advise pet owners to pay attention to their pets' diet and activity, so many minor cases can be handled without having to go to the clinic right away."

Dasha suddenly realized that Kent's unwavering gaze was making her nervous. “Why are you staring at me like that?” her voice caught, half embarrassed, half curious.

Kent shook his head slowly. “Shall we go see Molly now?”

Am I ready? Dasha thought.

But… she didn’t want to refuse. For some reason, there was a strong curiosity within her, she wanted to know more about this man.

Dasha stared at Kent's house, almost unable to believe its size. For a pastry chef, it felt too luxurious. Was he from a wealthy family? Or had she misjudged everything? Her mind raced, but she tried to calm herself.

"Would you like to sit down first or meet Molly right away?" Kent looked at her, relaxed but meaningful.

"Let's go straight there," replied Dasha, trying to sound firm.

Dasha followed Kent into a room, and her eyes widened instantly. There wasn't just one cat, there were many, with complete facilities that were neat and tidy.

Kent smiled slightly, as if reading Dasha's expression. "I can't bring Molly because she's breastfeeding," he explained.

Dasha swallowed, a little embarrassed by her own thoughts. "You have a lot of cats at home."

"Yes. I'm looking for someone willing to take care of them. It's difficult to take care of them all by myself."

"What about your family?" Dasha asked, trying to sound neutral.

"My family? Th