1 A Bad Choice
It was a summer's day, the sun was still shining in the sky even though it was six o'clock in the evening. Indeed, it was the height of summer, and the days were long and hot, unbearable for some, pleasant for others.
Jack, a 19-year-old student at the University of A..., was walking down the street, doing his best to avoid jostling anyone, despite the city's crowded sidewalks, where a simple clumsy gesture could make you feel guilty. He had to be careful.
He just wanted to get home after this interminable day of study and already think about what he was going to eat, after dousing his body with cold water.
"Now that I think about it, there's not much at home, and if I dropped in to buy my lunch at the mini-market...", he told himself as he lightly rubbed his chin with his right hand.
He remembered that there was a mini-market just down the road and continued walking in a completely symmetrical, leisurely rhythm.
After a few hundred meters, he found himself on the street with far fewer people. Then, a little further on, he noticed a young woman on a corner who looked familiar. He then made the connection and realized he had been in the same class as her during high school.
However, something didn't seem quite right: she stood motionless, looking stressed or anxious, and was cornered by a man in his early twenties who insisted on asking her something unhealthy by starting to put his hands in rather intimate places.
Nobody on the street seemed to be paying any attention to this, so at first, he decided not to interfere, as it didn't concern him at all.
Then, as he drew closer, he met the young woman's gaze, which seemed to have recognized him.
He let out a small sigh and thought he might be able to help her, so he approached the scene and remained motionless in front of them until the man turned around.
"What do you want?" the man said. The man was wearing a white tank top with a gold chain around his neck, and black pants. He also had a not-very-friendly face and was slightly taller than Jack.
"Hello, I'm a simple student who happens to be the boyfriend of the young lady you seemed to be lusting after, I'd be grateful if you could stay away from her from now on", Jack replied with squinted eyes and a fake smile.
"Hahaha... And, so, what do I care? If I want to play with that girl, it's not you who's going to stop me!", exclaimed the man in a mocking, annoyed tone after grabbing Jack by the collar.
Jack sighed, annoyed, not having thought it was going to take such an annoying turn.
"I filmed you when your hand touched the thigh of the young woman, here present, I think you're aware that if the young woman who happens to be my girlfriend, testified before the police armed with this video, you'd be accused of sexual harassment, even if it doesn't risk you going to prison, you can be sure of losing a few hours." Expressed Jack with a shrug that said the choice wasn't his to make."
"Motherfucker... It's okay... I'll let you have your girl!" said the man in an annoyed tone, he let go and crossed the road, before joining the main street and merging into the mass of people.
The young woman thanked him before leaving in her turn. Jack smirked as he placed his hand on her face.
"Luckily, the man was an idiot, obviously I didn't film anything and even with this video and the young woman's testimony, the man's name is missing, so it wouldn't have led to anything, anyway, I had a bit of fun, I guess...", Jack thought before heading back to the mini-market, going home, eating alone in front of the TV and getting into bed quickly, thinking about the school exams that awaited him the next day.
